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 House would _cordially_ agree. This announcement created much
conversation, as well it might; and Mr. Newnham was earnestly solicited
to withdraw his motion, lest its results should do injury to the state,
and be productive of other inconvenience and mischief. The minister
(Pitt) said, "_that if Mr. Newnham persevered in pressing his motion
upon the notice of the House, he should be driven to make disclosures of
circumstances, which otherwise he believed it to be his imperative duty
to conceal_." Mr. Rolle (member for Devonshire) considered that an
investigation of this matter involved many questions of consequence,
which would affect both church and state. Messrs. Fox and Sheridan, with
some other _private_ acquaintances of the prince, were bold in their
language, and replied, that "the prince did not fear any investigation
of his conduct; and that respect or indulgence, by an affected
tenderness or studied ambiguity, would be disagreeable to the wishes and
feelings of his royal highness!"
A few days after this debate, Mr. Fox called the attention of the House
to the strange and extraordinary language used by Mr. Rolle, saying,
"that he presumed those remarks were made in reference to the base and
malicious calumny which had been propagated out of doors by the enemies
of the prince, in order to _depreciate_ his character, and injure him in
the opinion of the country!" Mr. Rolle replied to this by saying that,
"though the marriage could not have been accomplished under the formal
sanction of the law, yet if it existed _as a fact_, it ought to be
satisfactorily cleared up, lest the most alarming consequences should be
the result." Mr. Fox, in reply, said, "that he not only denied the
calumny in question, with respect to the effect of certain existing
laws, but he also denied the _marriage in toto_," adding, "though he
well knew the matter was illegal under every form of statute provided,
yet he took that opportunity to assert, _it never did happen_." Mr.
Rolle again asked, "Do you, Sir, speak from DIRECT OR INDIRECT
AUTHORITY?" Mr. Fox replied, "FROM DIRECT AUTHORITY." The House was now
anxious that Mr. Rolle should express his satisfaction; but he
positively and determinately refused, "as he wished every member of the
House to JUDGE for himself!" Now mark the result. Mr. Sheridan (the
bottle-companion of the prince) rose and declared warmly, "that if Mr.
Rolle would not be satisfied, or put the matter into some train for his
further satisfaction, his opinion was, the House ought to resolve, that
it was seditious and disloyal to propagate reports injurious to the
prince." But notice Mr. Pitt's reply, who rose, and protested against an
attack upon the freedom of speech in that House. Mr. Pitt, indeed, could
do no less than _stop the inquiry_; for if it had proceeded to any
greater length, the LEGITIMACY of the prince might have been
_doubted_!!!
The prince again sought advice to shield himself from his various
opponents, whose impertinent, yet honest expressions, might prove an
alloy to his character, and render void all his pretensions to even
_common honesty_! His royal highness _deigned_ to consult some persons
of consequence, but he could not receive any advice equal to his wishes.
At length, he saw the queen, and partly explained his difficulties and
debts, concluding his remarks by these _threatening_ words: "Unless the
king suggests _HIS DESIRE_ for the payment of these debts, I will
_EXPLAIN_ all this STATE MYSTERY; and I would receive a shot from a
musket, in preference to the galling insults which I well know the
_kingdoms_ infer _from these shameful arrears_." Again the _state
secrets_ operated! Again was TRUTH to be hidden in a napkin! The prince
retired from the audience; but the queen was no sooner disengaged than
Mr. Pitt was announced and introduced. The interview was short, but
decisive, and the minister departed on a mission to the prince at
Carlton House. There he promised that his royal highness should
immediately receive means to discharge his debts, and accordingly, on
the very next day, a message was laid before the House, and an address
voted to the king, to request him to grant out of the "civil list" the
sum of one hundred and sixty-one thousand pounds, to discharge the debts
of George, called Prince of Wales, with an additional sum of twenty
thousand pounds to finish the repairs of Carlton Palace. When this
infamous proposition was made, distress and wretchedness were at an
alarming height! But the king was more an object of pity than of blame.
Royalty, to him, was a deceitful bauble. Those who beheld it at a
distance saw nothing but greatness, splendour, and delight; but, could
they have examined it closely, they would have found toil, perplexity,
and care, its constant companions.
The king was now fast exchanging the bloom of youth for the languor of
age. He knew his duty was to repress calumny and falsehood, and to
support innocence and truth; and not only to abstain from doing evil,
but to exert himself in every way to do good, by preventing the
mischiefs evil counsellors might devise. Yet the _state secrets_ kept
him from acting as his heart dictated, and his mind soon lost all its
vigour!
The prince, from this time, was sure of the attainment of his wishes, if
within the power of the queen to bestow; and, from this conquest, he
gave loose rein to the impetuous desires of his wayward inclinations.
Splendid fetes were given, money was lavished upon the most
insignificant and indecorous occasions; virtue openly insulted, in every
possible shape; and the man, who was expected shortly to reign over the
destiny of millions, was frequently exhibited to his friends as an
UNPRINCIPLED LIBERTINE, a NOTORIOUS GAMESTER, and an UNGRATEFUL SON! But
the rank of royal distinction, and the means he possessed to gratify his
lusts (being devoid of all positive integrity upon many points) were
sufficient causes of excuse in the estimation of himself and his
minions! His graceful bow and ensnaring address led many good-natured
people into a belief that he was really an honest man and a gentleman!