1797,
the heavy burdens imposed on the people to supply 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 conduct of the ministry proved them to be perfectly
indifferent to the distresses of the people. Splendid entertainments, at
an immense expense, were frequently given, and the lofty halls of
palaces rang with the loud shouts of conviviality and profanity! Such
recitals may, to some persons, appear incredible, or too highly
coloured; but _we_ well know they did occur, though we do not wish to
shock the feelings of our readers by entering into the minutiae of the
infamous conduct practised by the Prince of Wales and his courtiers.
Well might the prince, in his memorable letter to the princess in the
preceding year, say, "Our inclinations are not suited to each other." He
was correct; they were not suited; neither did the Princess Caroline
ever desire they should be, because General Lee could testify that the
prince had _more propensities than propriety suggested_!
In this most pressing and trying case, when the mind of the Princess of
Wales was wrought up to the greatest point of agony, she resolved upon
an interview with the queen, when her royal highness told her, that
Carlton House could no longer be inhabited by her, as the infamous
scenes she was too often obliged to witness were of a description so
notoriously abominable, that common decency was grossly outraged! Her
majesty supported the right of the prince to choose his own associates,
and at the same time stated, as her opinion, that it was very
disagreeable to the prince to have her in town at all, and it was proper
the princess should remove to some distance agreeable to herself, where
the prince might not be under the necessity of meeting her, when he had
occasion to spend any time at the palace.
It will readily be presumed, the princess left the presence of the
haughty queen with a heart full of disappointment and chagrin. Her royal
highness found herself surrounded by persons on whose confidence she
could not depend; because every one appeared in awe of the queen. She
was also neglected and insulted by the prince, who ought to have been
the first to protect her; but the smile of her infant still cheered her
gloomy moments.
This was the most disastrous period of the war: the Bank of England
stopped payment; mutinies broke out in the army and navy, which were
attended by much bloodshed; Ireland was on the verge of rebellion; and
the sum required for the year's service amounted to the abominable and
increased sum of FORTY-TWO MILLIONS OF MONEY, of which thirty-four
millions were raised by loans, and three millions by Exchequer Bills.
The premier also proposed to extort seven millions from the people by a
new impost, under the name of "the triple assessment!"