“What you please!” was her answer; and I waited nothing more explicit, but instantly sent back my compliments, and that I should be very glad of their company.

This was a most happy event to me :  it first let me know the possibility of receiving a friend in my own room to tea.

They left me before the tea-party assembled in our common room.  It was very much crowded, everybody being anxious to hear news of the queen.  When they were all gone but Mrs. Delany, Mrs. Schwellenberg made us both very happy by a private communication that the Prince of Wales was actually then in the Lodge, whither he rode post haste, on the first news of the alarm given to the queen.

THE QUEEN CONTINUES ANXIOUS.

Friday, Aug. 4-This was an extremely arduous morning to the poor queen.  The king again went to town ; and her anxiety in his absence, and fear how it might end, oppressed her most painfully.  She could not take her usual airing.  She shut herself up with the Princess Augusta ; but, to avoid any rumours of her uneasiness, the carriage and usual horsemes were all at the door at the customary time ; and the princess

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royal, attended by the Duchess of Ancaster, went out, and passed, driving quick through the town, for the queen herself, to most of the people.

At her toilette, before dinner, Lady Effingham was admitted.  The queen had her newspapers as usual, and she read aloud, while her hair was dressing, several interesting articles concerning the attack, the noble humanity of the king, his presence of mind, and the blessing to the whole nation arising from his preservation.  The spirit of loyalty, warmth, and zeal with which all the newspapers are just now filled seemed extremely gratifyin- to her ; she dwelt upon several of the strongest expressions with marked approbation, exclaiming from time to time, as she read particular praises of his majesty’s worth and importance, “That is true!- -That is true, indeed!” But suddenly, afterwards, coming upon a paragraph beginning with the words of the coronation anthem, “Long live the king!  May the king live for ever!” her tears flowed so fast that they blinded her, and to hear her read such words was so extremely affecting, that I was obliged to steal behind her chair to hide myself; while Lady Effingham took out her handkerchief, and cried in good earnest.  I believe her to be warmly and gratefully attached both to the king and queen and she has received from the queen very uncommon assistance, I am informed, in some very distressful Situations.

The queen, however, read on; dispersing her tears as she could, and always smiling through them when the praise, not the danger, drew them forth.

Nothing could be more gracious than her manner to me the whole time — she (lid not, as usual, dismiss me, either for her hair-dressing, or for Lady Effingham; she was sure I must be interested in what was going forward, and she looked at us alternately, for our comments, as she went on.