414 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



general of his majesty's forces, and 

 died senior field-marshal. He was 

 likewise chancellor of the universi- 

 ty of Dublin, and president of the 

 London infirmary. His royal high- 

 ness was distinguished more by 

 eqnanimity than splendid or shewy 

 talents ; engaging in his manners, 

 lie acquired the love of those who 

 had access to his person ; respect- 

 ful to his sovereign, aliable to his 

 acquaintance, and generous and 

 condescending to his inferiors, he 

 deservedly enjoyed the confidence 

 of the former, and the unatfected 

 esteem and regard of the latter. He 

 was well educated, a polite scholar, 

 and an accomplished gentleman. 

 The meekness of his disposition in- 

 fluenced every shade in his charac- 

 ter, and even his very virtues par- 

 took of the moderation that predo- 

 inina,ted in his temper and disposi- 

 tion. He was the liberal supporter 

 of every institution calculated to 

 promote the interests of society ; 

 but the modest reserve and placid 

 serenity of his conduct kept many 

 instances of his generosity out of 

 Tiew. His royal highness never ap- 

 peared as a public character. He 

 at all times avoided any interference 

 of the intrigues of parties, or the 

 agitation of political topics; thus 

 alfording an indis])utable proof of 

 his aflection as a brother, and his 

 loyal and respectful attachment a§ 

 a subject. The only instance, Me 

 believe, in which liis conduct was, 

 during his life, displeasing to his 

 majesty, was on the occasion of his 

 marriage without the privity of liis 

 majesty.* 



Reasons of state and court eti- 



quette have undoubtedly restrained 

 the impulse of his majesty's feelings, 

 with respect to the distinguished 

 obJL'ct of his royal highness 's choice ; 

 but the illustrious descendants of 

 his royal highness have uniformly 

 enjoyed the teiiderest and most af- 

 fectionate attention of their majes- 

 ties. 



From twoto ten o'clock on Thurs- 

 day afternoon, Sept. 3, Gloucester- 

 house was thrown open for the pub- 

 lic to see the body lie in state. The 

 pressure at the moment of opening 

 the doors was excessive. Thehorsa 

 and foot-guards, stationed to pre- 

 serve order, had not the least diffi- 

 cult task to perform. The court- 

 yard before the house, and the steps, 

 and hall door, were divided by a 

 temporary railing for persons to 

 cuter on one side, and go out on the 

 other, M Inch prevented confusion ; 

 but, though every precaution was 

 taken, the pressure was so very 

 great, tiiat many persons were 

 bruised severely in attempting to 

 obtain admission. The different 

 rooms were lighted with wax tapers. 

 The collin was placed on a stand, 

 under a black canopy, covered, ex- 

 cept at the extremity, with a black 

 velvet pall. On it was placed a 

 black velvet cushion, bearing the 

 coronet. The escutcheons werehung 

 below. At the foot of the cothn, a 

 yeoman of the guards was station- 

 ed ; two mutes, dressed in black, 

 stood one at each side of the foot of 

 the coflin, each having a hand ou it ; 

 and two nion' sat, one at each side 

 of the head. Tapers, of a very large 

 size, were burning at some distance, 

 at either side of the colTin ; thu 



* The late duke of Cumherlaiid aUo nianicd. Oct. 'J, 1771, under nearly siuii- 

 liar circumst;iiict'.->; and these iiian'i;ij;cs prudiictd the memorable statute Vi Geo, 

 111. for renderiiijj; all such nianiages, without the consent of his majesty and the 

 privv councii. null and » old, ' ' 



' ■ whQh 



