Arrivalof A NEw equerry.

The following evening I first saw the newly-arrived equerry, Colonel Goldsworthy.  Mrs. Schwellenberg was ill, and sent for Mr. de Luc, and told me to go into the eating-roorn, and make the tea for her.  I instantly wrote to Miss Port, to beg she would come to assist me :  she did, and Mrs. Schwellenberg, changing her plan, came downstairs at the same time.  The party was Major Price, General Bud`e, Mr. Fisher, and the colonel.  Major Price immediately presented us to each other.

“Upon my word!” cried Mrs. Schwellenberg, “you do the honour here in my room!—­you might leave that to me, Major Price!”

“What! my brother equerry?” cried he; “No, ma’am, I think I have a right there.”

Colonel Goldsworthy’s character stands very high for worth and honour, and he is warmly attached to the king, both for his own sake, and from the tie that binds him to all the royal family, of regard for a sister extremely dear to him, Miss Goldsworthy, whose residence here brings him frequently to the palace.  He seems to me a man of but little cultivation or literature, but delighting in a species of dry humour, in which he shines most successfully, in giving up himself for its favourite butt. 422

He brought me a great many compliments, he said, from Dr. Warton, of Winchester, where he had lately been quartered with his regiment.  He rattled away very amusingly upon the balls and the belles he had seen there, laughing at his own gallantry, and pitying and praising himself alternately for venturing to exert it.

Custodianof the queen’s jewel Box.

Od. 2-The next day we were all to go to Kew :  but Mrs, Schwellenberg was taken ill, and went by herself to town.

The queen sent for me after breakfast, and delivered to me a long box, called here the jewel box, in which her jewels are carried to and from town that are worn on the Drawing-room days.  The great bulk of them remain in town all the winter, and remove to Windsor for all the summer, with the rest of the family.  She told me, as she delivered the key into my hands, that as there was always much more room in the box than her travelling jewels occupied, I might make what use I pleased of the remaining part ; adding, with a very expressive smile, “I dare say you have books and letters that you may be glad to carry backwards and forwards with you.”

I owned that nothing was more true, and thankfully accepted the offer.  It has proved to me since a comfort of the first magnitude, in conveying all my choice papers and letters safely in the carriage with me, as well as books in present reading, and numerous odd things. . . .

Friday, Oct. 6. — We returned to Windsor without Mrs. Schwellenberg, who stayed in town for her physician’s advice.  The queen went immediately to Mrs. Delany, and the princess royal came into my room.