1801,
it was announced that the king had taken a severe cold, while hunting,
and, in consequence, was not able to visit the several concerts to which
he had previously given the promise of his attendance and patronage; but
his indisposition was _mental_, not bodily. His majesty was so
exceedingly distressed at the base and unworthy conduct of his son to
his niece, the Princess of Wales, that he said frequently, "It is more
than a father can bear!" Many times would he order his horse to be
brought, and, requesting his attendants not to follow him, pursue his
way towards Blackheath, where the princess then resided, sympathizing
with her sorrows, and, more especially, in the intended removal of her
child; for even at this early period, when the Princess Charlotte was
but four years of age, the queen would signify her commands that the
child should pass some days with her, either in London or Windsor,
whichever happened to be most convenient to her majesty.
Notwithstanding the extreme scarcity of money and the high price of
food, the queen and the younger branches of her family continued to give
their splendid entertainments, as expense was the last consideration
with the royal brood, when it was known the country supplied the means.
Oh! John Bull, thy gullibility has, for above half a century, been
_more_ than proverbial!
On the 29th of October, the king opened the house in person, and
announced the conclusion of war. Parliament then adjourned till after
the Christmas recess. England now exhibited the effects of an eight
years' war; the national debt had been DOUBLED, and internal distress
had become general; the poor were in a state bordering on starvation,
and commerce had the prospect of every foreign port being shut against
it; while the supplies required for the year amounted to nearly FORTY
MILLIONS.