Secret History Of The Court Of England, From The Accession Of George The Third To The Death Of George The Fourth - free ebook by Anne Hamilton

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Secret History Of The Court Of England, From The Accession Of George The Third To The Death Of George The Fourth

Anne Hamilton

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LONDON: PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM HENRY STEVENSON, 13, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND. 1832.

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM HENRY STEVENSON, 13, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND. 1832.

[ 2 ] [ 3 ] The coronation of George the Fourth, which had been postponed from time to time, at length took place on the 19th of July. We think, situated as her majesty then was, she ought to have been attended to the Abbey by all the noblemen and gentlemen whose courage and honour had permitted them to espouse and support her cause; and, with such a phalanx, could she have been refused admittance? Instead of such arrangement, however, her majesty went at an early hour, accompanied by two ladies

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LONDON: PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM HENRY STEVENSON, 13, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND. 1832.

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM HENRY STEVENSON, 13, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND. 1832.

[ ii ] [ iii ]...

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"TO THE READER."

"TO THE READER."

The source from whence this Work proceeds will be a sufficient guarantee for the facts it contains. A high sense of duty and honor has prompted these details which have for many years been on the eve of publication. It will be worthy of the perusal of The Great because it will serve as a mirror, and they who do not see themselves, or their actions reflected, will not take offence at the unvarnished Picture —it may afford real benefit to the Statesman and Politician, by the ample testimony it giv

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1822

1822

was one of great interest and importance, both abroad and at home; but to the latter we shall chiefly confine ourselves. On the 18th of January, a cabinet council was held, at which Lord Sidmouth was present, notwithstanding his previous resignation of the seals of office. From this, it is evident that, though out of OFFICE in reality, this noble lord was in place specially . Ireland, at this time, presented a sad appearance; outrages of every kind were of daily occurrence, and famine, with its

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1823,

1823,

some friends of the late ill-fated queen addressed Mr. Canning upon the subject of certain letters and papers, preserved from the period of her majesty leaving this country in 1814. Mr. Canning, however, did not think proper to reply to this communication. At the expiration of two months, another respectful inquiry was submitted, but it also shared the fate of its predecessor. A third expostulatory epistle was forwarded, and a certain individual received an anonymous reply, saying, "Things were

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"PREFACE."

"PREFACE."

How far the law of Libel (as it now stands) may affect is best to be ascertained by a reference to the declaration of Lord Abingdon, in 1779, and inserted, verbatim, at page 69 —1st vol. of this "Secret History." The following Pages are intended as a benefit, not to do injury. If the facts could not have been maintained proper methods ought to have been adopted to have caused the most minute enquiry and investigation upon the subject. Many an Arrow has been shot, and innumerable suspicions enter

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1824

1824

opened with the unfortunate ratification of the [ 122 ] "movements" in Italy and Spain, which tended to consolidate arbitrary power throughout Europe, so that the Continent might be considered as one federal despotism, each state possessing its peculiar coercive government, under the controul of the "Holy Alliance," improperly so called. The public now lost an uncompromising friend in Thomas, Lord Erskine, who died on the 17th of January, in the 74th year of his age. His lordship was not a favou

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1761,

1761,

about which period George the Third was pressed by his ministers to make choice of some royal lady, [ 26 ] and demand her in marriage. They urged this under the pretext, that such a connexion was indispensably necessary to give stability to the monarchy, to assist the progressive improvements in morality and religion, and to benefit all artificers, by making a display at court of their ingenious productions. His majesty heard the proposal with an aching heart; and, to many of his ministers, he s

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1762

1762

was ushered in by the hoarse clarion of war. England declared against Spain, while France and Spain became opposed to Portugal, on account of her alliance with Great Britain. These hostilities, however, were not of long duration; for preliminaries of peace were signed, before the conclusion of the year, by the English and French plenipotentiaries at Fontainbleau. By this treaty, the original cause of the war was removed by the cession of Canada to England. This advantage, if advantage it may be

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1825,

1825,

the eleventh of peace, though not of plenty. It is true that public opinion now began to gain considerable ascendency, though every possible advantage was taken to undermine the liberty of the press , and heavy fines were imposed upon various persons for publishing facts disreputable to the lordlings in power. In the January of this year, several most respectable individuals expressed an earnest desire to press for a public inquiry into the mysterious and hitherto-unaccounted-for death of her ro

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1826,

1826,

the Duke of Devonshire attended the coronation [ 147 ] of the despotic Nicholas, since the murderer of the brave Poles, as the representative of George the Fourth, King of England; and his splendid retinues and sumptuous fêtes created no little astonishment in the Russian capital at John Bull's extravagance. In January, his majesty returned one thousand pounds of the public money, to relieve the distressed Spitalfields' weavers, who were suffering every possible hardship from the want of employm

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1763

1763

was a continuation of the misrule which characterized the preceding year. In May, Lord Bute resigned the office of First Lord of the Treasury, and the conduct of the earl became a question of much astonishment and criticism. He was the foundation-stone of Toryism , in its most arbitrary form; and there cannot be a doubt that his lordship's influence over the state machinery was the key-stone of all the mischiefs and miseries of the nation. It was Lord Bute's opinion, that all things should be ma

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1827

1827

exhibited the most lowering prospects; for when the people are suffering from oppressive enactments and injurious policy, the country cannot possibly wear a smiling countenance. Some of the milk-sop daily journals, notwithstanding, were very profuse in their complimentary language to royalty, and announced, as a matter of wonderful importance, the kindness and brotherly affection manifested by the king to the Duke of York, as his majesty had spent nearly two hours with his brother at the residen

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1764,

1764,

much public anxiety and disquietude was manifested. Mr. Wilkes again appeared before a public tribunal for publishing opinions not in accordance with the reigning powers. The House of Commons sat so early as seven o'clock in the morning to consider his case, and the speaker actually remained in the chair for twenty hours , so important was the matter considered. About the end of this year, the king became much indisposed, and exhibited the first signs of that mental aberration, which, in after y

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1828,

1828,

parliament was opened by commission, when the ministry, headed by Lord Goderich, was dissolved. The Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel succeeded the former premier and secretary of state,—a change that could not possibly afford any satisfaction to the public. Mr. Brougham, in an address to [ 202 ] the House of Commons on this subject, said, "Though I entertain the highest opinion of the duke's military genius, still I do not like to see him at the head of the finances of the country, enjoying, as h

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1765,

1765,

the queen was pressingly anxious that her marriage with the king should again be solemnized; and, as the queen was then pregnant, his majesty readily acquiesced in her wishes. Dr. Wilmot, by his majesty's appointment, performed the ceremony at their palace at Kew. The king's brother, Edward, was present upon this occasion also, as he had been on the two former ones. Under the peculiar distractions of this year, it [ 38 ] was supposed, the mind of the sovereign was again disturbed. To prevent a r

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1829,

1829,

the Catholics of Ireland exhibited so strong a determination to be emancipated from their long oppression, that the Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel considered it expedient to pass a bill for their relief. We cordially agree in the principle of removing all civil disabilities from men on account of their religion; but we must nevertheless view the conduct of these two inconsistent ministers with the greatest possible contempt. Headed by the wicked Duke of York, they had frequently declared their

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1766,

1766,

his majesty's sister, Matilda, was married to the King of Denmark, and the Duke of York was proxy on the occasion. Soon afterwards, his royal highness took leave of his brother, and set out on a projected tour through Germany, and other parts of the continent. The queen was most happy to say "Adieu," and, for the first time, felt something like ease on his account. The supplies granted for the service of this year, although the people were in the most distressed state, amounted to eight millions

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1767,

1767,

the noble-minded and generous Duke of York was married to a descendant of the Stuarts, an amiable and conciliating lady, not only willing, but anxious, to live without the splendour of royal parade, and [ 40 ] desirous also of evading the flatteries and falsehoods of a court. In August, the duke lived very retired in a chateau near Monaco, in Italy, blessed and happy in the society of his wife. She was then advancing in pregnancy, and his solicitude for her was sufficient to have deeply interest

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1830,

1830,

the king's health materially declined, though the greatest secrecy prevailed at Windsor upon the subject. His disease, however, progressively increased, and in the latter end of March, he became unable to take his usual exercise in the park. From time to time, the organs of the court pronounced his majesty again in tolerable health, and announced his intention to hold a drawing room at St. James'; but at the same time they well knew there was no probability that such an event could take place. O

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1768.

1768.

In his speech, in the November of this year, his majesty announced, that much disturbance had been exhibited in some of the colonies, and a disposition manifested to throw aside their dependence upon Great Britain. Owing to this circumstance, a new office was created, under the name of "Secretary of [ 42 ] State for the Colonies," and to which the Earl of Hillsborough was appointed. The Earl of Chatham having resigned, parliament was dissolved. Party spirit running high, the electioneering conte

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1769,

1769,

the first of those deficiencies in the civil list, which had occurred from time to time, was made known to parliament, by a message in the name of the unhappy king, but who only did as he was ordered by his ministerial cabal. This debt amounted to five hundred thousand pounds, and his majesty was tutored to say, that he relied on the zeal and affection of his faithful Commons to enable him to discharge it! The principal part of this money was expended upon wretches, of the most abandoned descrip

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1770

1770

proved one of much political interest. The queen was under the necessity of retiring a little from the apparent part she had taken in the affairs of state; nevertheless, she was equally active; but, from policy, did not appear so. Another plan to deceive the people being deemed necessary, invitations for splendid parties were given, in order to [ 46 ] assume an appearance of confidence and quietness, which her majesty could not, and did not, possess. In this year, Lord Chatham publicly avowed hi

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1771

1771

was productive of little else than harassing distresses [ 51 ] to the poor labourer and mechanic. At this period, it was not unusual to tear the husband from the wife, and the parent from the child, and immure them within the damp and noisome walls of a prison, to prevent any interposition on the part of the suffering multitudes. Yes, countrymen, such tyranny was practised to ensure the secrecy of truth , and to destroy the wishes of a monarch, who was rendered incompetent to act for himself. Va

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1772,

1772,

and petitions from the people were sent to the king and the two houses of parliament, for the repeal of what they believed to be unjust and pernicious laws upon the subject of religious liberty. Several clergymen of the established church prayed to be liberated from their obligation to subscribe to the "Thirty-nine Articles." But it was urged, in opposition to the petitions, that government had an undoubted [ 54 ] right to establish and maintain such a system of instruction as the ministers ther

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1773,

1773,

commercial credit was greatly injured by extensive [ 58 ] failures in England and Holland. The distress and embarrassment of the mercantile classes were farther augmented by a great diminution in the gold coin, in consequence of wear and fraud,—such loss, by act of parliament, being thrown upon the holders! At this time, the discontents which had long been manifest in the American colonies broke out into open revolt. The chief source of irritation against the mother country was the impolitic mea

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1774

1774

bore a gloomy and arbitrary character, with wars abroad and uneasiness at home. The county of Nottingham omitted to raise their militia in the former year, and in this they were fined two thousand pounds. Louis the Fifteenth of France died this year of the small-pox, caught from a country girl, introduced to him by Madame du Barré to gratify his sensual desires. He was in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and in the fifty-ninth of his reign. The gross debaucheries into which he had sank, with th

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1775

1775

was also a year of disquiet. The City of London addressed the throne, and petitioned against the existing grievances, expressing their strong abhorrence of the measures adopted towards the Americans, justifying their resistance , and beseeching his majesty to dismiss his ministers. The invisible power of the queen , however, prevented their receiving redress, and the ministers were retained, contrary to all petition and remonstrance. Upon these occasions, the king was obliged to submit to any fo

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1776,

1776,

the Earl of Harcourt was charged with a breach of privilege; but his services for the queen operated as a sufficient reason for rejecting the matter of complaint. So expensive did the unjust and disgraceful war with America prove this year, that more than nine millions were supplied for its service! In order to raise this shameful amount, extra taxes were levied on newspapers, deeds, and other matters of public utility. Thus were the industrious and really productive classes imposed upon, and th

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1777,

1777,

the several states of Europe had their eyes fixed on the contest between this country and the colonies. The French government assisted the Americans with fleets and armies, though they did not enter into the contest publicly . Queen Charlotte still persevered in her designs against America, and bore entire sway over her unfortunate husband. The country, as might be expected, was in a state of great excitement, owing to the adoption of measures inimical to the wishes and well-being of the people.

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1778,

1778,

this venerable and noble friend of humanity expired, in the seventieth year of his age. The news of the earl's death was not disagreeable to the queen; and she thenceforth determined to increase, rather than decrease, her arbitrary measures. Ribbons, stars, and garters, were bestowed upon those who lent their willing aid to support her system of oppression, while thousands were perishing in want to supply the means. Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, this year, were servile enough to

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1779

1779

exhibits a miserable period in the history of Ireland. Her manufactures declined, and the people became, consequently, much dissatisfied; but their distresses were, at first, not even noticed by the English parliament. At length, however, an alarm of INVASION took place, and ministers allowed twenty thousand Irish volunteers to carry arms . The ministers, who before had been callous to their distresses, found men in arms were not to be trifled with, and the Irish people obtained a promise of an

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1780,

1780,

meetings of the populace took place in various parts of the kingdom, and ministers were boldly accused of having prodigally and wastefully spent the public [ 73 ] money; while petitions were presented, praying "for a correction of abuses in the public expenditure." Riots in many parts of England were the consequences of unjustly continuing wars and taxation, and several hundred people were killed and wounded by the military; while many others forfeited their lives on the scaffold for daring to r

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1781,

1781,

William Pitt, the second son of the late Lord Chatham, delivered his first speech in the Commons, in favour of the bill introduced by Mr. Burke, on the subject of reform. Lord North brought forward the budget on the 7th of March, containing the various items needful for the service of the year. The amount so calculated was twenty-one millions of money !—twelve of which were to be raised by loans, the terms being very high. From this bold imposition upon the public [ 76 ] purse and credit, the mi

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1782,

1782,

a resolution was moved, and passed without a division , declaring that the House of Commons would consider as enemies to his majesty and the country all who should advise the prosecution of offensive war in North America! Shortly after, Lord North resigned, and the Marquis of Rockingham was placed at the head of the new administration. Amongst the promotions at this time, was Mr. Dunning! who, at her majesty's request , was created Baron Ashburton, and also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

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1783,

1783,

having, by their arbitrary measures, drawn upon themselves general displeasure throughout the country. Much surprise was created at the unexpected coalition of Lord North and Mr. Fox, which was the natural result of the pressing case of the prince, to whom the queen had confidentially entrusted his father's breach of the law, in the solemnization of his marriage with herself. The queen, in fact, used the prince's influence to prevail upon Mr. Fox to join Lord North, as he was well informed upon

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1784,

1784,

(notwithstanding the dreadfully enormous weight of the "national debt," borrowed by the ministers upon nominal annuities, for which large interest was given) the king was again solicited to assist the prince, in order that his debts might be discharged. This request was refused, and Messrs. Fox and Sheridan advocated the subject to no purpose. During this year, much public display of talent was made in the House. Mr. Pitt was now fully and entirely in her majesty's "confidence," and he well knew

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1785,

1785,

Mr. Pitt caused prosecutions to be issued and enforced to check the rising spirit of the Irish, as they appeared determined to press hard until they received reform in the representation; and, in order to divert the exasperated feelings of the people of England, as he stood deeply pledged to the reformers, " as a man and a minister ," to bring in "a bill to amend the representation of the people," he moved, April 18th, for leave to bring it forward for the consideration of the House. His plan wa

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1786

1786

was ushered in under some peculiar circumstances [ 83 ] of distress and alarm. The king was evidently declining in health, and strong signs of imbecility were apparent. He positively refused to see the prince upon the subject of his debts, and was otherwise much distracted at the recollection of various impositions upon the public, which might have been avoided, if, in the moment of necessity, he had explained himself fully to the nation, and pressed for an amelioration of all unnatural and unci

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1787,

1787,

the queen received the wife of the prince (Mrs. Fitzherbert) in the most courteous manner in public ! The mental illness of the king became now apparent to those around him, but it was not spoken of publicly . In April, Mr. Newnham, member for the city of London, gave notice that he should bring forward a motion, the intent of which was, "To address the king, in order to procure his approbation to relieve the Prince of Wales from all embarrassments of a pecuniary nature," to which he hoped the H

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1788,

1788,

the king's health again declined. His mind appeared full of gloomy apprehensions and forebodings; [ 90 ] sometimes he uttered the most incoherent language; then, dissolving in tears, would ask after the health of the several members of his family, and especially of his youngest daughter, to whom he was more particularly attached. This state of aberration was, however, strictly concealed from the public as long as possible by the queen. Here, again, mark her German policy! Fearing she could not m

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1789,

1789,

the king was declared convalescent, so as to be able to resume his duties, and defeat those air-drawn schemes of power, which his queen was about to assume. The insulted sovereign thus freed the people, for a time, from the artful stratagems and devices arising from the charnel house of oppression. It is certain, that his majesty was free from all violent paroxysms, and generally manifested a quiet and unobtrusive disposition in all things. But then this was the utmost of his improvement. Reason

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1790,

1790,

the printer of "The Times" newspaper was fined ONE HUNDRED POUNDS for a libel on the Prince of [ 94 ] Wales, and the like sum for a libel on the equally-illustrious seducer, the Duke of York. If a verdict had been given otherwise, royalty would have been humbled! In this year, also, a most remarkable occurrence transpired. A very respectable clergyman was induced to marry two persons upon an extreme emergency, without their obtaining a license or the publishing of banns. The clergyman was tried

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1791

1791

was a period of continual debate and of harassing vexation, both at home and abroad. In the mean [ 96 ] while, the prince was engrossed in his pursuits of pleasure, ever searching after variety in every possible shape. Such also were the pursuits of his royal brothers. It now becomes our painful duty to speak of the FEMALES of this " ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY ." It is one of the unnatural distinctions of royalty, and which is often fatal to the happiness of society, that their ways are not the ways of

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1792,

1792,

and the king announced the marriage of his second son, Frederick, with a daughter of the King of Prussia. In March, Mr. Pitt proposed to settle thirty thousand pounds per annum upon their royal highnesses! The Opposition remonstrated, but the motion was finally carried. Much interest was excited upon the subject of the slave trade; and Mr. Wilberforce urged the abolition of it in very warm and generous language. Mr. Pitt was eloquent on this occasion, and pleaded, most animatedly, in favour of i

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1793

1793

commenced with the usual aspects, and power appeared to have had a hardening influence upon the minds of statesmen. The crisis seemed near, that some salutary and healing measure of reform in the state of the representation must be adopted; for it was imprudent any longer to be silent on the subject. Mr. Grey, therefore, moved the question in the House, on the 30th of April, and was supported ably by Mr. Erskine and others; but the minister (Mr. Pitt) repelled the motion, and spoke as warmly for

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1794,

1794,

with sorrow and indignation, as it was the commencement [ 102 ] of an all-important era in national affairs. The king beheld the critical state of the empire with much sorrow and disquietude. The extravagant and imprudent conduct of his sons also acted as a canker upon his heart. In vain did he endeavour to represent to them, that to be worthy of holding their rank in such a great nation, they ought to lay aside the follies which had so long been practised by them; and as earnestly, yet as vainl

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1795,

1795,

preparations were made, upon a moderate scale, to receive the Princess of Brunswick as the intended wife of the heir-apparent. The prince was still as dissolute as ever, and associated with the very dregs of society, of both sexes. Yet this same personage was about to be allied, according to the outward usages of the church, [ 116 ] to a princess of the most opposite principles and sentiments! Many times has he become the father of innocent victims, who were doomed to perish in a workhouse, or b

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1796,

1796,

the Princess of Wales was safely delivered of a daughter, whose birth, in some measure, assuaged the miseries of her forlorn condition. The Duke of Clarence might have very frequently repeated his expressions, delivered in the House of Lords in the preceding June, when he said, "Unless suitable provisions were made for the prince, the Princess of Wales, A LOVELY AND AMIABLE WOMAN , must feel [ 120 ] herself torn from her family, (although her mother was the king's sister) removed from all her ea

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1797,

1797,

the heavy burdens imposed on the people to supply [ 122 ] the insatiate thirst for war, and keep a gorgeous appearance at court, reduced the middle classes of people to want and distraction. While the prince and his fawning courtiers were revelling in every obscenity, and glutting themselves with the prospect which still continued, that to-morrow would be more abundant, thousands,—nay, millions,—in England and Ireland were perishing for want of bread! During this unexampled period of sorrow, the

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1798

1798

presented a continuation of grievances amongst most classes in humble life. Revelry and uproarious riot, however, were ever to be found in the residences of the royal, yet unnatural, husband of the Princess of Wales; and each succeeding year seemed but to improve him in all sorts of infamous engagements. He had at his command some of the most desperate and inhuman characters by which society was ever debased. One in particular, M'Mahon, who would at any time seduce a female from her home, under

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1799

1799

will be remembered, and reference made to it, as [ 125 ] long as humanity can reflect upon the desolations and calamities occasioned by war. The earth, in many quarters, was covered with "killed and wounded," while the money of the tax-payers paid the legal assassins ! In the mean time, the minister at home was racking his brains how new taxes might be levied, to supply the means for the continuation of carnage. Property, liberty,—nay, even life itself, were deemed toys in the hands of Mr. Pitt,

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1800

1800

was a continuation of dissension and discord, both [ 127 ] at home and abroad. Twice in this year the king's life was attempted; once in Hyde Park, and again, on the same evening, at Drury-lane Theatre; the first being by a ball cartridge, and the latter by a pistol. In the court, the same lavish display as formerly was continued, and the royal means were not curtailed. It was said , that the king declined having more than one course served up, but this was merely nominal ; indeed, if it were as

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1801,

1801,

it was announced that the king had taken a severe cold, [ 128 ] while hunting, and, in consequence, was not able to visit the several concerts to which he had previously given the promise of his attendance and patronage; but his indisposition was mental , not bodily. His majesty was so exceedingly distressed at the base and unworthy conduct of his son to his niece, the Princess of Wales, that he said frequently, "It is more than a father can bear!" Many times would he order his horse to be broug

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1802

1802

was ushered in under the greatest embarrassments. The vitals of the people were nearly destroyed by the enormous taxation they had endured for so many years, and it was doubtless owing to the intolerable load they had sustained, and still expected to have forced upon them, that independent sentiments were proclaimed. They had a right to condemn the usurping power of the queen, for producing all their troubles. The recess having terminated, the House met. The chancellor came forward to shew that

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1803,

1803,

the unhappy king, by the desire of his overbearing wife, directed a message to the House, recommending "the embarrassed state of the Prince of Wales [ 131 ] to their attention," and, in consequence, sixty thousand pounds annually were further settled upon his royal highness, to continue for three years and a half. This sum, however, was not half sufficient to meet his lavish engagements; and therefore Mr. Calcraft had the hardihood to move, that "means be granted to enable the prince to resume h

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1804,

1804,

which commenced amidst much political dissension at home, and preparations for increasing desolation abroad. His majesty's health now became very indifferent, and, in February, an official bulletin announced his malady. It was reported to be a very slight attack; though we are sorry to say it was, to the king, [ 135 ] productive of great pain and agitation of mind by the misrule of the queen, and the improprieties of his family! Little did the nation at large imagine that the family of the sover

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1805,

1805,

certain existing evils rendered it needful and [ 137 ] expedient, in the opinion of the ministry, that the English nation should fear an invasion from Buonaparte. We will say WHY they deemed it necessary. Because the burdens of the poor were already immense, and it was requisite to give an excuse for stripping thousands of families of their scanty apparel, their few mean and simple articles of furniture, and their humble home, for the purpose of enabling the "hydra-headed monster" of corruption

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1806,

1806,

parliament was opened by commission; but the usual address was omitted, on account of the absence of the minister, who, as before stated, was then seriously indisposed. On the 23rd of January, Mr. Pitt expired, in the forty-seventh year of his age. He was said to have died insolvent. Be this as it may, forty thousand pounds were voted as a plea to discharge his debts, as well as means to defray the expenses of his funeral! Probably this was the best laid-out money of the ministry for some time p

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1807

1807

commenced with selfish men in office, who contrived [ 144 ] selfish measures for the continued purposes of corruption. The king now became very imbecile; and the queen and the Prince of Wales intimidated him from acting honourably towards the Princess of Wales, as he had so committed himself by his fatal act of BIGAMY. As his mind became proportionately depressed by the perplexities of his situation, so did his conduct become more influenced as they desired it; until, at length, he proved a mere

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1808,

1808,

in which the session of parliament was opened by commission, on the 21st of January, the king's indisposition preventing him from going in person. At this period, a very strong sensation was excited against the continuance of the pension list. The productive classes ascertained, in a very correct way, how the fruits of their industry were devoured. In consequence of which, they felt themselves imposed upon in the highest degree; but resolved to try rational entreaty and petition ere they resorte

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1809:

1809:

provisions were dear, and labour scarce; yet an additional sum was required for the state, to uphold its secret machinations, and pervert the ends of justice. It will be remembered that, in this year, the celebrated Mrs. Mary Ann Clark, formerly a mistress of the Duke of York, appeared at the bar of the House of Commons, as evidence against him. Mr. Wardle, with an intrepidity worthy of the cause in which he was engaged, took upon himself the awful responsibility of preferring those serious char

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1810

1810

was ushered in under distressing and unsatisfactory circumstances. The royal family were divided amongst themselves, and every branch seemed to have a separate interest. Under these circumstances, it was not a matter of surprise that truth was now and then elicited; for it is a veritable saying, that "when rogues fall out, honest men are gainers." The king was at this time labouring under a severe attack of mental aberration: the situation of the country, his children, and his own peculiar sorro

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1811

1811

was not marked by any very particular events of much interest, either to kings or kingdoms; yet we must differ from them in this opinion, inasmuch as, at its commencement, the Prince of Wales was appointed Regent , and the king's person confided to the care of the queen, conjointly with archbishops, lords, and other adherents of her majesty. The session was opened on the 12th of February; and the speech, delivered by commission, in the name of the regent, expressed unfeigned sorrow at the king's

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1812.

1812.

We will not, however, record the scenes of devastation and horror consequent from it; neither will we eulogize Lord Wellington for the victories he obtained. Much rather would we shed a tear at the remembrance of the slaughtered victims to kingly or ministerial ambition. Who that believes in the immortality of the soul can think of these horrid engagements without shuddering at the immense and inexpressible accountability of the destroyer? It would be utterly impossible to give an idea of the nu

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1813,

1813,

the princess found her situation more irksome than ever; and she resolved, therefore, to inform the prince regent of the hardships of her case, soliciting his royal highness to inform himself of all or any part of her behaviour or demeanour, to which the queen had made such heavy objections. The following is an exact copy of the letter of her royal highness to the prince: 27th Jan., 1813. "Sir, "On the 14th of this month, I transmitted to the hand of your royal highness a letter relative to [ 22

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1814;

1814;

but the public voice cheered her to the ultimate defeat of her base enemies. The transactions of this year do not reflect much credit upon certain mis-named illustrious individuals, [ 240 ] and can never fail to excite contempt in the minds of the British people. The Douglas party were promised rewards , which they could not obtain, except in a less degree, as it was alleged they had failed in a principal part of their unworthy undertaking; namely, the degradation of the princess, by a full and

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1815

1815

commenced under numerous public and private difficulties. The regent found himself in a very unpleasant situation, being under a necessity of increasing the number of the various orders of knighthood, in order to preserve himself a sufficiency of adherents. A strange concatenation of events had [ 252 ] also placed the rest of the royal family in an uneasy position. The Duke of Kent, some considerable time before, entered into a positive engagement with a foreign princess, by solemnly promising h

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1816,

1816,

the intended marriage of the Princess Charlotte of [ 257 ] Wales with Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg was announced, which had received the sanction of the regent. This intended union appeared to us, for many reasons, highly improper, and too closely allied to the circumstances of George the Third. We knew, for a considerable period before this announcement, that Leopold had been paying the most devoted attentions to a lady of great merit and accomplishments; and, also, that marriage had been pro

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1817,

1817,

the queen became indisposed, so much so as to cause alarm amongst her partisans for the issue. It was deemed expedient that the prince regent, who was then at Brighton, should be informed of the circumstance, and the Duke of York set off in the night to convey the intelligence to him. Why a courier could not have been forwarded, we do not pretend to say; but deception and mystery always attended the royal movements. Shortly afterwards, however, her majesty was declared convalescent, and the fami

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1818

1818

was a dark and troubled period,—a period of great private distress,—so that the minds of men were bent with more acerbity than usual upon the redress of public grievances. The country, borne down by debt, harassed by taxation, which had no longer for its excuse a monopoly of commerce, looked naturally enough to the source from which these calamities had flowed. They found the theory and the practice of the constitution at variance, and hearing they had a right to be taxed by their representative

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1819,

1819,

insensible to all around him. Death was evidently making rapid strides, and yet the bulletins continued of the same general expression. At this time, we had the honour of being personally [ 316 ] acquainted with one of the king's sons, whose integrity has ever been considered unimpeachable, both in his public and private character. The information we received relative to the KING'S DEATH came directly from his royal highness. It will be remembered, that much doubt prevailed upon the reality of t

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1820

1820

are so closely interwoven with the weal and wo of the British people, that it may be considered as one of the most serious periods in English history. On the 15th of January, the Duke of Kent became indisposed with a severe cold. On the 17th of the same month, it was reported, "that his royal highness' illness had assumed most alarming symptoms;" and Sir David Dundas went off expressly to Sidmouth to attend his royal highness. The duke's disorder increased, and at half-past one, P. M. , January

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1821,

1821,

in which pains and penalties supplied the place of kindness, and the sword upheld the law! while men who opposed every liberal opinion hovered around the throne of this mighty empire. In the hardness of their hearts, they justified inhumanity, and delighted to hear the clank of the chains of slavery. They flattered but to deceive, and hid from their master the miseries of his subjects! This was base [ 383 ] grovelling submission to the royal will, and not REAL LOYALTY ; for loyalty does not cons

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