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that can eat with their majesties, and those few are only ladies; no men, of what rank soever, being permitted to sit in the queen’s presence.  I mean and hope to leave this business wholly to Mrs. Schwellenberg, and only to succeed Mrs. Haggerdorn in personal attendance upon the queen.

During tea the door opened, and a young lady entered, upon whose appearance all the company rose, and retreated a few paces backward, with looks of high respect.  She advanced to Mrs. Schwellenberg, and desired her to send a basin of tea into the music-room for Mrs. Delany :  then walking up to me, with a countenance of great sweetness, she said, “I hope you are very well, Miss Burney?” I only curtseyed, and knew not till she left the room, which was as soon as she had spoken a few words to Major Price, that this was the Princess Elizabeth.

Immediately after the concert began; the band being very full, and the performance on the ground-floor, as is the eating-room.  I heard it perhaps better, because softer, than if I had been in the music-room.  I was very glad of this circumstance.  Nothing was played but Handel; but I was pleased to hear any music, so much had I persuaded myself I should hear no more.

Evening ceremonial in the QuEEN’s dressing room.

At night I was summoned to the queen’s apartment.  Mrs. Schwellenberg was there, waiting.  We sat together some time.  The queen then arrived, handed into her dressing-room by the king, and followed by the princess royal and Princess Augusta.  None other of the princesses slept in the queen’s Lodge.  The lower Lodge, which is at the further end of the garden, is the dwelling-place of the four younger princesses.

The king, with a marked appearance of feeling for the-no doubt evident-embarrassment of my situation, on their entrance, with a mild good-breeding inquired of me how I had found Mrs. Delany :  and then, kissing both his daughters, left the room.  The two princesses each took the queen’s hand, which they respectfully kissed, and wishing her good night, curtseyed condescendingly to her new attendant, and retired.

The queen spoke to me a little of my father, my journey, and Mrs. Delany, and then entered into easy conversation, in German, with Mrs. Schwellenberg, who never speaks English but by necessity.  I had no sort of employment given me.  The queen was only waited upon by Mrs. Schwellenberg and 340

Mrs. Thielky, her wardrobe woman ; and when she had put on her night dishabille, she wished me good night.

This consideration to the perturbed state of my mind, that led her majesty to permit my presence merely as a spectatress, by way of taking a lesson of my future employment for my own use, though to her, doubtless, disagreeable, was extremely gratifying to me, and sent me to bed with as much ease as I now could hope to find.

THE QUEEN’S TOILETTES.