If that love of prerogative, so falsely assigned, were true, what an opportunity was here offered to exert it!  Had he instantly taken refuge in his palace, ordered out all his guards, stopped every avenue to St. james’s, and issued his commands that every individual present at this scene should be secured and examined,-who would have dared murmur, or even blame such measures?  The insanity of the woman has now fully been proved ; but that noble confidence which gave that instant excuse for her was then all his own.

Agitation of the queen and princesses.

Nor did he rest here; notwithstanding the excess of terror for his safety, and doubt of further mischief, with which all his

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family and all his household were seized, he still maintained the most cheerful composure, and insisted upon walking on the terrace, with no other attendant than his single equerry.

The poor queen went with him, pale and silent,-the princesses followed, scarce yet commanding their tears.  In the evening, just as usual, the king had his concert :  but it was an evening of grief and horror to his family:  nothing was listened to, scarce a word was spoken ; the princesses wept continually; the queen, still more deeply struck, could only, from time to time, hold out her hand to the king, and say, “I have you yet!”

The affection for the king felt by all his household has been at once pleasant and affecting to me to observe :  there has not been a dry eye in either of the Lodges, on the recital of his danger, and not a face but his own that has not worn marks of care ever since.

I put off my visit to my dear Mrs. Delany; I was too much horror-struck to see her immediately; and when, at night, I went to her, I determined to spare her the shock of this event till the next day. . . .  General Bud`e and Major Price were with Mrs. Schwellenberg at my return; and not a word was uttered by either of them concerning the day’s terrific alarm.  There seemed nothing but general consternation and silence.

When I went to the queen at night she scarce once opened her lips.  Indeed I could not look at her without feeling the tears ready to start into my eyes.  But I was very glad to hear again the voice of the king, though only from the next apartment, and calling to one of his dogs.

August 3-The poor queen looked so ill that it was easy to see how miserable had been her night.  It is unfortunately the unalterable opinion of Mrs. Schwellenberg that some latent conspiracy belongs to this attempt, and therefore that it will never rest here.  This dreadful suggestion preys upon the mind of the queen, though she struggles to conquer or conceal it.  I longed passionately this morning, when alone with her, to speak upon the matter, and combat the opinion.; but as she still said nothing, it was not possible.

When she was dressed for the chapel, she desired me to keep little Badine; but he ran out after her:  I ran too, and in the gallery, leading from the queen’s room to mine, all the princesses, and their governesses, were waiting for the queen.  They all looked very ill, the princess royal particularly.—­O well indeed might they tremble! for a father more tender, 359