be inconceivable at the British court of the

1855.

We have added translations of the French passages between brackets, not " for the benefit of the country gentlemen," as the phrase used to run (for country gentlemen, except, perhaps, in sporting instances, are now, we believe, pretty much on a par with others in such matters) but for the benefit of that large addition to the class of readers, qualified to enjoy what they read, which has been made of late years without a commensurate increase of education.

TALK AT QUEEN CAROLINE'S BREAKFAST

TABLE.

ACT I.

SCENE. The Queen's Gallery. The time, Nine in the Morning.

Enter the QUEEN, PRINCESS EMILY, PRINCESS CAROLINE, followed by LORD LIFFORD and MRS. PURCEL.

QUEEN.

Mon Dieu, quelle chaleur ! En vérité on

étouffe. [My God, what a heat!

It's posi

tively stifling.] Pray open a little those

windows.

LORD LIFFORD.

Hasa your Majesty heara de news?*

QUEEN.

What news, my dear Lord?

LORD LIFFORD.

Dat my Lord Hervey, as he was coming last night to tone, was rob and murdered by highwaymen, and tron in a ditch.

PRINCESS CAROLINE.

Eh! grand Dieu! [Great God !]

* This English lord, who cannot speak English properly, was a naturalized Frenchman.

QUEEN [striking her hand upon her knee].

Comment, est il véritablement mort? [Do you mean to tell us he's actually dead?] Purcel, my angel, shall I not have a little breakfast?

MRS. PURCEl.

What would your Majesty please to

have ?*

QUEEN.

A little chocolate, my soul, if you give me leave; and a little sour cream, and some

fruit?

[Exit MRS. PURCEL.

QUEEN [to LORD Lifford].

Eh bien, my Lord Lifford, dites nous un

* Here is an involuntary line of verse, anticipating one identically the same in the burletta of "Tom Thumb.”

peu comment cela est arrivé.

[Well, my Lord Lifford, pray let us understand a little how this occurred.] I cannot imagine what he had to do, to be putting his nose there. Seulement pour un sot voyage avec ce petit mousse-eh bien ? [All for the pleasure of taking a foolish trip with his little powdermonkey, eh ?]*

LORD LIFFORD.

Madame, on sçait quelque chose de cela de Monsieur Maran, qui d'abord qu'il a vu les voleurs, s'est enfui et venu à grand galoppe à Londres. [The news comes from Monsieur Maran, madam, who, as soon as he saw the thieves, galloped off as fast as he could to

* One of Lord Hervey's boys, who was going to sea as a midshipman.