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 SOPHIA CHARLOTTE. 511 peots now before me. The whole country, my dear country, Jies one frightful waste, presenting only objects to excite terror, pity, and despair. The employments of the husbandman and the shepherd are quite sus- pended; for the husbandman and the shepherd are become soldiers thmselves, and help to ravage the soil which they formerly cultivated. The towns are inhabited only by old men, women, and children ; while perhaps here and there a warrior, by wounds or loss of limbs rendered unfit for service, is left at his door, where his little children hang round him, ask the history of every wound, and grow them- selves soldiers before they find strength .for the field. But this were nothing, did we not feel the alternate insolence of either army as it happens to advance or retreat, in pursuing the operations of the cam- paign. It is impossible, indeed, to express the confusion which they who call themselves our friends create ; for even those from whom we might expect relief only oppress us with new calamities. "From your justice, therefore, it is, sire, that we hope redress: to you even children and women may complain, whose humanity stoops to the meanest petition and whose power is capable of repressing the greatest wrong." It is scarcely necessary to add, that such a remonstrance had the desired effect. The good feeling and noble sentiments contained in this letter made so deep an impression on the mind of King George, that he immediately caused strict inquiries to be set on foot re- specting the disposition and character of this lady, and the re- sult was a proposal for the hand of this princess. When thus selected as the future consort of the English monarch, the Princess Charlotte is described as being distinguished by every eminent virtue and amiable endowment. The Earl of Harcourt was dismissed to Strelitz to conclude the treaty of marriage, and accompany the princess to England. Some delay was occasioned in the settlement of the contract, owing to the sudden death of the duchess-dowager, her mother, which occurred before the arrival of the British ambassador. At length the Princess Charlotte quitted her native land amidst many tears and regrets ; for she was generally beloved among her own countrymen, who, at her departure, invented several pleasing devices to testify their attachment to her. She was graciously received by the English people on her landing at Harwich, and on her way to London, and was united to King George the Third on the 8th of September, 1761, at the Chapel Royal, the ceremony being performed by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury. The marriage was followed by the congratulatory addresses of the various classes of her subjects. King George the Third had selected his consort more on ac-