DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

( 40 ) darkness and desolation. In the whole history of England there is perhaps no more painful record than that of the last ten years of the King’s life. Loved by his subjects, the head of a magnificent empire, endowed with a robust constitution, he was struck down by the most fearful malady of which man can be the victim. In 1788 the King’s mind had already become affected, but he recovered after ten months. Though excitable and peculiar in his ways, he was able to control the balance of his mind until the year 1810, when the death of his favourite daughter Amelia, an amiable and charming Princess, affected him so deeply that his already shaken understanding entirely gave way. In addition to his mental troubles, the King had begun to lose his sight for some time previous to this event. Still he continued to enjoy his promenade on the Terrace at Windsor, where two bands of music played alternately. There, on fine summer evenings, the venerable monarch, assisted by his attendant, might be seen feeling his way with his stick down the steps which led to the Terrace, usually dressed in a blue coat with the Star of the Order of the Garter, and wearing a large hat so as to shade his eyes. He walked, leaning on the arms of his two daughters, who whispered to him the names of such persons as he might like to converse with, and with whom he then entered into a familiar talk. On returning to his apartments, his invariable custom