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CHAP. XII.

A PROOF OF THE SAILOR WILLIAM'S ATTACHMENT TO HIS MASTER.

JAMES'S PALACE.

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ACCOUNT OF ST.

CONDESCENSION OF KING

CHARLES THE SECOND.-A POOR BEGGAR-WOMAN RELIEVED.

CHARLES and Mary were both pleased with this arrangement; and the discourse, long after William's departure, turned on the subject. "I did not,” said the good man, "inform you before what I learned in this business; but Captain Wells's brother I am well acquainted with; he is a merchant of great repute, and yesterday, on 'Change, I asked him concerning this lad. He then informed me, that his late brother had intrusted his will to the Surgeon of the ship; that, among other bequests, there was two hundred pounds. to this boy, whose affection, as he expressed it in his will, had saved him from being killed on the deck, by rushing through the thickest of the fire,

and supporting him away, though he received a shot in the shoulder in the attempt."

"What a brave lad," said Charles.

"At least," replied Mr. Richardson, "he has a heart capable of gratitude, which, to me, is a warm recommendation; and as Mr. Wells did not appear to have any inclination to engage him, I was not displeased at the acquisition."

Thus ended the conversation, at least for that time; and, after two hours spent pleasantly with their father, the children retired to rest.

Mary's lessons were performed early the ensuing morning, and Charles's also being concluded, they sat down to amuse themselves until their father should send for them; Charles reading aloud, and Mary employed on a piece of embroidery, though her eyes often wandered to the door, in expectancy of the wished-for summons. Thus situated were they when Mr. Richardson entered, who declared himself well satisfied with them, and that

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though he was busy, he would make a point of walking an hour with them in the evening.

This assurance kept them in spirits the whole day, Mary working very assiduously, being determined to remove the stigma of idleness from her character; but what gave Mrs. Beaumont yet more pleasure was, to see, that though the History of England had not interested her at once sufficiently to make her read it, yet as Charles proceeded, it insensibly caught her attention, and she frequently stopped him with either her questions

or comments.

Dinner over, Mr. Richardson desired them to be ready; then ordered the coach to St. James's Park, an excursion Mary had chosen.

On their reaching the palace, Mary said, "This building, I think, papa, is not handsome enough to be called a palace; the name makes one expect something magnificent."

"It is a proof, then, Mary, that we

should not judge by external appearances; for it is allowed to be the most commodious of any in Europe for regal parade. On the spot where St. James's palace now stands," continued Mr. Richardson, "was originally an hospital dedicated to that Saint, for fourteen leprous females; and eight brethren were afterwards added to perform divine service. In the year 1531, it was surrendered to Henry the Eighth, who founded, on its site, the present building; he also enclosed the Park, which was jointly appertaining to this and his palace at Whitehall; but few improvemenis took place in it till the reign of Charles the Second he planted the avenues, made the canal; and the Bird-cage walk is named from the number of bird-cages then hung among the trees. Here it was that monarch was frequently seen, amidst crowds of spectators, feeding his ducks, and playing with his dogs, passing his idle moments in affability even to the meanest of his subjects; a conduct that

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made him, in spite of his imprudence, almost adored by the common people: so fascinating is condescension from the rich to the poor. St. James's palace does not appear to have been the regular residence of any of our monarchs until the reign of King William, when it was fitted up for the Princess Anne (afterwards Queen) and her consort, Prince George of Denmark.-From that time to the present, it has regularly been the court of our sovereigns."

These observations were made as they proceeded through the Park, when, Mary wishing to rest awhile, they seated themselves on one of the benches. They had continued but a short time, when a woman, poorly but cleanly dressed, came up and supplicated their charity, though in a manner and with an address that showed it was a humiliation to which she was unaccustomed, and overwhelmed her with shame. The children were in a moment ready with their sixpences; which given, Mr. Richardson observed

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