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FARMER GEORGE
FARMER GEORGE
From a print ( circa 1812 ) in the British Museum GEORGE THE THIRD FARMER GEORGE BY LEWIS MELVILLE Author of " The First Gentleman of Europe ," " The Life of William Makepeace Thackeray ," &c., &c. WITH FIFTY-THREE PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS In Two Volumes Vol. I LONDON: SIR ISAAC PITMAN AND SONS, LTD. NO. 1 AMEN CORNER, E. C. 1907 Printed by Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd. Bath. (2002) To Thomas Seccombe To whom the Author is indebted for many valuable suggestions CONTENT
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
This work is an attempt to portray the character of George III and to present him alike in his private life and in his Court. It is, therefore, not essential to the scheme of this book to treat of the political history of the reign, but it is impossible entirely to ignore it, since the King was so frequently instrumental in moulding it. [1] Only those events in which he took a leading part have been introduced, and consequently these volumes contain no account of Irish and Indian affairs, in whi
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES Historians have found something to praise in George I, and the bravery of George II on the field of battle has prejudiced many in favour of that monarch. George III has been extolled for his domestic virtues, and his successor held up to admiration for his courtly manners, while William IV found favour in the eyes of many for his homely air. Of all the Hanoverian princes in the direct line of succession to the English throne, alone Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, lac
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
BOYHOOD OF GEORGE III George William Frederick, afterwards George III, was born on June 4, 1738. His advent into the world was so little expected at that time that on the previous day his mother had walked in St. James's Park, had scarcely returned from that exercise when she was taken ill, and between seven and eight o'clock the following morning gave birth to a seven-months' child. Frederick, therefore, could not be held responsible because again no preparation for an accouchement had been mad
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
THE PRINCE COMES OF AGE "The boy is good for nothing but to read the Bible to his mother," George II said one day of his grandson; and he sought for measures that should emancipate the young man and tend to enlarge his knowledge of the world. His first attempt in this direction, made in 1755 when he was in Hanover, fluttered the dovecots of Leicester House, for the rumour flew that the King was about to propose a marriage between the Prince of Wales and a princess of the House of Brunswick. "Sur
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
THE NEW KING The King is dead! Long live the King! George II has given place to George III, and those who had prostrated themselves before the former were now anxious to pay court to his successor. Yet those who had at heart the welfare of their country trembled at the thought that the throne, with all the influence appertaining thereto, had passed to an ignorant, narrow-minded lad; and reviewing the young king's training, and his mediocre gifts, it must be admitted that the fear was not unreaso
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
"THE FAIR QUAKER" Stolid, unimaginative, and slow of thought, that Prince of Wales, who was afterwards George III, is one of the last persons in the world to be suspected of a love intrigue. Yet, by some strange irony, he has been generally accepted as the hero of an affaire-de-cœur in his youthful days, and this is not the less remarkable because, so far as is known, belief has been induced only by persistent rumour. No direct evidence, personal or documentary, has ever been brought forward in
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
LADY SARAH LENNOX AND GEORGE III [116] It is certain that the intrigue between the Prince of Wales and Hannah Lightfoot could not have been of long duration, for even before he ascended the throne it was patent to all beholders that he was deeply infatuated with Lady Sarah Lennox, the youngest daughter of Charles, second Duke of Richmond, and a great-granddaughter of the Merry Monarch. Lady Sarah had attracted the attention of George II one day when walking in Kensington Gardens by breaking away
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
THE ROYAL MARRIAGE The rumour that the King would espouse a Princess of Brunswick had arisen from a proposal to that effect made by the Princess Dowager, but for many reasons this suggestion was not acted upon. Subsequently a princess of the house of Hesse was thought of, but her levity of conduct was such that, when it came to the point, it was found that "nobody would take it upon them to recommend her." Eventually Lord Bute instructed a Colonel Graeme or Graham to visit the German courts to f
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE "FAVOURITE" The great question that agitated English political society at the accession of George III was, as a lady summed it up in a bon-mot , "whether the new King would burn in his chamber Scotch coal, Newcastle coal, or Pitt coal." The curious were not long kept in a state of suspense, for George showed at once that he was determined so far as possible to be independent of ministers not of his own choosing; and when, after his arrival in London, Pitt waited on him a
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
THE COURT OF GEORGE III Even before he ascended the throne George III had determined that his Court should be very different from that of his grandfather, and when he came into his kingdom he began at once a very drastic process of purification. He was a religious man, somewhat narrow in his views, and he held sacred things in great respect. At the coronation, after he had been anointed and crowned, when the Archbishop of Canterbury came to hand him down from the throne to receive the Sacrament,
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THE KING AND QUEEN Shortly after his marriage the King sought a residence where he and his consort should live more free from the ceremony and restraint of court life than was possible at St. James's. Kensington Palace he thought too near the metropolis, and he disliked the "stately, unvaried flatness" of Hampton Court. He did, indeed, invite "Capability" Brown to reorganise the artificial grounds of the latter palace, but that despotic gardener declined, "out of respect for
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
"No. XLV" Lord Bute, to support his policy, had founded two newspapers, "The Auditor," and, under the editorship of Smollett, "The Briton," and these inspired John Wilkes, member of Parliament for Aylesbury, to set up, as a weapon for the Opposition, "The North Briton," the onslaughts in which were so ferocious that "The Auditor" on February 8, 1763, and "The Briton", four days later, died of sheer fright. Wilkes and Charles Churchill, [249] the most valuable contributor to "The North Briton," d
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
THE KING UNDER GRENVILLE The King accepted Lord Bute's resignation without regret, and indeed made so little secret of his pleasure that, according to Lord Hardwicke, he appeared "like a person just emancipated," for, in spite of his personal feeling for his old friend, he thought that as a minister Bute had shown a deplorable lack of political firmness. Bute's day as a public official had passed for ever, and not the most subtle intrigue of the Princess Dowager could induce her son even to disc
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FARMER GEORGE
FARMER GEORGE
From a caricature (circa 1810) in the British Museum GEORGE THE THIRD FARMER GEORGE BY LEWIS MELVILLE Author of " The First Gentleman of Europe ," " The Life of William Makepeace Thackeray ," &c., &c. WITH FIFTY-THREE PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS In Two Volumes Vol. II LONDON: SIR ISAAC PITMAN AND SONS, LTD. NO. 1 AMEN CORNER, E. C. 1907 Printed by Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd. Bath. (2002) Vol. II...
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
ENGLAND AND AMERICA. I. THE STAMP ACT George Grenville will live in history as the statesman who took the first step seriously to alienate the American colonies from the motherland. He was, indeed, an unfortunate man, for he is doomed to be remembered only by the magnitude of his mistakes. He attacked Wilkes, and that demagogue at once took a place in the line of heroes who have fought for the liberty of the subject against the oppression of the Crown; he taxed a colony, and not long after Engla
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
THE KING versus ROCKINGHAM AND THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT Though in his farewell interview with Grenville, in answer to a question of the departing minister as to how he had incurred his Majesty's displeasure, the King stated that his late ministers had put too much "constraint" upon him, and instead of asking or tendering advice, had expected obedience, Grenville insisted in attributing his fall to the machinations of Lord Bute—and this in spite of the fact that George assured him that Lord Bu
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
"THE KING'S FRIENDS" "Mr. Pitt," wrote the King on July 7, 1766, "your very dutiful and handsome conduct the last summer makes me desirous of having your thoughts how an able and dignified ministry may be formed. I desire, therefore, you will come for this salutary purpose, to town." "Penetrated with the deepest sense of your Majesty's goodness to me, and with a heart overflowing with duty and zeal for the honour and happiness of the most gracious and benign sovereign," Pitt replied, "I shall ha
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
THE KING'S RULE The Duke of Grafton as a matter of course now became Prime Minister, but there were not wanting signs that the administration would not long endure, and when Lord Chatham reappeared in the political arena it was obvious its days were numbered. The famous statesman's return was most unexpected, for he was still supposed to be in the country, incapable of ever again transacting business. [85] "He himself," wrote Walpole on July 7, 1769, " in propria personâ , and not in a straight-
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
THE ROYAL FAMILY The troubles of George III were not exclusively the result of his incursions into politics, for he had much worry in connexion with most of his brothers and sisters, sometimes through their fault and sometimes through the circumstances in which they were placed. Exclusive of his heir, Frederick, Prince of Wales, left behind him six children. His youngest son, Frederick William, died in 1765 at the age of fifteen; "an amiable youth and the most promising, it was thought, of the f
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
ENGLAND AND AMERICA. II: THE KING'S WAR In America, the repeal of the Stamp Act had been regarded as a great victory: ships displayed their colours, houses were illuminated, joybells were set ringing. The South Carolina Assembly voted a sum of money for the purchase of a marble statue of William Pitt; and at Philadelphia the principal inhabitants gave a great ball to the English officials, at the conclusion of which the hosts passed an informal resolution: "that to demonstrate our zeal to Great
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
ENGLAND AND AMERICA. III: THE LOSS OF AMERICA On May 17, 1778, Lord North, "with deep dejection in his countenance," had laid before the House of Commons a plan of conciliation, similar to Burke's resolution which two years earlier he had arrogantly rejected, in which a Bill was proposed to enable the King to appoint commissioners with sufficient powers to treat, consult and agree upon the means of quieting the disorders now subsisting in certain of the colonies in America. The three commissione
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CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
CHARLES JAMES FOX AND WILLIAM PITT Lord North had sent his resignation by messenger to Windsor on March 19, 1782, and George, who received the communication as he was going out hunting, sent back a verbal reply, "Tell him I shall be in town to-morrow morning and will then give an answer," after which he turned to the Duke of Dorset and Lord Hinchinbrook [196] and said calmly, "Lord North has sent in his resignation, but I shall not accept it." However, at the interview next day Lord North was fi
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CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
THE KING'S MALADY Throughout his life George had persevered in a course of systematic abstinence and regular exercise, and he had endeavoured to strengthen an apparently sound and vigorous body by outdoor pursuits. He rose early both in winter and summer, never remained at any entertainment later than midnight, and usually went to bed before that hour. Corpulence was the bane of his family, and, perturbed at the thought that he might suffer from it, he discussed the question with his uncle, Will
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CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
THE KING'S RECOVERY When it could no longer be doubted that George was incapable of transacting business, ministers were confronted with the very difficult problem: how was the King's Government to be carried on? and their trouble was the greater because it could not be said with any certainty whether the disorder was temporary or whether it was likely to be permanent. If there was the chance of a speedy cure, then, of course, nothing need be done; but if, on the other hand, recovery was impossi
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CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
THE KING'S CHILDREN The trouble that George III experienced through the misdemeanours of his brothers and the misfortunes of his sisters was as nothing compared to the anxiety caused him by his children [277] and notably by his sons. Yet, bad as was the behaviour of the latter, they might well plead extenuating circumstances in the shape of their mother and father. The King could never profit by experience, and he learnt nothing from the evil results that accrued from the harsh methods employed
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CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
1789-1806 George III, as we have seen, had not been a favourite with his subjects, but in his distress the great heart of his people went out to him. His parsimony, his political intrigues, even his breaches of faith were forgotten by many and forgiven by more, and the sympathy of the whole nation was extended to him. Gillray might caricature, and "Peter Pindar" lampoon; the thought of the mightiest monarch in Christendom at the mercy of a mad-doctor was too touching for laughter and henceforth
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CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
LAST YEARS The King's health was a matter of great anxiety to the royal physicians, even after his recovery in 1789, and during the hot weather of the following year their watchfulness had to be redoubled. "The present object of the doctors was to prevent the King from dozing during the day, and also to try and keep him from brooding over things too closely. The French Revolution was going on, and affairs in that country were becoming very serious. Holland, too, was unsettled, and they were very
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AUTHORITIES
AUTHORITIES
Adolphus, John : History of England from the Accession to the Decease of King George the Third. 8 vols. 1840-1845. Aikin, John : Annals of the Reign of George the Third. 2 vols. 1820. Albemarle, George Thomas, Earl of : Memoirs of the Earl of Rockingham and his Contemporaries. 2 vols. 1852. Almon, John : Anecdotes and Speeches of Chatham. Sixth Edition. 1797. ---- Anecdotes of Eminent Persons. 3 vols. 1797. Andrews, John : History of the War with America. 4 vols. 1783. Anonymous : Anecdotes of h
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ERRATA
ERRATA
Vol. II, p. 275 , line 17: for Bedingsfield read Bedingfield. Vol. II, p. 278 , line 1:} " ", p. 282, line 14:} for Percival read Perceval. THE END Printed by Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., Bath....
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