DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

(. at 4 at Windsor for some time one afternoon, the King went to speak to some gentlemen near a sun-dial, and while doing so rested his elbow on the dial. A sentry near the spot came forward and removed his elbow, saying that the dial was under his charge ; whereupon the King commended him for his atten- tion to duty, and subsequently had him promoted. High personal courage was one of the finest poimts in the King’s character. On the occasion of a riot which had been provoked against the Roman Catholics by a bigoted Protestant rabble, the King spent the greater part of the night on foot endeavouring to quell the disturbance. One morning, as his Majesty stepped out of his carriage at St. James’s Palace, a woman pushed forward, and, while thrusting a paper into the King’s hands, struck at his breast with a concealed knife, which he avoided by bowing as he received the paper. She was caught by a yeoman when making a second thrust, and the King ex- claimed, ‘I have received no injury, pray do not hurt the woman; the poor creature appears insane,’/— which turned out to be the case. On another occasion he was fired at when entering his box at Drury Lane Theatre, and the bullet lodged quite close to him. On the report of the pistol he stopped and stood firmly, and waved his hand to keep the Queen back, answering her alarmed inquiries by saying reassuringly, ‘ It is only