Lives of the last four princesses of the royal house of Stuart

122 MARY, PRINCESS-ROYAL. [1658.
the water allowed, and she lent them her yacht to proceed
towards Brussels, forming a resolution to meet again after
she had accomplished her design of placing her son at the
University of Leyden. *
She had been much gratified by the compliments she
had received from that learned body, on the abilities and
early promise of her boy, and their desire of completing
his education. They made such obliging professions of
friendship to her son, that she found it impossible to refuse
their courteous offers, but returned her most grateful
thanks, and promised that he should go to them.t
Previously to his departure, the Princess, his mother, had
his portrait painted for his uncle Charles, who was very
fond of the boy. She writes to Charles about it, from
Breda, speaking familiarly of the young prince by his pet
name : —
" Princess-royal to Charles II.
"Breda, 22nd March.
" The uncertainty of the posts of this place, is the
reason you have not received mine, of the 11th of this
month. I did not then give you an account of Picuineno's
picture, because it was not done ; but now, it will not be
my fault if you receive it not shortly, the picture drawer
having nothing but the clothes to finish, which he does in
Antwerp. Nothing can be said which can deserve or
express, in any degree, my thankfulness for that kindness
you are pleased to show my son. I am sure if he does
not prove, in all that's possible, worthy of it, it will not
be my fault — nor, I hope, his — for certainly he cannot be
so much degenerate from father, and mother, and others ;
besides the goodness you have now for him, when he is too
little in age to be sensible of it.
* Samson's 'William ITT.,' vol. i. pp. 352, 353. f Ibid.