[Illustration]
We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment quite
novel in design from the generality of our graphic illustrations, but
one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite interest among our friends,
especially after so recently, presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir
of his Majesty in the Supplement, which last week completed our ninth
volume. His Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the
weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without taking his
favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in his poney
phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor Park being
situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in circumference,
is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural ride. The entrance
to the park is by a road called the _Long Walk_, near three miles in
length, through a double plantation of trees on each side, leading to the
Ranger's Lodge: on the north east side of the Castle is the _Little Park_,
about four miles in circumference: _Queen Elizabeth's Walk_ herein is
much frequented. At the entrance of this park is the _Queen's Lodge_,
a modern erection. This building stands on an easy ascent opposite the
upper court, on the south side, and commands a beautiful view of the
surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, and have been much
enlarged by the addition of the gardens and house of the duke of St.
Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The beautiful _Cottage Ornée_, an
engraving of which graces one of our early volumes, is also in the park,
and to which place of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes
much of his time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal
town life.
Having now given as much description of the engraving as the subject
requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some further
anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our present
purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to our limits,
we shall introduce an
_Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, to
Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson._
I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your confidential
letter, which I received this morning. You may be well assured,
that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a desire of
our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as adored
hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon his
friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his memory,
and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my sentiments,
and I should hope that there is still in this country sufficient
honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and to carry
into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by that means
proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, that we
were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must be
needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular the
irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his friends
but to his country, especially at the present crisis--and during the
present most awful contest, his very name was a host of itself;
Nelson and Victory were one and the same to us, and it carried
dismay and terror to the hearts of our enemies. But the subject is
too painful a one to dwell longer upon; as to myself, all that I can
do, either publicly or privately, to testify the reverence, the
respect I entertain for his memory as a Hero, and as the greatest
public character that ever embellished the page of history,
independent of what I can with the greatest truth term, the
enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, I consider it as
my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be prevented from
taking that ostensible and prominent situation at his funeral which
I think my birth and high rank entitled me to claim, still nothing
shall prevent me in a private character following his remains to
their last resting place; for though the station and the character
may be less ostensible, less prominent, yet the feelings of the
heart will not therefore be the less poignant, or the less acute.