1791
was a period of continual debate and of harassing vexation, both at home
and abroad. In the mean 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
the other sons and daughters of humanity_. Though royal blood is not of
itself considered a barrier against marriage, the very few persons that
are eligible to marry a king's daughter, besides the unsurmountable
difficulties which religion opposes to such unions, makes them almost
amount to absolute exclusion.
It would argue a callous heart not to feel the force of the above
reflection, while speaking of the royal daughters of Queen Charlotte.
They were at this period in the bloom of youth, in all the glowing
exuberance of health, but from the real enjoyment of which the miserable
etiquette of regal splendour, and the feigned prudery of their mother,
debarred them. In the full meridian of their state, possessing every
exterior advantage calculated to excite vulgar envy and admiration,
these royal ladies were less blessed, in reality, than the daughters of
peasants, who were free to marry the men of their choice. When this
secluded state of royalty is considered, the reflecting mind will feel
disposed to exercise charity and forbearance; but the subjects of our
present notice partook of _rather more_ of female frailty than ought to
have been allowed. We have heard, indeed, of the most desperate excesses
committed by _royal_ ladies, and are ourselves acquainted with an
_accoucheur_, who officiated under a circumstance of a lamentable
kind,--INDEPENDENT OF THE BIRTH OF CAPTAIN GARTH! Alas! were the crimes
of the court of Charlotte but painted in their true colours, how would
Virtue blush!--how would Honesty be abashed!--how would Credulity be
staggered! The slightest deviation from honor in a tradesman's daughter
is generally punished by eternal disgrace! For the present, we must
leave these very painful reflections; though we fear _truth_ will compel
us to renew the subject.
The revenue was, as usual, unequal to meet the extravagancies of the
royal family, and so was added every succeeding year an increase to the
already immense "NATIONAL DEBT."
The queen became now much disturbed by the dissatisfaction so generally
expressed by all classes of society, and she therefore resolved to give
the minister her opinion upon the subject. Mr. Pitt accordingly
presented himself, and was received with courteous attention. The queen
expressed her fears of an ill _ultimatum_, unless some plan could be
proposed to satisfy the desires of the people. After various
propositions were made and rejected, it was deemed prudent to resist any
and every motion which might be made in the Commons for reform in the
state of the representation, and to rule over the people by _force_, if
found needful.