Excerpt: "It is with heartfelt sorrow we announce that His Majesty's indisposition still continues. It commenced with the effect produced upon his tender parental feelings on receiving the ring from the hand of his afflicted beloved daughter, the affecting inscription upon which, caused him, blessed, and most amiable of men, to burst into tears, with the most heart-touching lamentations on the present state, and approaching dissolution of the afflicted and interesting Princess."

John Ashton (1834–1911) was a British author and compiler of books on folk tales and social history. His most famous works include "Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne" and "Humour, Wit and Satire of the Seventeenth Century".