Daily National Intelligencer

All the old women in England, from the accoucheur down to the editor, are eagerly discussing whether the Princess Charlotte has (we know not a more delicate expression) miscarried. Some say that she certainly has, with as much assurance as if they had seen the fact. Others again assert, that she is doing very well. A most important and delicate investigation this to engage the wits of an empire! But such is the fruit of hereditary monarchy! Where a people is inherited like a set of cattle, it is no wonder that they are so anxious to watch the coming of the true heir. We, simple souls, think there is no such mighty matter in the miscarriage of a lady, or a birth of a child. But in England, we must recollect, that this child is destined to be the heir of the throne, and the sovereign of the people. In those governments it is curious to see the pains they take to note the whole process of accouchement, that no fraud may be practised. For queens will sometimes take it into their heads to palm an heir upon the nation, not of their own flesh and blood—because it gives them an air of consequence while the king is alive, and keeps up their influence when he is gathered to his fathers. To escape such frauds, to see that none but the 'true prince' wields the sceptre, the utmost care is taken to ascertain that the lady is really in the straw, and to note all the marks upon the new-born infant that are worth noting, in order that he may be known again. On these delicate occasions, the anti-chamber, and if we mistake not, even the bed-room is attended by some of the principal chamberlains and grooms of the Court. Those who are curious after such matters, may see a superabundance of information in the Memoirs of James II. of England, written by himself, and lately published—a work which seeing it is from the brain of a king is a well written and curious scrap of history.

[Compiler.]