favour. The majority of the freemen had formed themselves into a society, which they called The Christian Club, and under a mask of piety and religion, trafficked with their oaths and consciences, letting the borough to the best bidder. When the election was over, they divided the money amongst them. The Attorney-general, in consequence of an address of the House to the King, was ordered to prosecute this infamous combination of venality.

Among the domestic events of this year were the birth of the Prince Ernest-Augustus: this occurred at half an hour past four o'clock in the morning of the 5th of May, when her Majesty was taken in labour, and notice, as usual, sent to her Royal Highness the Princess-Dowager of Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Secretaries of State, and the Ladies of the Bedchamber. A little before six o'clock her Majesty was safely delivered of a Prince. This was announced to the public by the ringing of bells, hoisting of flags, and firing the Tower guns. The ceremony of christening the young Prince was performed on the 1st of July, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. His Royal Highness was named Ernest-Augustus. The sponsors were his Serene Highness Prince Ernest of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz (second brother to her Majesty, who had arrived from Germany on the 22d of June), his Serene Highness Prince Maurice of Saxe-Gotha, represented by the Earl of Hertford, and her Serene Highness the Hereditary Princess of Hesse-Cassel, represented by the Countess of Egremont.

The following affair happened at the Queen's-house during the night of the 24th of June. A woman, decently dressed, passed by the porter with a basket, and inquired for one of the attendants; she went into one of the offices, where she left the basket, and then went through the avenue. A boy belonging to her Majesty's household saw the woman lay the basket down, and being curious, looked into it; when, under some green leaves, he found a fine male child about two months old. The boy being much surprised, screamed very loud, which alarmed several people,

and at length the news reached the ears of the King, who desired the child to be brought to him. After viewing the infant, his Majesty ordered it to be sent to a careful nurse, and to be named George. A memorandum was found with the child. This affair occasioned many curious conjectures.

About this period, a command was issued by the King, that the Poor Knights of Windsor should attend Divine Service every Sunday at St. George's Chapel.

The Prince of Wales had now a separate establishment at the Queen's palace, and appeared at the Queen's Court, for the first time, in May 1771, with the officers of his household. A separate table was kept on the occasion.

Local subscriptions for the poor were now recommended by his Majesty, in the different districts of London and Westminster.

In September, a Chapter of the Order of the Garter was held at Windsor, for the purpose of installing his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Bishop of Osnaburgh, the Duke of Cumberland, the Duke of Mecklenburgh, the Prince of Brunswick, the Earl of Albemarle, the Dukes of Marlborough and Grafton, as Knights of the Order, in presence of the Sovereign. The following is the form of this splendid ceremony:

The Knights Companions in the full habit of the Order, the Officers of the Order in their mantles, the Knights Elect in the under habit of the Order, having their caps and feathers in their hands, and the Proxies in their ordinary habit, attended the Sovereign in the Royal Apartment; the Officers of Arms in the Presence-chamber, the Prebends and Poor Knights in the Guard-chamber.

The Proxies not going in the procession, retired before it began, to the chairs at the back of the Altar.

About eleven o'clock the procession began to move, being called over in the following order by Garter:

Poor Knights, two and two.

Prebends, two and two.

Officers of Arms, two and two.

The Knights Elect, two and two, having their caps and feathers in their hands,

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

The Knights Companions in their Order, viz.

Marquis of Rockingham.

Duke of Northumberland.

Duke of Newcastle.

Earl of Hertford.
Duke of Montague.

The Sword of State, borne by the Duke of St. Albans.

THE SOVEREIGN,

In the full habit of the Order, his train borne by two Dukes' eldest sons and the Master of the Robes.

The Band of Gentlemen Pensioners.

In this manner proceeding to the Chapel, they entered at the south door, passing down the south aisle, and up to the north aisle to the Chapter-house; the Poor Knights, Prebends, and Officers of Arms, dividing on either side for the procession to pass; the Knights Elect retiring to the chairs in the aisle behind the Altar; the Knights Companions, and the Officers of the Order, only entering into the Chapterhouse with the Sovereign.

The Sovereign and Knights Companions being seated, Garter was commanded to introduce his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who was received at the Chapter-house door by the two junior Knights Companions, and conducted to the table, where the surcoat, girdle, and sword, had been placed; and Garter presenting the surcoat to the two senior Knights, they invested his Royal Highness therewith, the Chancellor reading the admonition.

Then Garter presented the girdle and sword, which were put on. His Royal Highness the Bishop of Osnaburgh, and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, were then severally introduced, and invested in like manner.

Then the Proxy for his Serene Highness the Duke of Mecklenburgh was introduced, and afterwards the Proxy for his Serene Highness the Prince of Brunswick.

Garter then introduced the Earl of Albemarle, who was received at the Chapter-house door by the two junior Knights Companions, and invested as before, the Register reading the admonition.

Then the Duke of Mariborough, the Duke of Grafton, and Earl Gower, were severally introduced and invested, as the Earl of Albe-'

marle had been.

The Knights Elect continued in the Chapter-house while the procession to the Chapel was made, and the achievements of the deceased

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Knights were offered; the procession passing down to the west end of the aisle, into the choir, in the following order:

First, the Poor Knights, who, coming into the choir, made their reverences all together, and placed themselves on each side near the Altar.

The Prebends, making their reverences in like manner, went to their seats under the stalls.

The Officers of Arms, making their reverences, stood next the Poor Knights.

The Knights Companions, in the order they walked, made their reverences, and retired under the banners.

The Register, Garter, and Black Rod, made their reverences together, and stood before their form.

The Chancellor did the like.

The Sovereign made one reverence to the Altar, and, being in his stall, repeated the same; the train-bearers standing upon the steps going up to the stall; the sword of state, with the Vice-Chamberlain, ou the steps, before or under the Sovereign's stall.

The two Prebends were conducted to the Altar by the Verger.

Then Garter, with the usual reverences, taking up the banner of the late Duke of Cumberland, and holding it up, two Officers of Armis immediately joined, and, making their reverences, repaired to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kingston, being the two senior Knights, who thereupon joining, and making their reverences together, received the banner from Garter; and being preceded by the two Heralds, advanced to the first step, or haut-pas, where they repeated their reverences, and coming to the rails, made one to the Altar; then, kneeling, they delivered the banner to the Prebends, who placed it upright at the south end of the Altar.

The sword was then delivered by Garter, and offered in like manner, and then the helm and crest, the Knights retiring under their banners. The achievements of the late Duke of York were offered in the

same manner.

The swords of other deceased Knights, viz. the Duke of Dorset, Duke of Newcastle, Duke of Bedford, Earl Granville, Earl of Winchilsea, Duke of Devonshire, and Earl Waldegrave, were then offered together by the two next Knights in rotation.

Garten then summoned the Knights to ascend into their stalls.

All the Knights being in their stalls, the two seniors were summoned down to instal the Prince of Wales; and they proceeded to the Chapter-house, in the following order: Poor Knights-Officers of ArmsThe Register, Garter, and Black Rod, as before-The ChancellorThe two Knights; and from the Chapter-house his Royal Highness was conducted to the Chapel, in the order as follows, viz.

Poor Knights.

Officers of Arins.

Garter, carrying on a cushion the Mantle, Hood, Great Collar, and Book of Statutes, having on his right hand the Register, and Black Rod on his left.

The Chancellor.

The two Knights, having his Royal Highness between them, in his surcoat and sword, carrying his cap and feather in his hand.

All entering the choir with the usual reverences, Garter placed the cushion upon the desk.

The two Knights conducted his Royal Highness directly to his stall, (the Sovereign having dispensed with his taking the oath, by reason of his tender years), and Garter delivering the mantle to the Knights, they invested the Prince therewith; the Chancellor reading the admonition,

Garter next presented the statute-book, which the Knights delivered to the Prince; and then placing the cap and feather on his head, they seated him in his stall; and the Prince rising up, made his double reverences; and the Knights, after embracing and congratulating bis Royal Highness, descended, made their reverences, and went up into their stalls, and the Officers to their places.

His Royal Highness the Bishop of Osnaburgh was then introduced, and installed by the two senior Knights, in the same manner as the Prince of Wales had been.

The two senior Knights likewise installed his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, who, being introduced with the usual reverences, they entered into the lower stall, where the Register administered the oath to his Royal Highness, Black Rod holding the book.

Then the Knight conducted his Royal Highness into the upper stall; the Chancellor and Garter entering into the lower stall; the Register and Black Rod remaining in the area.

Garter then presented the mantle, hood, and collar, with which his Royal Highness was invested: the Chancellor reading the admonitions; and then the statute-book was delivered; and he was installed with the same ceremony as before mentioned.

Then the two next Knights in seniority were summoned to instal Sir Charles Frederick, the Proxy for his Serene Highness the Duke of Mecklenburgh, who was conducted into the lower stall, where the oath was administered to him, under the reservations stipulated: he was then conducted into the upper stall, and the mantle being presented by Garter, the Knights put it over his arm; so that the garter thereon appeared: he was then seated in the stall, as the Knights had been; and, during the rest of the ceremony, stood up, or leaned on the cushion; a Proxy not being allowed to sit in the stall.

Sir John Griffin Griffin, the Proxy for his Serene Highness the Prince of Brunswick, was then installed in the same manner.

The Earl of Albemarle was then brought in, and installed in the same manner as the Duke of Cumberland, except the attendance of the Chancellor, the Register pronouncing the admonition. In like manner the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Grafton, and Earl Gower, were severally introduced and installed.

Divine service then began; and at the words of the Offertory, "Let your light so shine," the organ playing, the Officers of the Wardrobe spread a carpet on the steps before the Altar: and Black Rod, making his obeisances, went up to the rails of the Altar on the right side, where he received from the Yeomen of the Wardrobe a rich carpet and cushion: which, with the assistance of the Yeomen, he laid down for the Sovereign to kneel upon.

In the mean time, Garter summoned the Knights from their stalls; and, being all under their banners. ▲ a 2