N 2I Friday, March 2. Qualis in Eurota ripis, aut per juga Cynthi, Such on Eurotas' Banks, or Cynthus' Height, IT Tis not eafy for any one, who faw the Magnificence of Yesterday in the Court of GreatBritain, to turn his Thoughts for some time after on any other Subject. It was a Solemnity every way fuited to the Birth-Day of a Princefs, who is the Delight of our Nation, and the Glory of her Sex. Homer tells us, that when the Daughter of Jupiter prefented herself among a Crowd of Goddeffes, fhe was diftinguished from the reft by her graceful Stature, and known by her fuperior Beauty, notwithstanding they were all Beautiful. Such was the Appearance of the Princess of Wales among our British Ladies; or (to use a more folemn Phrase) of the King's Daughter among her honourable Women. Her Royal Highness in the midst of fuch a Circle raises in the Beholder the Idea of a fine Picture, where (notwithstanding the i the Diverfity of pleafing Objects that fill up the Canvas) the principal Figure immediately takes the Eye, and fixes the Attention. When this excellent Princess was yet in her Father's Court, fhe was fo celebrated for the Beauty of her Perfon, and the Accomplishments of her Mind, that there was no Prince in the Empire, who had room for fuch an Alliance, that was not ambitious of gaining her into his Family, either as a Daughter, or as a Confort. He, who is now the chief of the Crowned Heads in Europe, and was then King of Spain, and Heir to all the Dominions of the House of Auftria, fought her in Marriage. Could her Mind have been captivated with the Glories of this World, fhe had them all laid before her; but the generoufly declined them, becaufe fhe faw the Acceptance of them was inconfiftent with what fhe esteems more than all the Glories of this World, the Enjoyment of her Religion. Providence however kept in Store a Reward for fuch an exalted Virtue; and, by the fecret Methods of its Wisdom, opened a way for her to become the greatest of her Sex, among those who profefs that Faith to which the adhered with fo much Chriftian Magnanimity. This her illuftrious Conduct might, in the Eye of the World, have loft its Merit, had fo accomplifhed a Prince as his Royal Highness declared his Paffion for the fame Alliance at that time: It would then have been no Wonder that all other Proposals had been rejected. But it was the Fame. of this heroick Conftancy that determined his Royal Highness to defire in Marriage a Princess whofe Perfonal Charms, which had before been fo univerfally admired, were now become the leaft part of her Charecter. We of the British Nation have reason to rejoice, that such a Propofal was made and accepted; and that her Royal Highness, with regard to these two fucceffive Treaties of Marriage, fhewed as much Prudence in her Compliance with the one, as Piety in her Refufal of the other. The Princess was no fooner arrived at Hanover, than fhe improved the Luftre of that Court, which was before reckoned among the Politeft in Europe; and increased the Satisfaction of that People, who were before looked upon as the Happieft in the Empire. She immediately became the Darling of the Princefs Sophia, who was acknowledged in all the Courts of Europe the most accomplished Woman of the Age in which she lived, and who was not a little pleased with the Converfation of one in whom the faw fo lively an Image of her own Youth. But I fhall infift no longer on that Repu tation which Her Royal Highness has acquired in other Countries. We daily discover those admirable Qualities for which he is fo juftly famed, and rejoice to fee them exerted in our own Country, where we ourselves are made happy by their Influence. We are the more pleafed to behold the Throne of thefe Kingdoms furrounded by a numerous and beautiful Progeny, when we confider the Virtues of those from whom they defcend. Not only the Features, but the Mind of the Parent is often copied out in the Offspring. But the Princefs, we are fpeaking of, takes the fureft Method of making her Royal Iffue like herself, by inftilling early into their Minds all the Principles of Religion, Virtue, and Honour, and seasoning their tender Years with all that Knowledge which they are capable of receiving. What may we not not hope from fuch an uncommon Care in the Education of the Children of Great-Britain, who are directed by fuch Precepts, and will be formed by fuch an Example! The Conjugal Virtues are fo remarkable in her Royal Highness, as to deserve those just and generous Returns of Love and Tendernefs, for which the Prince her Husband is fo univerfally celebrated. But there is no Part of her Royal Highness's Character, which we obferve with greater Pleafure, than that Behaviour by which fhe has fo much endear'd herself to His Majesty; tho' indeed we have no reason to be surprised at this mutual Intercourfe of Duty and Affection, when we confider fo wife and virtuous a Princess poffeffing, in the fame facred Person, the kindest of Fathers, and the beft of Kings. And here it is natural for us to congratulate our own good Fortune, who see our Sovereign bleft with a numerous Ifiue, among whom are Heirs Male in two direct Descents, which has not happened in the Reign of any English King fince the time of His Majefty's Great Ancestor Edward III, and is a Felicity not enjoyed by the Subjects of any other of the Kings of Europe who are his Contemporaries. We are like Men entertained with the View of a fpacious Landskip, where the Eye paffes over one pleasing Profpect into another, till the Sight is loft by degrees in a Succeffion of delightful Objects, and leaves us in the Perfuafion that there remain ftill more behind. But if we regard her Royal Highness in that Light which diffufes the greatest Glory round a Human Character, we shall find the Chriftian no lefs confpicuous than the Princefs. She is as emi nent nent for a fincere Piety in the Practice of Religion, as for an inviolable Adherence to its Principles. She is constant in her Attendance on the daily Offices of our Church, and, by her ferious and devout Comportment on these folemn Occafions, gives an Example, that is very often too much wanted in Courts. Her Religion is equally free from the Weakness of Superftition, and the Sournefs of Enthusiasm. It is not of that uncomfortable melancholy nature, which disappoints its own End, by appearing unamiable to those whom it would gain to its Interefts. It discovers itself in the genuine Effects of Christianity, in Affability, Compaffion, Benevolence, Evennefs of Mind, and all the Offices of an active and univerfal Charity. As a chearful Temper is the neceffary Refult of thefe Virtues, fo it thines out in all the Parts of her Converfation, and diffipates thofe Apprehenfions which naturally hang on the Timorous or the Modeft, when they are admitted to the Honour of her Prefence. There is none that does not liften with Pleasure to a Perfon in fo high a Station, who condescends to make herself thus agreeable, by Mirth without Levity, and Wit without Ill-nature. Her Royal Highness is, indeed, poffeft of all thofe Talents, which make Converfation either delightful or improving. As fhe has a fine Tafte of the elegant Arts, and is skilled in feveral modern Languages, her Difcourfe is not confined to the ordinary Subjects or Forms of Converfation, but can adapt itself with an uncommon Grace to every Occafion, and entertain the politeft Perfons of different Nations. I need not mention, what is obferved by every one, that agreeable Turn which appears in her Sentiments appears upon |