His royal idea of beauty had been Queen Matilda.

[Translator's Note: The unhappy wife of Christian VII.

and daughter of our George III.] "I saw her often on horseback," said he.
"It was not then the custom in our country for ladies to ride.

In her country it was the fashion; here it gave rise to scandal.

God gave her beauty, a king's crown, and a heart full of love; the world gave her--what it can give--a grave near to the bare heath!" Whilst he so perpetually returned to his own recollections, his share of news was truly not new, but he was satisfied.