Their majesties and the princesses sat down to this table — as well satisfied, I believe, as any of their subjects so to do.

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Duchess of Ancaster and Lady Harcourt stood behind the chairs of the queen and the princess royal.  There were 11, other ladies of sufficient rank to officiate for Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth.  Lord Harcourt stood behind the king’s chair and the vice-chancellor, and the head master of Christ-church’ with salvers in their hands, stood near the table, and ready to hand, to the three noble waiters, whatever was wanted :  while the other reverend doctors and learned professors stood aloof, equally ready to present to the chancellor and the master whatever they were to forward.

We, meanwhile, untitled attendants, stood at the other end of the room, forming a semi-circle, and all strictly facing the royal collationers.  We consisted of the Miss Vernons, thrown out here as much as their humble guests-Colonel Fairly, Major Price, General Harcourt, and,-though I know not why,—­Lady Charlotte Bertie;—­with all the inferior professors, in their gowns, and some, too much frightened to advance, of the upper degrees.  These, with Miss Planta, Mr. Hagget, and myself, formed this attendant semi-circle.

The time of this collation was spent very pleasantly-to me, at least, to whom the novelty of the scene rendered it entertaining.  It was agreed that we must all be absolutely famished unless we could partake of some refreshment, as we had breakfasted early, and had no chance of dining before six or seven o’clock.  A whisper was soon buzzed through the semi-circle, of the deplorable state of our appetite apprehensions ; and presently it reached the ears of some of the worthy doctors.  Immediately a new whisper was circulated, which made its progress with great vivacity, to offer us whatever we would wish, and to beg us to name what we chose.

Tea, coffee, and chocolate, were whispered back.

The method of producing, and the means of swallowing them, were much more difficult to settle than the choice of what was acceptable.  Major Price and Colonel Fairly, however, seeing a very large table close to the wainscot behind us, desired our refreshments might be privately conveyed there, behind the semi-circle, and that, while all the group backed very near it, one at a time might feed, screened by all the rest from observation.

I suppose I need not inform you, my dear Susan, that to eat in presence of any of the royal family is as much hors d’usage as to be seated.  This plan had speedy success, and the very good doctors soon, by sly degrees and with watchful

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caution, covered the whole table with tea, coffee, chocolate, cakes, and bread and butter.

The further plan, however, of one at a time feasting and the rest fasting and standing sentinels, was not equally approved; there was too much eagerness to seize the present moment, and too much fear of a sudden retreat, to give patience for so slow proceeding.  We could do no more, therefore, than stand in double row, with one to screen one throughout the troop ; and, in this manner, we were all very plentifully and very pleasantly served.