1815
commenced under numerous public and private difficulties. The regent
found himself in a very unpleasant situation, being under a necessity of
increasing the number of the various orders of knighthood, in order to
preserve himself a sufficiency of adherents. A strange concatenation of
events had also placed the rest of the royal family in an uneasy
position. The Duke of Kent, some considerable time before, entered into
a positive engagement with a foreign princess, by solemnly promising her
marriage; yet, upon requesting his mother's approbation of the choice he
had made, how great was his surprise and indignation to find that she
would not listen to it! But, hastily snatching up the letter a second
time, she said, "It is impossible such things can be permitted; we need
money too much in our own family to squander it upon these
miserably-poor connexions." This indignant lady quite forgot, or did not
wish to remember, her own origin, and the _great wealth_ she had brought
to this country. Ere this self-important personage had said so much, she
should have called to mind the many _noble_ acts by which she had been
distinguished above all other royal ladies, and ought to have reflected,
how many thousands had suffered privations and want to permit her royal
self and family to live in splendour, and how many had been privately
disposed of to satisfy her inordinate ambition and insatiable thirst for
power!
Her majesty had also another mortification to endure in the marriage of
her hopeful son, the Duke of Cumberland, with the Princess of Salms.
Lord Castlereagh, always happy to take from the people, had the audacity
to propose an additional grant to the Duke of Cumberland upon his
alliance with a lady so congenial to the taste and talents of his royal
highness! The House of Commons, however, opposed this grant, and several
members made the most severe, though _just_, remarks upon the character
of Ernest Augustus on this occasion.
"Mr. R. GORDON rose, and declared that he could not reconcile
it to his sense of duty to allow this motion to pass with a
silent vote against it. He was astonished at the observation
of the noble lord (Castlereagh) who brought forward this
motion last night, that he did not apprehend any opposition,
while he agreed with the noble lord that it must be painful to
hear any reflections upon the character of the individual
referred to, or any comments whatever at all likely to
depreciate the consequence of the illustrious family to whom
that individual belonged. But ministers alone were to blame in
_dragging_ the Duke of Cumberland before that House. If any
reflections were thrown out against that individual, it was
the fault of ministers in _forcing_ him upon the consideration
of that House. _After what had_ NOTORIOUSLY PASSED WITH
RESPECT TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, _and his connexions,--after the_
RUMOURS _that were afloat upon the subject,--he could not, by
any means, concur with the noble lord, that this was not to be
regarded as a_ PERSONAL _question!_"
"Mr. BENNET said, the Duke of Cumberland, of all the branches
of the royal family, was the _only one_ who could come to that
House, and make an application for money, which he should feel
_compelled to oppose_! He appealed to every person in the
committee, whether they did not hear, out of that House,
_every individual in the country express_ ONE UNIFORM FEELING
_with respect to that personage,--a feeling decidedly averse
from any disposition to concur in such a grant as was now
proposed_. It was impossible even to go to what was called
_fashionable_ society, without hearing the _same feeling of
disrespect expressed_!!!"
"Lord NUGENT disapproved of the grant proposed, with reference
to the time in which, to the manner in which, and to the
_person_ for whom, the grant was proposed. He differed with
his honourable friend who spoke first in the debate, not in
his vote, but in that he did not admit public rumour to
influence his vote. For his own part, he voted mainly on
evidence which could come before the House only by public
rumour,--public rumour uncontradicted and unencountered!!!"
"Lord A. HAMILTON thought the House was called upon to
consider the _merits of the individual_ before it assented to
this proposition, unless it were assumed that, upon the
marriage of any branch of the royal family, the House was
bound to grant an additional allowance, without any
consideration of the nature of the marriage, which was a
proposition too preposterous to be maintained! The intimation,
too, which he understood to be authentic, that it was the
intention of the Duke of Cumberland not to reside in this
country, furnished another argument against the present
measure; nay, it was stated that the grant was brought forward
upon the _settled condition that his royal highness should fix
his residence_ ELSEWHERE!"
"Mr. METHUEN contended that the House ought to shew, by its
vote that night, that it was not inattentive to the _morals_
of the country, and that therefore he should oppose the grant,
not from the slightest personal motives, but merely in the
conscientious discharge of what he conceived to be his duty."
"Sir H. MONTGOMERY said, that when the present bill was first
brought into the House, he voted for it, because he thought
the proposed sum was no more than what was necessary; but,
from what he had heard since, he almost fancied he had done
something very wrong! In the present case, however, he really
saw nothing which would warrant the House in putting such a
_stigma_ upon his royal highness as _would be conveyed by
refusing the grant_!"
The House of Commons DID REFUSE THE GRANT, though only by a small
majority. But this majority was sufficient, according to Sir H.
Montgomery, one of his royal highness' _admirers_, to cast a STIGMA on
the Duke of Cumberland!
As soon as the Princess of Wales was known to have left Brunswick, and
while proceeding to Geneva, persons were despatched from the British
Court to watch all the movements and pursuits of her royal highness, and
to report accordingly, through agents appointed for the mean purpose.
Our country's money was used upon this base business with no sparing
hand. Mr. Whitbread, being perfectly aware that these secret
contrivances were put into execution, felt more in fear of some evil
result to the princess than if she had remained in England. He, as well
as many others, knew that assassination was of very frequent occurrence
in Italy, and more than once expressed himself anxious to see the
princess safely landed again on our shores. But this was not permitted;
for, on the 6th of July, this patriot committed suicide, while in a
state of mental aberration. He fell a sacrifice to the intensity of his
feelings upon several most important subjects.
As a man of firm principles, Mr. Whitbread was justly entitled to the
praise of his countrymen. He never allowed himself to be bribed into
dishonourable actions; and we cannot, therefore, attribute his unhappy
end to the stings of conscience. The man whose life, or a principal
portion of it, has been spent in furthering the wily schemes and
treacherous plans of others may, very probably, in the midst of enjoying
the reward of his villanous conduct, be struck by memory's faithful
reflection, and, afraid of exposure, prefer instant death; but the
patriot who loves his country, and has largely contributed to the
defence of justice and liberty, finding his exertions of no available
use, and sick at heart at the insults levied against the oppressed, may
be driven by despair to rush into the presence of his Maker by his own
act. This latter case, no doubt, applies to the patriot whose untimely
end we are now lamenting. It was Mr. Whitbread's glory to be an
Englishman,--it is his country's boast that he used his energies for her
general benefit. He actively and fearlessly investigated the cause and
nature of abuses, was the ready advocate of the oppressed, and the
liberal friend of all mankind!
The amount required for the service of this year was one hundred and
sixteen millions, which was obtained from the heavily-taxed people,
earned by the sweat of their brow, and consequently by robbing their
starving families of comforts!
From such oppressive exactions, the present _domineering_ TORY
ARISTOCRACY has reared its unblushing and hydra head. It was engendered
in Deception, brought forth by Infamy, nursed by Indolence, educated by
Sovereign Power, and has long lived the life of an Impostor--daring and
hardy! We venture to predict, however, that its reign is drawing to a
close; for the eyes of the whole nation are now fixed upon it, and its
excrescences are discovered! Yes, the monster has outwitted itself, and
from its seat will speedily shoot forth the TREE OF LIBERTY. May its
fruits prove healing to nations! Merit will then be rewarded, Industry
recompensed, Commerce revive, and Tranquillity reign in society. Kings
will learn to do justice, sanguinary laws will be abolished; and thus
the millennium of Peace and Joy will be established on a basis
illustrious and impregnable!