THE KING, 271 



manners he gave several striking proofs at the opening of the 

 present session. The day was unusually gloomy, which, added 

 to an imperfection in his visual organs consequent on advanced 

 years, and to the darkness of the present House of Lords, espe- 

 cially in the place where the throne is situated, — rendered it 

 impossible for him to read the Royal Speech with facility. Most 

 patiently and good-naturedly did he struggle with the task, often 

 hesitating, sometimes mistaking, and at others correcting himself. 

 On one occasion he stuck altogether, when, after two or three in- 

 effectual efforts to make out the word, he was obliged to give it 

 up, when, turning to Lord Melbourne, who stood on his right 

 hand, and looking him most significantly in the face, he said in a 

 tone sufficiently loud to be audible in all parts of the House, 

 " Eh ! what is it V The infinite good nature and bluntness with 

 which the question was put, would have reconciled the most in- 

 veterate republican to monarchy in England, so long as it is em- 

 bodied in^the person of William the Fourth. Lord Melbourne 

 having whispered the obstructing word, the King proceeded to 

 toil through the speech, but by the time he got to about the mid- 

 dle, the Librarian brought him two wax tapers, on which he sud- 

 denly paused, and raising his head, and looking at the Lords and 

 Commons, he addressed them on the spur of the moment in a 

 perfectly distinct voice, and without the least embarrassment or 

 the mistake of a single word, in these terms : — 



** My Lords and Gentleman, 



**I have hitherto not been able, from want of light, to 

 read this speech in the way its importance deserves ; but, as lights 

 are now brought me, I will read it again from the commence- 

 ment, and in a way which, I trust, will command your atten- 

 tion." 



He then again, though evidently fatigued by the difficulty of 

 reading in the first instance, began at the beginning, and read 

 through the speech in a manner which would have done credit 

 to any professor of elocution, — though it was clear he laboured 

 under a slight hoarseness, caused most probably by cold. The 

 sparkling of the diamonds in the crown, owing to the reflection 

 caused by the lighted candles, had a fine effect. Probably this 

 was the first occasion on which a King of England ever read his 

 speech by candle-light, at the opening of his parliament. 



Shakspeare lays it down as a maxi.-n — " Uneasy lies the head 

 that wears a crown." In this Shakspeare is wrong. It is, no 

 do'ubt, true as a general rule, but it does not admit of universal 



