George III.
The ladies laughed at Mr. Dapper’s droll way of narrating the manner of the king’s education.
“I do not wonder you smile, ladies; it is enough to make a horse laugh,” he said. “Perhaps you would like to know how the prince was put through his paces from the time he opened his eyes in the morning till he was tucked in bed at night. Lord North at one time was governor to the prince; he gave me the programme of the daily routine. The boy was to be out of bed at seven o’clock, eat breakfast and be ready for Mr. Scott from eight o’clock to nine, or till the Reverend Doctor John Thomas came, who had him in charge till eleven, when he was to be turned over to Mr. Fung, for what purpose Lord North did not know. At noon, Mr. Ruperti had him for half an hour. From half past twelve till three the prince could play; that is, he could walk through the grounds around Leicester House, trussed up in fine clothes like a turkey for the spit, but he couldn’t kick up his heels or turn somersaults on the grass; he must be a nice little gentleman in lace and ruffles. At three o’clock he had dinner. At half past four the dancing-master, Mr. Deneyer, taught him the minuet. At five o’clock he had another half hour with Mr. Fung. From half past six to eight Mr. Scott put him through his curriculum. At eight o’clock he had supper, but must be in bed at ten. On Sunday from half past nine till eleven Reverend Doctor Ayscough lectured him on religion. To state it plainly, our royal sovereign’s real instructors were the servants and chambermaids of Leicester House. They told him nursery tales about hobgoblins, giant-killers, and witches. Doctor Ayscough and the bishop gave him lectures on theology. The Jacobite bishop exalted the prerogatives of princes and kings. Lord Waldegrave told me that, when he was appointed governor to Prince George, he found him to be a good, narrow-minded little bigot, with his head full of nursery tales and not much else.”
“Why, Mr. Dapper!” exclaimed Mrs. Newville, laying down her knife and fork again, and holding up her hands.
“I see that you are astonished, madam. Now I would not for the world say anything disrespectful of our gracious sovereign; he is not to be blamed for the errors of those who had charge of him during his minority,—he is to be commiserated rather; but you will observe that it was not a course of education calculated to enlighten a dull intellect. That he is good at heart every one knows, but his ministers also know that he is narrow-minded and obstinate.”
“We must not forget that our most gracious majesty, King George, is one of the Lord’s chosen instruments to carry out the plan of the divine mind,” said the rector.
“Oh, certainly, my dear sir; just as much of an instrument as ever Samson was, flourishing the jawbone of an ass, smiting the Philistines hip and thigh,” Mr. Dapper replied.
The ladies smiled, but the rector did not altogether relish the reply.
“I never have quite understood how Earl Bute obtained his ascendency with the king,” said Mr. Adams.
“It was through his influence with the mother of the king,” Mr. Dapper replied. “He had a great deal to say about the king’s education. It was Bute who induced George II. to appoint Andrew Stone to have charge of the young prince. Then the fat was in the fire. The Bishop of Norwich accused Stone of being a Jacobite, and the quarrel became hot—so sharp that the bishop entered the schoolroom to have it out with Master Stone. Now I suppose, my dear rector, you would have staked your money on the bishop, on the theory that the church militant should also be the church triumphant.”