an invalid, and his doctor having prescribed sea-bathing, we are on the wing for Boulogne, where we remain a few weeks. I take my MS. of vol. IXth with me, and propose making a run with Mary and Annie to Paris, and getting a peep at the Scottish letters in the Bibliothèque Royale, before I send it to press, which I shall do in the end of September, if we are all spared so long. We go en masse, as Sandy has got his holidays; the party being Miss F. T. senior, Miss M. F. T. junior, Miss Mac, Sandy, Tommy, old William, Emily the nursery-maid, and myself: eight precious souls, to be packed into as small a compass as possible,-like the small 8vo edition of the History. children are wild with spirits, and hope, and anticipated novelty. We speak French now constantly, to bring us in; and have, as you may believe, a thousand jokes as to the way we are to get on with the Mounseers. Mary for the last three weeks has been teaching the nurserymaid, who is an apt scholar; but we have sore misgivings as to old William, who (like Bottom) is 'slow of study,' and not exactly a heaven-born linguist."

The

To Boulogne the travellers went, and his daughter's reminiscences of Mr. Tytler at this time are all true to the life. "His enjoyment of any little amusement or relaxation was especially remarkable on our two successive visits to Boulogne. He invariably began to speak French à tort et à travers (as he expressed it) to everybody whenever he set foot on French ground,-douanier, and poissard, soldier, man woman and child; every one in turn was greeted with some little playful remark. And so he was always making friends among high and low, from the librarian at Boulogne (to whom he gave a copy of his History for the library there, as an acknowledgment of the civility shown him during his frequent visits to the Musée,) down to the peasant woman who brought us milk. One evening we went with him,

Y

uncle Tom, and our six cousins to sup at the good woman's We were regaled with hot bread, butter, and fresh milk. She was in a high state of delight at the attention Papa paid her, and the praises he bestowed on her farm, her delicious fare, &c. The repast ended, she took us into her garden, and we (the children) dispersed ourselves in all directions. After a little time, I came suddenly on Papa and our hostess; she, listening with a face of mingled awe and delight, while he was enlightening her, and improving his French, on the subject of 'Marie Stuart, Reine d'Ecosse." He delighted to dwell on the ancient alliance between the Scottish and the French nations; and it was so amusing to hear him recall the fact in his best French, and with a look full of fun and playfulness, to the woman from whom he was buying flowers or eau de cologne.

"One bright morning, Papa and I sallied out before breakfast into the market, a lively scene was that marketplace in front of St. Nicolas, crowded with the peasants from the neighbouring country in their dazzlingly white caps and gay petticoats!-and after an animated conversation with some good woman, we returned in triumph with a turkey for the dinner of the family. Alas, when it appeared on table, there was a misgiving look on old William's face, and a certain difficulty in carving it, which prepared us for the extreme toughness of the bird. It was pronounced to be a grandfather. Not all William's skill in cooking could conceal its venerable age. Aunt Annie solemnly charged us never to attempt such an important transaction as buying a turkey again; and William himself devoutly hoped that Master would never buy another ding dong,'-his nearest approach to correct French."

The trip to Paris was also made, and "very delightful impressions I have of it" (writes the same lady). "From the time we set off in the intérieur of the diligence till we

returned, he was in such boyish spirit, entering into conversation with his fellow travellers, and determined to make use of every opportunity for practising the language. Intensely exasperated was an Anglo-Saxon who sat opposite, and had evidently nothing to say for himself in any language but his own; probably little enough in that. On arriving at Paris, we were greeted by a very officious little official, who took for granted, to our indignation, that we could not speak a word of French, and began in the most patronizing manner settling our affairs for us. We were standing by our belongings, when he cried to a porter, (pointing in our direction,)-Otez ces objets. Travelstained, dusty and tumbled as we were, there was something so peculiarly apposite in this remark, that Papa and I burst into a fit of laughter. Otez ces objets. Pretty greeting on our arrival at the capital! Papa related the story with infinite glee to our cousins. It was in vain that they assured him that objets related to the luggage, not to the travellers. The joke was far too good to be spoiled by any considerations of idiom."

CHAPTER XV.

(1843-1849.)

Tytler waits upon Her Majesty at Windsor Castle-Letters from ScotlandTytler receives a pension-Impressions of society-His literary plans-His second marriage-His long illness abroad-The cold-water system-Return to England-His Death-PosTSCRIPT.

IT was, I presume, in consequence of what had happened in April, that in the ensuing November Mr. Tytler was honoured with her Majesty's commands to dine at Windsor Castle. "You must not look for me to-morrow," he wrote to his sister late at night, "for the Queen has been pleased to command me to remain another day here, that I may see some of the historical curiosities, drawings, pictures, MSS., &c. which they are now arranging." Of the events of that day, to himself so memorable, he wrote down a particular account for the private gratification of the same sister, to whom he well knew how precious every detail would be; and there seems to be no sufficient reason for withholding the following extracts from a narrative of what was so good and graceful on one side, so honourable and gratifying on the other.

He relates that he went to prayers, where her Majesty and Prince Albert with all the servants of the household attended, at 9. After a delightful hour and a half spent in the Library, "Mr. brought me word that a horse with a groom would be ready for me to ride through the Park at 12, and that Mr. Murray had left a route for me on my table. At 12 it rained a little, but at half past 12 it cleared beautifully, and I went from the Library across the Quadrangle, where I found the horses waiting. I had a delightful horse

'

called Liverpool,' which carried me beautifully, and an intelligent young groom who showed me all the best points of view. I went by the Obelisk to Virginia Water, rode round it, enjoyed many noble points of view, and as I was obliged to be at the Castle again by 2 o'clock, rode rapidly there at a hard canter, Liverpool carrying me like the wind. I got to the Castle as 2 o'clock was striking."

He had communicated to his friend Mr. Murray his ardent desire to see the Royal children, and his wishes had found their way to her Majesty. Accordingly, "soon after luncheon," (he says,) “Mr. came with a message from Mr. Murray to say I must meet him immediately to go and see the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, who were coming into the corridor with the Queen. Away I went, joined Mr. Murray, and got to the corridor, where we found some of the gentlemen and ladies of the Household; and after a short time, the Queen, with the two little children playing round about her, and a maid with the Princess Alice, Prince Albert, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Kent, Prince Hohenlohe, and some of the Ladies in waiting, came up to us; and her Majesty bowed most graciously, having the Prince of Wales in her hand, trotting on and looking happy and merry. When the Queen came to where I was, she stopped, and on my bowing and looking very delightedly, which I could not help doing, at the little Prince and her, she bowed, and said to the little Boy, ́ Make a bow, Sir!-When the Queen said this, the Duke of Cambridge and the rest stood still; and the little Prince walking straight up to me made a bow, smiling all the time and holding out his hand, which I immediately took, and bowing low kissed it. The Queen seemed much pleased, and smiled affectionately at the gracious way in which the little Prince deported himself; and the Duke of Cambridge, who speaks very loud, called out, Well done! quite right, quite right!'