1786
was ushered in under some peculiar circumstances 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 _uncivilized_ acts of parliament, detrimental to the peace, welfare,
and happiness of the sovereign and the subject.
In July, the prince was so beset with appeals from his numerous
creditors, that, partly to silence them, and partly to induce the House
to pay his long-standing arrears of borrowed money, he announced his
intention to give up his establishment, and, out of his annual income of
fifty thousand pounds, to reserve ten thousand, and appropriate forty
thousand for the benefit of his creditors.
In the early part of this year, the prince _was married_ to Mrs.
Fitzherbert. Messrs. Fox, Sheridan, and Burke were present upon the
occasion, as also were some of the relatives of the bride. After the
ceremony, Mr. Fox handed them into a carriage, and they drove to
Richmond, where they spent some days. In the interim, the queen was made
acquainted with the marriage. Her majesty requested an audience with the
prince, which was immediately complied with. The queen insisted on being
told if the news of his marriage were correct. "Yes, madam," replied he,
"and not any force under heaven shall separate _us_. If his majesty had
been _as firm_ in acknowledging _his marriage_, he might _now_ have
enjoyed life, instead of being a misanthrope, as he is. But I beg,
further, that _my_ wife be received at court, and proportionately as
your majesty receives her, and pays her attention, from this time, so
shall I render my attentions to your majesty. The lady I have married is
worthy of all homage, and my very confidential friends, with some of my
wife's relations, only, _witnessed_ our marriage. Have you not always
taught me to consider myself _heir_ to the first sovereignty in the
world? where then will exist any risk of obtaining a ready concurrence
from the House in my marriage? I hope, madam, a few hours reflection
will satisfy you that I have done my duty in following this impulse of
my inclinations, and therefore I wait your majesty's commands, feeling
assured you would not wish to blast the happiness of your favourite
prince." The queen presumed it would prove her best policy to signify
her acquiescence to the prince's wishes, and the interview terminated
without any further explanation or remonstrance; nevertheless, the
substance of the interview was immediately communicated to Mr. Pitt. The
extravagant expenditure of the prince, at this period, was so increased,
that he frequently promised _cent. per cent._ for advances of cash!
The Duke of Richmond, this year, proposed to erect _fortifications_ all
over England! Monstrous as this attempt to enslave the country must
appear, the power of Pitt brought the division of the House of Commons
on the bill exactly _even_, so that the speaker was obliged, by his
conscience, to give his casting vote _against_ so traitorous an affair!
The establishment of a sinking fund was next brought forward; and, on a
surplus of taxes appearing, amounting to NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS,
new taxes were levied on the plea of making up this sum _ONE MILLION_,
which, with compound interest, was to be invariably applied to the
_reduction of the national debt_.