66 MEMOIR OF 



" Their royal highnesses were not wanting in 

 expressions of their satisfaction at seeing a collec- 

 tion which surpassed all the notions or ideas they 

 had formed of it, from even the most favourable 

 accounts. On this occasion the prince shewed 

 his great reading and happy memory ; for in such 

 a multiplicity and such a variety of the produc- 

 tions of nature and art, upon any thing being 

 shewn to him that he had not seen before, he was 

 ready in recollecting having read of it ; and upon 

 viewing the ancient and modern medals, he made 

 BO many judicious remarks, that he appeared to 

 be a perfect master of history and chronology. 

 He expressed the great pleasure it gave him to 

 see so magnificent a collection in England, 

 esteeming it an ornament to the nation; and 

 expressed his fixed sentiment, how much it must 

 conduce to the benefit of learning, and how great 

 an honour will redound to Britain, to have such a 

 grand repository established for public use to the 

 latest posterity."* 



Amidst these tranquil occupations, he attained 

 an age far beyond the period assigned by the 

 Psalmist to those very few " who, by reason of 

 their strength," exceed, though " in labour and 

 sorrow," man's allotted portion of existence, and 

 this, without these painful concomitants, even to 

 the ninetieth year of his age. From that time, 



* Letter of Dr Mortimer in Gentleman's Magazine, 

 July, 1748. 



