No More Learning

FTER the signal defeat of the Lancastrians at
Hexham, Margaret of Anjou fled with her son
into a forest, where she endeavoured to conceal
herself, but was beset, during the darkness of the night,
by robbers, who, either ignorant of her quality, or re-
gardless of it, despoiled her of her rings and jewels,
and treated her with the utmost indignity. The par-
tition of this rich booty raised a quarrel among them,
and while their attention was thus engaged, she took
the opportunity of making her escape with her son
into the thickest of the forest, where she wandered
some time, spent with hunger, fatigue, and affliction.
While in this wretched condition, she saw a robber
approach with a naked sword; and perceiving that
she had no means of escape, she suddenly embraced
the resolution of trusting entirely for protection to his
faith and generosity. She advanced towards him,
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? PRESENCE OF MIND.
97
and presenting to him the young prince, said, "Here,
my friend! I commit to your care the safety of your
King's son. " The man, whose humanity and gene-
rous spirit had been obscured, not entirely lost, by his
vicious course of life, was struck with the singularity
of the event, was charmed with the confidence reposed
in him, and vowed not only to abstain from all injury
to the Princess, but to devote himself entirely to her
service. By his means she dwelt some time concealed
in the forest, and was at last conducted to the sea-
coast, whence she made her escape into Flanders.
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? PRINCELY BEARING.
1 jour ou`, jeune encore, on reve^t la puissance,
On grandit sous son poids: pour secouer l'en-
fance, Sur les de? gre? s du tro^ne il suffit d'un instant, Et l'enfant couronne? devient homme en montant.
Casimir Delavigne.
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? PRINCELY BEARING.
99
GEORGE, PRINCE OF WALES, AFTERWARDS
GEORGE THE FOURTH.
IS Royal Highness George, Prince of Wales,
afterwards George the Fourth, was invested with
the insignia of the Garter at the early age of
three years; but even this was not his first appearance
in public life, as a short time previous, he had received
in person, an address from the Ancient Britons, a
society which has a peculiar claim to the patronage
of the heir apparent. The address was, with great
good sense, well adapted to his infantine years, and
he appeared perfectly capable of comprehending the
stewards, when they told him that his royal parents
remembered no period of their lives too early for doing
good, and hoped that when a few short years should
call forth his virtues into action, he would recollect
with pleasure the occurrence of that day.
His Royal Highness, no doubt prepared by parental
care for the occasion, listened with attention to the
address, and distinctly repeated his answer: "Gentle-
men, I thank you for this mark of duty to the king,
and wish prosperity to this charity. "
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? 100
PRINCELY BEARING.
T an Installation of the Knights of the Garter, at
Windsor, when his Majesty's second son, Prince
Frederic, appeared very uneasy and restless
under his great cap and feather, his brother, the
Prince of Wales, who was but one year older, called
one of his people, and said, "Go to the Bishop of
Osnaburg, and tell him, I desire he will remember
that he is not in the nursery. "
THE PRINCESS AMELIA.
ISS Burney, in her Diary, says of the Princess
Amelia: "She is a most lovely little thing, just
three years old, and full of sense, spirit, and
playful prettiness: yet decorous and dignified when
called upon to appear en princesse to any strangers, as
if conscious of her high rank, and of the importance of
sustaining it. By practice and example, taught her
own consequence, she conducts herself upon all proper
occasions, with an air of dignity that is quite astonish-
ing, though her natural character seems all sport and
humour. "
"When we became a little acquainted, the Queen
desired me to take her by the hand, and lead her
down stairs to the King, who was waiting for her in the
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? PRINCELY BEARING.
101
garden. She trusted herself to me with a grave and
examining look, and showed me, for I knew it not, the
way. The King, who dotes upon her, seemed pleased
to see me bring her. He took her little hand, and led
her away. "
HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES, SON OF JAMES
THE FIRST.
HE feast of St. George being celebrated at Wind-
sor, on the 2nd of July, 1603, Henry, Prince of
Wales, then ten years old, was invested with
the Order of the Garter; and after the ceremony was
over, being in his robes presented to the Queen, the
noblemen present highly commended him for several
of his quick witty answers, princely carriage, and reve-
rend obeisance at the altar; all which appeared very
strange to them, and the rest of the spectators, con-
sidering his tender age, and his being, till then, altoge-
ther unacquainted with the matter and circumstances
of that solemnity.
AMES the First, in order to make his eldest son,
Henry, Prince of Wales, apt to learn, told him one
| day that it behoved him to apply diligently to his
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PRINCELY BEARING.
book, saying that otherwise his brother, Duke Charles,
who seemed already to love his book, would prove
more meet for government and counsel, whereas he,
not being learned, would be only fit for martial affairs,
and the exercises of the body. He answered nothing,
bearing, as he always did, a due respect to his majesty;
but his governor, soon after, using the same speech as
a persuasion to diligence, his Highness asked him,
whether he really thought his brother would prove so
good a scholar, and being answered that it was likely,
"Then," quoth his Highness, "will I make him Arch-
bishop of Canterbury. "
CHRISTINA OF SWEDEN.
PON the death of Gustavus Adolphus, King of
Sweden, great dissensions broke out among the
princes of the kingdom, and all things seemed to
threaten the horrors of a civil as well as a foreign war.
Christina, the only child of Gustavus, now six years
old, was the only hope of her country. The States of
Sweden assembled, and the marshal of the diet opened
the proceedings, by proving her right of inheritance,
and then proposed that Christina should be crowned:
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? PRINCELY BEARING.
103
he was interrupted by a member of the order of the
peasants, named Larsson, who called out, " Where is
this daughter of Gustavus? We don't know her: let
her be produced. " The whole community presently
began to murmur, repeating the same words. To ap-
pease their clamour, the grand marshal went to the
palace, and taking Christina in his arms, carried her
into the midst of the Senate. Larsson advanced, and
examining her attentively, cried out, "Yes, it is she i
Behold the features, the brow, the very face of Gus-
tavus Adolphus! We will have her for our sovereign:
Let her be seated on the throne immediately, and pro-
claimed king. '"HRISTINA of Sweden thus came to the throne
at the early age of six years. This august child
delighted to appear in state; for when the Rus-
sian ambassadors came to ratify their alliance with the
Swedes, it was apprehended Christina would be terri-
fied at the appearance of so numerous a train of Mus-
covites, with long beards, monstrous dresses, singular
ceremonies, and something barbarous even in their
politeness! But, on the contrary, this interview, which
had been represented as rather tremendous, was to her
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PRINCELY BEARING.
quite an entertaining spectacle. Elevated upon a
throne, Christina acted the queen with great steadi-
ness and dignity; appearing to the ambassadors as one
born to command, in whom the daughter of the hero
and the king could not be concealed.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
HILE Alexander was yet very young, ambassa-
dors from Persia happening to arrive in the
absence of his father Philip, Alexander re-
ceived them in his stead, and gained upon them greatly
by his politeness and solid sense. He asked them no
childish or trifling questions, but inquired the distances
of places, and the state of the roads through the upper
provinces of Asia: he desired to be informed of the
character of their king, in what manner he behaved to
his enemies, and in what the strength and power of
Persia consisted. The ambassadors were struck with
admiration, and looked upon the celebrated shrewd-
ness of Philip as nothing in comparison with the lofty
and enterprising genius of his son.
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? PRINCELY BEARING.
105
KING PORUS.
HEN Porus was taken prisoner, Alexander
asked him how he desired to be treated. He
answered, "Like a king. " "And have you
nothing else to request? " said Alexander. "No,"
answered Porus; "every thing is comprehended in
the word king. " Alexander, who was himself
"every inch a king," knew how to appreciate his
magnanimity: he not only restored him his own do-
minions immediately, which he was to govern as his
lieutenant, but added very extensive territories to
them.
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? EEPUTATION.
"Horatio, I am dead,
Thou livest; report me and my cause aright. "
Shakspeare.
REPUTATION, or the opinion of the world,
cannot be too highly prized by princes, none
of whose actions are indifferent, who are' the
observed of all observers. ' A negligence respecting
public opinion, or a contempt for the judgment of pos-
terity, would be inexcusable in those whose conduct
must, in no inconsiderable degree, give, in their own
time, the law to manners, and whose example will
hereafter be adduced by future historians, either to
illustrate virtue, or to exemplify vice, and to stimulate
to good or evil, monarchs yet unborn. "
Mrs. H. More.
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? REPUTATION.
107
YOUNG NAPOLEON.
HE King of Rome, son of Napoleon, was gene-
rally very docile, but now and then he gave way
to great fits of passion. One day, when he was
screaming and rolling upon the floor, Madame de
Montesquieu, his governess, began to shut all the
shutters and blinds of the room: the child forgot his
little fury, and asked her what she was doing. "I am
afraid you should be heard," said she. "And why? "
"Do you suppose the French people would have you
for their prince, if they knew you gave way to passion
in this manner? " "Do you think they could hear
me? " "Certainly. " "I am very sorry: forgive me,
Mamma Quiou," so he always called Mad. de Montes-
quieu, "I will be good. "
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, GRANDSON OF
LOUIS THE FIFTEENTH.
"You know, what great ones do
The less will prattle of. " Shakspeare.
HE little Duke of Burgundy, having once been
inattentive at his lessons, his governor said:
"Fame will go and publish every where how
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REPUTATION.
naughty you are, and the people will take you to be a
bad prince. " "Ah," replied he softly, and quite grieved,
"do not let my governess and my valet tell any one,
and then Fame will not know of it. "
THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS.
HE Emperor Augustus anxiously inquired of the
friends who surrounded his death-bed, whether
he had properly fulfilled his duties, and made
the Roman people happy. On their answering in the
affirmative, "Then," said he, "give me your applause;"
and so saying, and adding a few last words to his em-
press, he expired.
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? KINDNESS AND DELICACT OF FEELING.
"Defect of manners, want of government,
Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain;
The least of these, haunting a nobleman,
Loseth men's hearts, and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation. " Shakspeare.
ATTENTION to the wishes and feelings of others,
is a duty in persons of all ranks, but more parti-
cularly is this delicacy of feeling, this habitual
kindness of heart, amiable in princes, from whom a word
or a look may produce pain or confer happiness.
Kindness, attention, and all the outward graces,
should be the effect of habits and dispositions lying in
the mind, and ready to show themselves in action,
whenever the occasion presents itself.
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? 110
KINDNESS AND
THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES.
jURING the last illness of an old female attend-
jant, formerly nurse to the Princess Charlotte of
Wales, the princess visited her every day, sat by her bedside, and with her own hand administered the
medicine prescribed. When death had closed the eyes
of this poor woman, instead of fleeing in haste from an
object in general so appalling to the young and gay,
the princess remained, and gave utterance to her feel-
ings, on viewing the remains in that state from which
majesty itself cannot be exempt. A friend of the de-
ceased seeing her Royal Highness was much affected,
said, "If your Royal Highness would condescend to
touch her, the impression perhaps would be less pain-
ful. " "Touch her," replied the princess, "yes, poor
thing, and kiss her too; almost the only one I ever
kissed, except my poor mother! " Then bending her
head over the body of her humble friend, she pressed
her lips to the cold cheek, while tears of emotion flowed
from her eyes.
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? DELICACY OF FEELING:. Ill
THE PRINCESS SOPHIA.
R. Webb, a Windsor musician, who was master
to the young princesses, daughters of George
the Third, had a nose, from some strange
calamity, of so enormous a size, that it covered all the
middle of his face. When first Mr. Webb was to go to
the Princess Sophia, who was then just nine years old,
Queen Charlotte, her mother, told her he had had
some accident to disfigure his whole face, by making
him an enormous nose; but desired her to remember,
this was a misfortune for which he ought to be pitied,
and that she must be sure not to laugh at it, or stare
at it; and she minded this very well, and behaved
always very properly. But while Lady Cremorne was
at the Lodge, she was one day with the princess when
Mr. Webb came to give her a lesson. As soon as he
was named, the princess coloured very red, and ran
up to Lady Cremorne, saying to her in a whisper,
"Lady Cremorne, Mr. Webb has got a very great
nose, but that is only to be pitied, so mind you do not
laugh. "
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? 112
KINDNESS AND
QUEEN CAROLINE'S LESSON TO HER
DAUGHTER.
HE tenderness of Queen Caroline, consort of
George the Second, for the feelings of others,
was always superior to court etiquette. One day,
observing that one of the princesses made one of her
ladies stand a long time, whilst she was talking to her
on some trifling subject, the queen determined to take
an early opportunity of giving to her daughter a prac-
tical reprimand for her conduct, which would carry
more weight with it than a mere precept could con-
vey. For this purpose, when her Royal Highness
came as usual, to read to her in the evening, and was
drawing a chair to sit down, the Queen motioned to
her to stand, and thus to commence the evening's
amusement; and for an hour she kept her standing:
until seeing her almost exhausted, her majesty ob-
served, " Now, my dear, you may sit down: you will
now be able to judge of the impropriety of subjecting
your ladies to etiquette unnecessarily. "
THE DAUPHIN, SON OF LOUIS THE SIXTEENTH.
EFORE the breaking out of the French Revolu-
tion, the Dauphin was already, at four years old,
much talked of for his beautiful person, and pre-
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? DELICACY OP FEELING. 113
cocious powers of mind, and many would go from Paris,
to walk in the park of St. Cloud, in the hope of seeing
him. A lady, celebrated as an instructress of young
people, went among others, but was introduced by a
lady of the court to the interior of the palace, and
when about to be presented to the Dauphin, she asked
the same favour for her pupils. When the three little
ladies had had the honour of kissing the Dauphin's
hand, he himself advanced to their governess, and
said, with admirable discernment of what was due to
her age and superior endowments, "But you, madam:
I beg you will kiss my cheek. "
LERI, in his account of the imprisonment of the
unfortunate Louis the Sixteenth and his family, in
the Temple, relates the following interesting anec-
dote of the little Dauphin, then about eight years old.
"One night, when recovering from my illness,
having put the prince to bed, I retired to give place to
the queen and princesses, who came to embrace him,
and wish him good night. Mad. Elizabeth, who had
been prevented from speaking to me, by the watchful-
ness of the municipal officers, took advantage of this
moment to put into the prince's hand a little box of
ipecacuanha lozenges, which she charged him to give
I
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? 114
KINDNESS AND
me when I returned. The princesses retired into their
apartment, the king into his closet, and I went to sup-
per. I returned at about eleven o'clock into his ma-
jesty's chamber, to prepare his bed: I was alone, and
the prince called to me in a low tone of voice: I was
much surprised that he was not asleep, and fearing he
was indisposed, asked him how it happened: 'My aunt
gave me a little box for you,' said he, 'and I would
not go to sleep till I had given it to you: I am glad
you are come, for my eyes have shut up several times. '
Mine were filled with tears: he perceived it, embraced
me, and in two minutes was fast asleep. "
THE DAUPHIN, FATHER OF LOUIS THE
SIXTEENTH.
Ill
ml
WOUNDED officer once presented to Louis,
Dauphin of France, father of Louis the Six-
teenth, a petition, requesting an advance of pay,
to enable him to visit some mineral waters, for the
recovery of his health: his paleness and weakness
sufficiently proved that his request was reasonable.
The Dauphin was much affected, and turning to the
Duke de Chatillon, his governor, said, "This poor
man cannot wait for the affair to go through the regu-
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? DELICACY OF FEELING. 115
lar forms: I feel inclined to give him a sufficient sum
to visit the waters. " The duke much approved this
generous impulse, and the prince immediately pre-
sented him double the amount of the advance he had
asked, saying, "This sum will enable you to make
the journey, and on your return, you can solicit the
advance. "
THE DUKE DE CHARTRES, FATHER OF KING
LOUIS PHILIPPE.
HE Duke de Chartres, father of Louis Philippe,
the ex-king of France, gave audience at the
early age of fourteen, and among the officers of
all ranks, belonging to his regiment and his father's,
who presented themselves, he remarked one, who much
interested him, by his fine countenance and melan-
choly air. On inquiry, he learned that he was ex-
tremely poor, and denied himself every luxury, in order
to support his mother and two sisters, who depended
entirely upon him. After this information, the duke
laid by the whole of his pocket-money for two months,
when it amounted to forty louis: his difficulty was how
to convey this sum to the officer, when fortunately, he
received a present of a large quantity of sugar-plums,
and it occurred to him, to fill several twisted papers
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KINDNESS AND
with sugar-plums, and to enclose his forty louis in the
same way; the next time the poor officer appeared at
the audience, the duke said in a joking manner, that
he had had some sugar-plums given to him, and was
going to distribute a few to every one present. The
poor officer found his packet so heavy, that he made a
movement of surprise, but the prince motioned him to
be silent. When he left the Palais-Royal, however,
his gratitude was still more indiscreet than his surprise,
for he repeated the story to every one.
MARIA LECZINSKA, QUEEN OF LOUIS THE
FIFTEENTH.
ARIA Leczinska, Queen of Louis the Fif-
teenth, passing through the apartments of
Versailles, one day, with her usual suite, was
accosted unceremoniously by a peasant, who said to
her, "Now, my good queen, I have come from a great
distance on purpose to see you; pray let me enjoy this
pleasure at my ease. " "Very willingly, my good
woman," said the Queen, stopping, and she began to
ask her questions about her country and her family. The villager retired, transported with her kindness.
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? DELICACY OF PEELING.
117
THE EMPRESS-QUEEN MARIA THERESA.
POOR woman, above a hundred years old, had
been in the habit of presenting herself on Holy
Thursday, among the poor women, whose feet the
Empress-Queen Maria Theresa washed on that day.
At length her infirmities prevented her from reaching
the palace, and she sent a message to the Empress,
telling her how deeply she regretted not being able to
form one at this pious ceremony, not so much from
the honour she should have received, as because she
was thus deprived of the happiness of seeing her adored
sovereign. The princess, touched at the sentiments
of the good woman, went herself to the village she in-
habited, to pay her a visit: she found her confined to
her homely couch. "You are sorry you could not go
to me," said the kind Maria Theresa: "be comforted;
I am come to see you. " The poor woman was over-
powered at such condescension: her eyes were filled
with tears: her open mouth refused to utter a word:
she clasped her hands, and looked upon her sovereign
as an angel from heaven, come to console her for her
sufferings. The Empress talked with her a long time,
and then left her a sum of money sufficient to procure
her every comfort.
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? 118
KINDNESS AND
A RUSSIAN PRINCESS.
ICHAEL Schuppach, the Swiss doctor, who by
the wonderful cures he wrought on persons
who had been given up by regular physicians,
obtained so great a celebrity during the last century,
was often visited by persons of distinction and fortune,
from every country in Europe.
There were once assembled in Michael Schuppach's
laboratory, a great many distinguished persons, some
to consult him, and some out of curiosity: among them
were many French ladies and gentlemen, and a Rus-
sian Prince, with his daughter, whose singular beauty
attracted general attention. A young French Mar-
quis attempted, for the amusement of the ladies, to
display his wit on the miraculous doctor; but the
latter, though not much acquainted with the French
language, answered so cleverly, that the Marquis had
not the laugh on his side. During the conversation,
there entered an old peasant meanly dressed, with a
snow-white beard, a neighbour of Schuppach's. The
doctor directly turned away from his great company,
to his old neighbour, and hearing that his wife was ill,
set about preparing the necessary medicine for her,
without paying much attention to his more exalted
guests, whose business he did not think so pressing.
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? DELICACY OP FEELING. 119
The Marquis was now deprived of one subject of his
wit, and therefore chose to turn his jokes against the
old man, who was waiting while his neighbour, Mi-
chael, was preparing something for his old Mary.
After many silly observations upon his long white
beard, he offered a wager of twelve louis d'or, that none
of the ladies would kiss the old fellow. The Russian
Princess, hearing these words, made a sign to her at-
tendant, who brought her a salver. The Princess put
twelve louis d'or on it, and had it carried to the Mar-
quis, who, of course could not decline to add twelve
others. Then the fair Russian went up to the old
peasant, and said, "Permit me, venerable father, to
salute you after the fashion of my country. " Saying
this, she embraced him, and gave him a kiss. She
then presented him the gold which was on the salver,
with these words: "Take this as a remembrance of
me, and as a proof that the Russian girls think it
their duty to honour old age. "
ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
LEXANDER the Great, during the time that
the wife, mother, and children of Darius were
his prisoners, behaved towards them with the
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? 120
KINDNESS AND
utmost delicacy, politeness, and humanity; and having
received from Macedonia a great quantity of purple
stuffs and rich habits, made after the fashion of that
country, he presented them to Sysigambis, the mother
of Darius, together with the artificers who had wrought
them. He likewise commanded the messengers to
tell her, that in case she fancied those stuffs, she might
make her grandchildren learn the art of weaving them,
by way of amusement; and to give them to whomso-
ever they should think proper. At these words, the
tears that fell from her eyes showed but too evidently
how greatly she was hurt at this proposal; the working
in wool being considered by the Persian women as
highly ignominious. Those who carried these pre-
sents, having told the king that Sysigambis was very
much dissatisfied, he thought himself obliged to make
an apology for what he had done, and administer con-
solation to her. Accordingly, he paid her a visit,
when he spoke thus: "Mother, the stuff in which you
see me clothed was not only a gift from my sisters,
but was wrought by their fingers. Hence, I beg you
to believe, that the custom of my country misled me;
and do not consider that as an insult, which was owing
entirely to ignorance. I believe I have not as yet
done any thing which I knew interfered with your man-
ners and customs. I was told, that among the Persians
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? DELICACY OF FEELING. 121
it is a sort of crime for a son to seat himself in his
mother's presence, without first obtaining her leave.
You are sensible how cautious I have always been in
this particular, and that I never sat down till you had
first laid your commands upon me to do so. And as
the highest testimony of the veneration I have for you,
I have always called you by the tender name of
mother, though this belongs properly to Olympias
only, to whom I owe my birth. "
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