HOW ROYALTY IMPRESSES A BABY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 19, 7 May 1892, Page 485

HOW ROYALTY IMPRESSES A BABY.

Babies are babies all the world over, and respect neither rank nor wealth, as we all know well ; but just see howone real live baby behaved when brought before royalty. Perhaps other children would like to hear in his own mother’s language. That mother was the Madame d’Arblay, who, under her maiden name of Miss Buiney, wrote several of the most popular novels of her day—‘ Evelina, ‘Cecilia,’ ‘Camilla,’ etc. —and in whose letters, published by her daughter after her death, this account is found, —a homely, loving, motherly sketch of her child, which brings him before one just as he was, and makes one fancy him absolutely present as one reads the record. Madame d’Arblay hail, in her girlhood, made one of the household of the Queen of George 111., and after her marri age and a long residence in France, she returned to Eng land with her little boy. The rest we give in her own words : ‘ < In Marell Bth I received the following billet • March 7th. 1798. *Mv Dear Friend. - The Queen has commanded me to acquaint you that she desires you to be at the Queen’s house on Thursday morning, at ten o’clock, with vour lovely boy. You are desired to come upstairs in Princess Elizabeth’s apartments, and Her Majesty will send for you as soon as she can see you. Adieu. * Yours most affectionately. M. Pl.anti - .

• A little before ten, you will easily believe, we were at the queen’s house, and were immediately ushered into the apartment of the Princess Elizabeth, who, to show she expected my little man, had some playthings upon one of her many tables, of which she had at least twenty in her principal room. The child, in a new muslin frock, sash, etc., did not look to much disadvantage, and she examined him with the utmost good humour and pleasure, and finding him too shy to be seized, had the graciousness as well as sense to play round and court him with sportive wiles, instead of being offended at his insensibility to the royal notice. ‘She ran about the room, peeped at him through chairs, clapped her bands, half caught without touching him, and showed a skill and tenderness which made one almost sigh that she should have no call for her maternal propensities. Just then they are called into the presence of another princess, and, says Madame d’Arblay : ‘ She received me with her usual sweetness, and called the boy to her. He went, fearfully and cautiously, more powerfully drawn by the curiosity which the operations of her hair-dresser inspired (the princess was at her toilet) than by her commands. He would not be touched, however, Hying to my side at the least attempt to take his hand. He now examined her line carpet. 1 would have apologised, but she cried:

‘ “ ’Tis so natural that he should be more amused with those bright colours than with my stupid questions.” ‘ Princess Elizabeth then entered, attended by a page, who was loaded with playthings, which she had sent for. You may suppose him caught now ; he seized upon dogs, horses, chaise, a cobbler, a watchman, all that he could grasp, but he would not give his little person or cheeks for any of them, to my great confusion I called him a little savage, a wild deer, a creature just caught in the woods, whatever could indicate his rustic life to prevent their being hurt; but their good-nature made my excuses useless, except to myself. ‘ Now came Princess Amelia, and strange to relate, the child was instantly delighted with her. ‘ He left his toys to nestle in her arms, and despite his mother’s entreaties, would notice none of the others. When summoned to the queen’s presence he desired to take all his toys with him, and was as obstinate as such young gentlemen usually are at home, utterly refusing to show any respect to the queen’s dwelling. ‘ The queen,’ says Madame d’Arblay, ‘ was all condescend ing indulgence, and had a Noah’s ark ready tor him. ‘ “ And how does papa do,” asked the queen. ‘ “ He’s at Telsea,” said the boy [Chelsea]. • “ And how does grandpapa do?” ‘ “ He’s in the toach.”

‘ “And what a pretty frock ; did mamma make it?” ‘ But the little boy would not answer, and pulled me about. I was a good deal embarrassed, but she had the goodness to open the Noah’s ark for him herself. He was soon in raptures as the various animals were produced ; lie capered with joy and uttered their names as : ‘ “ Oh, a tow, tow !” But at the dog he clapped his hands and cried, leaning on her majesty’s lap, “ Oh, it's a bow avow. ”

‘ “ And do you know this, little man?” asked the queen. ‘ “ Yes,” said he, jumping as he leant against her, “it’s name is tailed pussy.” ‘At the appearance of Noah, he cried : “ Oh, it's the shepherd boy.” ’ Afterthis, Madame d’ Arblay’s naturally democratic infant oversets the queen’s workbox, insists upon having the implements therein, and finally makes his way ‘into their majesty's bedroom, in which were all the jewels ready to take to St. James’s for the court attire.’

‘ I was excessively ashamed,’ says the mother, ‘ and obliged to fetch him back in my arms and hold him. ‘ “ Get down, little man,” said the queen ; “ you are too heavy for mamma.” • He took not the smallest notice of this admonition.

‘ The queen, accustomed to more implicit obedience, repeated it ; but he only nestled his little head in iny neck and worked about his whole person, so that I with difficulty held him. The queen now imagined he did not know what she meant, ami said :

‘ “ What does he call you? Has he any particular name for you ?” • before I could answer, he lifted up his head, and called out in a fondling manner : • “ Mamma ! Mamma I”

‘ “ Oh,” sairl she, smiling, “ he knows who I mean. ” ‘ “ Perhaps he is hungry,'’ she now said, and rung her bell and ordered a page to bring some cakes. He took one with great pleasure, ami was content to stand down and ear. it. I asked him if he had nothing to say for it. He nodded bis head and composedly answered : • “ Sanky, Queen, sanky.’” Meaning, of course, ‘thank you, Queen.’ Conld any young republican have invented a mine free and-easy form of address? Indeed, Madame d’Arblay ends the picture by saying that she departed, ‘thankful that lie had not come to disgrace, by actual mischief or rebellion,' anil that they left the royal family, ‘ all smiles and gracious uess.'