Page:Hannah More (1887 Charlotte Mary Yonge British).djvu/143

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE BLAGDON PERSECUTION.
131

seems to have used some expressions which offended the curate, and in the midst of a serious illness at Bath, Hannah received a letter peremptorily demanding that the Monday classes for adults should be discontinued, and Young himself be dismissed on the plea that he had permitted extemporary prayer. The matter was looked into, and Hannah, who had no love for dissent, and knew as she expressed it that "vulgar people will make their religion vulgar," discontinued the classes and rebuked Young.

All was quiet for a year and a quarter, and Hannah and Patty went together to London, where they made their usual round of visits. They called on Lady Elgin at Carlton House, where Hannah saw

the pretty little Princess Charlotte, then three years old. She had great delight in opening the drawers, uncovering the furniture, curtains, lustres, &c., to show me. For the Bishop of London's entertainment and mine the Princess was made to exhibit all her learning and accomplishments; the first consisted in her repeating the "Little Busy Bee"; the next in dancing very gracefully, and in singing "God Save the King," which was really affecting, all things considered, from her little voice. Her understanding is so forward that they really might begin to teach her many things. It is perhaps the highest praise to say that she is exactly like the child of a private gentleman, wild and natural, but sensible, lively, and civil.

In the midst of this sojourn at Fulham, a letter arrived from Mr. Bere, peremptorily demanding the suppression of the schools, and containing from an inhabitant an affidavit taken by himself, as a Justice