e was so much distinguished, and at the
same time gently moving his hand and inclining his head, 'God bless you!
a thousand, thousand thanks!' There cannot be more certain evidence of
the inward strength and satisfaction which the king derived from this
office of religion than that, in spite of great physical exertion, his
majesty, after the lapse of an hour, again requested the attendance of
the archbishop, who, in compliance with the wishes of the queen, read
the prayer for the evening service, with the happiest effect on the
king's spirits. This being done, the archbishop, naturally fearing the
consequences of so much mental exertion on his majesty's debilitated
frame, was about to retire, when the king motioned him to sit down at
the table, on the opposite side of which he himself was seated. His
majesty was too weak to hold any conversation, but his spirits seemed
soothed and comforted by the presence of the archbishop, on whose
venerable, benign countenance his majesty's eye reposed with real
pleasure. The king at this interview stretched his hand across the
table, and taking that of the archbishop, pressed it fervently, saying
in a tone of voice which was only audible to the queen, who was seated
near his majesty, 'I am sure the archbishop is one of those persons
who pray for me.' The afternoon of this day witnessed a still further
diminution of his majesty's strength; but in proportion to the decay
of his bodily power, was the increase of his spiritual hope and
consolation. At nine o'clock in the evening the archbishop was again
summoned by his majesty's desire. The king was now still less able to
converse than on the last occasion; but his grace remained more than
three quarters of an hour, supplying by his presence the same comfort
to the king, and receiving from his majesty the same silent though
expressive proof of his satisfaction and gratitude. At length, on the
suggestion of the queen that it was already late, and the archbishop
might become fatigued, the king immediately signified his assent that he
should retire; and crossing his hands upon his breast, and inclining
his head, said, as his grace left the room, 'God bless thee, dear,
excellent, worthy man! a thousand, thousand thanks!'" This was on
Sunday, the 18th of June, the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo,
which the king remembered, expressing his desire that the Duke of
Wellington should hold his usual banquet on the morrow. That was the day
on