y; and when the King comes in, he takes persons as they
stand. When he came to me, Lord Onslow said, "Mrs. Adams;" upon which I
drew off my right-hand glove, and his Majesty saluted my left cheek;
then asked me if I had taken a walk to-day. I could have told his
Majesty that I had been all the morning preparing to wait upon him; but
I replied, "No, Sire." "Why, don't you love walking?" says he. I
answered that I was rather indolent in that respect. He then bowed, and
passed on. It was more than two hours after this before it came to my
turn to be presented to the Queen. The circle was so large that the
company were four hours standing. The Queen was evidently embarrassed
when I was presented to her. I had disagreeable feelings, too. She,
however, said, "Mrs. Adams, have you got into your house? Pray, how do
you like the situation of it?" While the Princess Royal looked
compassionate, and asked me if I was not much fatigued; and observed,
that it was a very full drawing-room. Her sister, who came next,
Princess Augusta, after having asked your niece if she was ever in
England before, and her answering "Yes," inquired of me how long ago,
and supposed it was when she was very young. All this is said with much
affability, and the ease and freedom of old acquaintance. The manner in
which they make their tour round the room is, first, the Queen, the
lady-in-waiting behind her, holding up her train; next to her, the
Princess Royal; after her, Princess Augusta, and their lady-in-waiting
behind them. They are pretty, rather than beautiful; well-shaped, fair
complexions, and a tincture of the King's countenance. The two sisters
look much alike; they were both dressed in black and silver silk, with
silver netting upon the coat, and their heads full of diamond pins. The
Queen was in purple and silver. She is not well shaped nor handsome. As
to the ladies of the Court, rank and title may compensate for want of
personal charms; but they are, in general, very plain, ill-shaped, and
ugly; but don't you tell anybody that I say so. If one wants to see
beauty, one must go to Ranelagh; there it is collected, in one bright
constellation. There were two ladies very elegant, at Court,--Lady
Salisbury and Lady Talbot; but the observation did not in general hold
good that fine feathers make fine birds. I saw many who were vastly
richer dressed than your friends, but I will venture to say that I saw
none neater or more elegant: which praise I ascr