1817,
the queen became indisposed, so much so as to cause alarm amongst her
partisans for the issue. It was deemed expedient that the prince regent,
who was then at Brighton, should be informed of the circumstance, and
the Duke of York set off in the night to convey the intelligence to him.
Why a courier could not have been forwarded, we do not pretend to say;
but deception and mystery always attended the royal movements. Shortly
afterwards, however, her majesty was declared convalescent, and the
family were gratified by her recovery, being well assured that her
assistance would be of the most essential consequence to the completion
of the regent's wishes in the intended divorce.
In February, the "Habeas Corpus Act" was suspended, and, upon _suspicion
only_, were Mr. Evans and his son seized and committed to prison on a
charge of treason. They observed at the time, with great truth, "Poor
devoted England! she cannot be called our country, but our grave!" This
was confirmed by Lord Sidmouth, who rendered his every service in this
disgraceful business, and was at all imaginable pains to prove, that his
master, the regent, was the "Vicegerent of heaven, and had all power
upon earth."
The country was now elated by the information that the Princess
Charlotte was likely to give an heir to the throne; because the people
hoped that her progeny would prove more worthy of a crown than some of
the sons of her austere grandmother. Upon this amiable princess, indeed,
the English people had long placed their hopes, and they lived in
anxious expectation to see the then existing tyranny superseded by a
better form of government, under her auspices. In the mean time, every
member of the royal family appeared more interested for the health of
the queen than for the Princess Charlotte. Her majesty had experienced
several relapses; but, after each attack, when she appeared in public,
no symptoms of previous indisposition were visible.
Lords Liverpool, Castlereagh, and Sidmouth, and the _accommodating_
George Canning, were now the arbiters of the fates of nations; their
will was no sooner expressed than it passed into a law; and, while
revelling at the festive board with their puissant prince, the country
was writhing in the most pitiable condition. Even bread and water were
not always within the poor man's grasp, and the starved peasantry of
Ireland, in open defiance of military power, were living by stealing and
eating raw potatoes, to enable them to eke out their most miserable
existence! Under this humiliating condition, their rights and liberties
were suspended, and it was made "treason and sedition" to murmur or
complain.
When the tyrannical King John oppressed his subjects, and endeavoured to
usurp despotic power, the barons assembled around him, and, unsheathing
their swords, swore, "The laws of England shall not be changed!" But the
days of chivalry were past! Lord Castlereagh was now our dictator, and a
standing army of one hundred and forty thousand men, to enforce his vile
and unconstitutional measures, destroyed even the chance of
emancipation. We may add, in the words of our immortal bard, that his
lordship was a _man_,
"Ay, and a _bold_ one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil!"
The galling distresses of the people, at this period of national
calamity and misrule, drove them to the commission of violent acts, and
the diligence of well-chosen officers and prosecutors, with the
partiality of judges, supplied the defect of evidence needful for
punishment. The law was actually made a snare, while vice received
encouragement and rewards, when on the side of the oppressors. This was
not solely confined to the higher tribunals, but was also apparent in
almost every inferior court. Indeed, Lord Sidmouth sent a circular
letter to all lieutenants of counties, recommending even "justices of
the peace to hold to bail persons publishing alleged libels!!!" The
whole ministry proved themselves to be uninfluenced by the dictates of
_equity_, or those principles of _moderation_ which distinguished some
of our noble ancestors. Power was every thing with Castlereagh and his
associates, assisted by the MITRED HEADS of the "established church,"
who were ever his zealous friends in the cause of tyranny! Be it, then,
our duty to tear the mask of hypocrisy aside, and exhibit the deformity
of Power, more especially when disguised under the specious form of
PIETY. He who can assume the sanctity of a SAINT, and perform the deeds
of a RUFFIAN, will not be spared in our explanations of TRUTH! The title
of "Right Reverend Father in God" shall not cause us to be dismayed, if,
by their _reverend_ works, they prove themselves to be the children of
the devil! We are not what _pretended pious_ people term INFIDELS; but
we detest to see the tools of power endeavour to subdue the nation in
the garb of godliness, insulting the _poor_ with orders for "general
fasts," while they themselves are indulging in the most riotous
excesses!
We must now, as honest and fearless historians, record the most
cold-blooded and horrible CRIME that was ever perpetrated in this or any
other Christian country!
"'Tis a strange truth. O monstrous act!
'Twill out, 'twill out!--I hold my peace, sir? no:
No, I will speak as liberal as the air!"
We are almost ready to murmur at Providence for permitting some of the
assassins to escape from this world without meeting the punishment they
merited. One or two, however, still remain to pollute the earth, and
upon whom we yet hope to see justice administered!
Every honest heart was full of bitterness and anguish, when it was
announced, "The PRINCESS CHARLOTTE is DEAD!" The heavy-tolling bell, the
silence of the streets, and the mute astonishment of all who met and
parted, exhibited signs of unfeigned sorrow. In an _unexpected_ moment,
the hopes of this great nation were brought to nought! Her royal
highness was England's star of promise,--the beacon which it was
expected would light the traveller to escape the quicksands of
destruction!
On the 5th of November, at nine in the evening, this exemplary princess
was safely delivered of a male child, said to be still born; and
although pronounced at that time, by her accoucheur, to be doing
extremely well, yet, at half-past two on the morning of the 6th, her
royal highness expired! Sir Richard Croft announced to Prince Leopold
the heart-rending intelligence; and a messenger was instantly sent to
the prince regent (to whom a former communication of fearful import had
been made) and also to the queen at Bath. All the royal family then in
England hastened to London, _report said_, "nearly destroyed with
grief."
Special messengers were also despatched with the melancholy information
to the Duke of Kent, who was at Brussels, and to the Duke of Cambridge,
at Hanover; but the MOTHER of the late princess was entirely
_neglected_. Etiquette and respect were attended to in the cases which
least required notice, and omitted in the situation which really
demanded, in common decency and justice, the most prompt consideration.
The prince regent arrived at Carlton House at four o'clock on the fatal
morning, and was informed by Lord Bathurst and the Duke of York of the
event. The regent had been, for ten or twelve days, sojourning with the
Marquis, or _Marchioness_, of Hertford, at their seat near Sudbury. In
contradiction to several either servile or ignorant historians, we
fearlessly say that it was not unexpected news to his royal ear! In the
course of the ensuing day, a letter was written and delivered to Dr. Sir
Richard Croft, announcing the prince regent's offer of thanks for the
attention paid to the Princess Charlotte, and assuring the doctor that
the prince was fully satisfied with his skill and superior merit;
concluding with these words: "As it is the _will of Divine Providence_,
his royal highness is in duty bound to submit to the decree--_of
heaven_."
Prince Leopold was not so hasty in returning his thanks for the
attentions of Dr. Croft, though much better able to judge of the matter
than the regent; for _he_ was many miles off, and could not _personally_
know any thing of the matter.
Notwithstanding the professed deep sorrow and grief of the prince
regent, however, we can announce that his royal highness did not permit
himself to relax in any pursuit of pleasure, except that of openly
exhibiting himself; for, on the ensuing evening, we ourselves were not
very distant from Carlton House, and can testify to this fact. He and
his brother of York were not in _very great_ anguish upon the occasion;
they pledged each other in quick succession, until the circumstance
which had caused their meeting was entirely forgotten by them. "I drink
to the safety of the regent," said the duke, "and _I_ to the safety of
_York_," retorted the prince. These remarks created irritability, and
the prince very warmly replied, to an interrogation of his brother,
"What would _you_ think if the ghost of Edward Augustus stood at your
elbow?"
How very different was the report issued to the world! The daily papers
stated that "the extreme sorrow of the regent had produced an unusual
sensation of pain in the head of his royal highness." We were not
surprised at this announcement; though we had hoped to have heard the
royal _heart_ was affected upon a review of his past enormities!
We regret to say, that when the Princess Charlotte was in daily
expectation of her accouchement, she was not soothed by the attentions
of any of her female relatives. It is true they had not, by any former
acts of kindness, given her occasion to expect it; but the disrespect
shewn to her royal highness was chiefly owing to the affection for, and
defence of, her persecuted mother, which, though perfectly _natural_ and
praiseworthy, displeased certain high and powerful personages. The
_queen_ (that boasted paragon of goodness!) was one hundred and eight
miles distant, and the hearts of all the family seemed as if estranged
from virtuous and honourable feelings. Her majesty, with the Princess
Elizabeth, left Windsor Castle for Bath, on the morning of the 3rd of
October, for the avowed purpose of drinking the waters. On the 27th of
the same month, the prince regent, accompanied by Sir B. Bloomfield,
left London for the seat of the Marquis of Hertford, at Sudbury, in
Suffolk. The Duke of Clarence was also absent. It is true that the
cabinet ministers, whose presence was required by precedent and state
necessity, were in waiting; but how far their services could be
agreeable or beneficial to a young female in such a situation, we are at
a loss to discover. Alas! _that parent_ who ought to have been present,
and who would most joyfully have flown on the wings of maternal
affection, was denied the privilege. But while the daughter was
struggling in the agonies of a cruel death, the mother was a wanderer in
a foreign land, and beset with snares laid for her destruction also!
During the pregnancy of the Princess Charlotte, the prince, her husband,
was chiefly her companion. Her choice of an accoucheur fell upon Dr. Sir
Richard Croft, as he was considered the most able and skilful man in his
profession. The ladies in attendance upon her royal highness were unfit
to render advice or assistance upon any emergency, as neither of them
had been a mother. The princess, when in an advanced state of pregnancy,
was kept low, and scarcely allowed animal food, or wine, to both of
which she had previously been accustomed. Between the fifth and seventh
months, her royal highness was bled several times, and still kept upon
very low diet. Claremont, the place chosen for the eventful period, was
sixteen miles from town, and when any pressing occasion required the
attendance of a surgeon or physician from London, the distance caused a
considerable delay. Her royal highness' confinement was expected to take
place about the end of October, and the period between that time and the
final issue was strongly marked by symptoms of approaching labour. Her
royal highness was in extreme pain for more than forty-eight hours, yet
each bulletin declared, "The princess is doing extremely well." At
half-past twelve, A.M. her royal highness became uneasy and very
restless; she exhibited much difficulty of breathing, and at half-past
two--EXPIRED!
The substance of this detail found its way into the daily journals, and
excited, as it was naturally calculated to do, much remark and inquiry.
The generally-received opinion was, that the lamented heiress to the
crown had been _wantonly_ suffered to perish, from the folly of
etiquette, or some other unnatural and unexplained cause. We, however,
are not bound to surrender our judgment to a journalist, or to subscribe
to the opinion of any man less acquainted with a particular subject than
ourselves; and, upon this melancholy and tragical event, therefore, we
shall dare to give utterance to TRUTH. In doing so, we beg to state that
we are not influenced by personal resentment, but, in the discharge of
our task, are determined only to award "honour where honour is due."
The labour of the princess was commenced under extreme debility; and, at
an early period, it appeared very probable that _surgical_ assistance
would be finally requisite; yet no provision was made for such
assistance! The bulletin of Wednesday morning, eight o'clock, signed by
the attending practitioners, was rather doubtfully expressed. The second
bulletin, at ten in the evening, was confidently affirmative of the
_well-doing_ of the royal patient. Dr. Sims affixed his signature to
these bulletins, but he had not seen her royal highness since the first
pang she had experienced. How this gentleman could allow his name to be
thus affixed to a declaration, of the truth of which he was totally
ignorant, we know not; but it was said, by the time-serving press, "that
Dr. Sims being unknown to the princess, his appearance in her chamber
might have alarmed her." The folly of this excuse is best exposed by
supposing that if, at this trying moment, Dr. Croft had been ill, and
unfit to attend the princess, would she have been left to perish for
lack of assistance? We think not; for this would have given too plain an
idea of the expectations of certain parties. The public papers announced
that the letter summoning Dr. Sims to Claremont was written on Tuesday
morning, yet he did not arrive until Wednesday morning at three o'clock.
It was further stated, that the nurse discovered the dreadful change in
her royal highness by the difficulty manifested in swallowing her gruel,
and that she was so alarmed by this appearance of spasm, that she
immediately called the faculty out of their beds, as well as Prince
Leopold. Another journalist stated a contrary case. But _we know_ that,
although some beverage was administered to the princess, it was NOT
GRUEL; for her royal highness had a great aversion to gruel, and could
never be prevailed on to take it. Soon after her royal highness took the
liquid, she was afflicted in a most _unusual way_, though only for a
short time. The low state of muscular strength, to which the princess
had gradually been reduced, certainly required greater nourishment than
was given to her; and in this professional treatment, therefore, the
accoucheur acted unwisely as well as unskilfully, to say the least of
it. That most eminent practitioner, Dr. Thynne, made it an invariable
rule, after a protracted birth, to revive the mother, by giving a
tea-spoonful of egg, beat up with wine, from time to time. The symptoms
of not being able to swallow, and the convulsive action of the body,
were plainly indicative of a dying patient; but the real cause of the
patient's dying was then a mystery, except to two or three individuals.
The public journals of the day called loudly upon the gentlemen who
attended the Princess Charlotte, as her accoucheurs, to give all
facility for an investigation of their whole mode of treatment, adding,
that "if they be conscious that they have acquitted themselves well,
they will have no objection to an investigation of their conduct, and
cannot consider themselves placed in a worse situation than the captain
of a king's ship, who, in the event of the loss of his vessel, is
obliged to undergo a trial by court martial." To this and similar
appeals, the ministers promptly replied, "that it was _impossible_,
after the prince regent had been pleased to express his approbation and
award his thanks, as it would seem to _reflect_ upon the prince, who
alone was endowed with the sovereign power to act in the case." This
royal cant-phraseology, however, failed to lull suspicion; for the
attending circumstances were of a nature too horrible to be buried in
oblivion! If all had been correct, why refuse inquiry, particularly when
it was solicited by nine-tenths of the nation?
The queen left Bath on Saturday, the 8th of November, and arrived at
Windsor in the evening. The next day, the prince regent went from
Carlton House to Windsor to see the queen; but the privacy of the visit
did not permit it to be of long duration. We are able to give the
particulars of this interview.
Her majesty's mind had been disturbed by the receipt of a letter, from a
medical gentleman, upon the subject of the _untimely_ death of the
Princess Charlotte. No time was to be lost. The prince was requested
immediately to see his royal mother; and, on his arrival, her majesty
presented him with the letter, the contents of which proved, beyond
doubt, that the writer had been an _eye-witness_ to some particular
events connected with the dissolution of the much-lamented and
tenderly-beloved princess.
The letter commenced with the most respectful dedication to royalty, and
prayed for an extra extension of candour and patience by her majesty,
while the facts of which it was composed were examined and duly
considered. The writer then proceeded,--"I am perfectly satisfied your
majesty could not be _personally_ aware of the case, because of the
distance your majesty then was from Claremont; but I submit it to your
majesty's good feeling and judgment, if the particulars attendant upon
this most lamentable loss ought not immediately to be most strictly
inquired into. Refusal to do this, or to permit it being done, will only
aggravate the matter, instead of setting the question at rest for ever.
The public well know that all was not as it ought to have been,--that
something had been neglected or imprudently attempted, that ought to
have received a widely-different attention. As a proof that I do not
intrude my remarks and remonstrances improperly, or without information
upon the nicest points of the case, I will give reasons for my
dissatisfaction. From the first moment Sir Richard Croft was placed in
attendance upon her royal highness, there was no reason to anticipate or
fear any unhappy results. The natural appearances were unequivocally
satisfactory. Previous to the delivery, the infant was not supposed to
be dead. It was quite unnecessary and unnatural to inform the princess
that the child was still-born; such a communication is very seldom made
to any female at such a moment. Camphor julaps are very seldom
administered to a healthy patient, or where the stomach is sound,
immediately after delivery, as the effect would generally be to produce
irritation, sickness, and convulsion. Dr. Croft ought not to have
retired to bed, presuming that her royal highness was so indisposed as
to cause her incessant moaning, _which was really the case_. More than
this, your majesty, about noon of the Wednesday, Dr. Croft said, 'I
believe the princess might very quickly be delivered by having recourse
to an _operation_; but I dare not perform it without the _presence_ and
_sanction_ of her royal father, the prince regent.' I hope (continued
the writer) that your majesty will see this plain statement in its own
character, and that you will save all future disclosures of an
unpleasant nature, by your timely recommendation of the subject to the
prince regent, your son. Your majesty may believe I am induced by
vindictive motives to offer these remarks; but that would prove an
incorrect opinion; and unless your majesty causes a very prompt inquiry
to be permitted upon the facts of this case, I fear yourself and family
will finally have cause to regret the delay."
The prince was much displeased that any subject should have dared to
take such a liberty as to speak or write an unpleasant TRUTH to any of
his _noble_ family,--more especially to the _queen_. It was an
unpardonable transgression; yet, as the gentleman had given his name and
address, it was a very delicate affair. The queen had so often witnessed
the prostration of the multitudes of fashion's votaries, that she
imagined much might be accomplished by commanding an interview, and
subduing the voice of inquiry and truth by the splendour of pageantry,
and the intoxicating smile of royalty. By her majesty's command,
therefore, an interview took place. With her general air of confidence,
the queen said, "I presume, Sir, you are the author of this letter?" "I
am, please your majesty." "And what," said the queen, "am I to
understand from such an unaccountable appeal to me and my family?" "I
beg your majesty's pardon personally, as well as previously by letter,
but I deemed it my duty to inform your majesty of my information upon
the subject in question, and I am very sorry if your majesty does not
think it necessary to have the most prudent means used to satisfy the
public inquiry." The queen was very gracious, and smiling, said, "I will
name your good intentions to the prince regent, and I will not forget
them myself; but I can satisfy you, that your opinions upon the subject
of your communication to me are incorrect." The gentleman rose, and was
about to retire; but the queen had not attained her object. Her majesty,
therefore, hastily said, "I trust you are convinced of the impropriety
of your former opinions?" "No, please your majesty, I never can change
my opinions upon this subject until I lose my principles, and I trust
sincerely that I shall never endure such an humiliation while I retain
my reason. But," added the gentleman, "your majesty must be well assured
that I am acquainted with the greater portion of your family; yea, very
intimately acquainted, not indecorously so, but in the discharge of my
professional engagements. Your majesty well knows that I saw the
lamented Princess Charlotte just before the unhappy event, and also am
not ignorant of the constitution of your majesty's _daughters_. I
therefore am bold to assert, that the death of her royal highness was
not, and is not to be, naturally accounted for! It is true, that I am
not known to the world in the capacity of accoucheur to your family; but
your majesty knows, I have been your trusty and confidential servant
upon more occasions than one; and I am now resolved to relinquish the
royal favour, if it must be purchased at such an unknown expense."
The queen retired, and so did the heart-stricken gentleman; but their
ruminations and consequent determinations were very dissimilar. Her
majesty was endeavouring to evade explanation; the gentleman, meditating
upon the most prudent plan for adoption to put a period to the agitated
feelings of the public.
The reader may imagine that this professional person had been previously
selected to render his services to some members of this illustrious
family, which was actually the case. He had travelled more than twenty
miles in the royal carriage, and had performed the most delicate
offices. He knew royalty was not exempt from frailty, and that rank did
not preserve its possessors from the commission of crime. Denial of this
would prove abortive, for the gentleman LIVES, and would, if called
upon, assert the same even at the expense of life. He does not fear the
interdiction of a crowned head! neither would he shrink under "a special
commission." He wields the two-edged sword of _truth_, and therefore
defies the strong arm of power. He has seen enough of the wily snares of
courtiers, and has retired from the unhallowed association with
feelings of disgust, contempt, and detestation. The adulation of the
parasites of royalty is odious to his ear; and, to save the increasing
stings of an offended conscience, he is now publicly explicit upon this
hateful subject. Despising secrecy and infamy, he openly avows enmity to
such characters as are leagued against the peace and happiness of
society; and their intentions to perpetuate their unjust, partial, and
devastating system, must be checked by the information of those persons
who are privy to the cause, as well as to the effects, of their
overgrown power.
The day after this unpleasant interview, the queen paid a visit to the
king; and, as nearly two months had elapsed since her majesty visited
her husband, it was productive of great anxiety on the part of the royal
sufferer. The daily papers stated that "his majesty was much improved,
and very tranquil, in consequence of the queen having paid him a visit."
Does not this neglect of the poor afflicted king reflect disgrace upon
her majesty? The wife who forgets her duty to the man she has espoused
is undeserving the respect of society. _Who_ was Queen Charlotte, that
the eyes of the public should be blinded, or their tongues mute, upon
this apathy and unfeeling demeanour to the king, her husband, who had
raised her from comparative poverty to affluence and greatness? Had
similar inattention been manifested by the wife of a peasant, her
neighbour's reproach would not have been wanting; but every one seemed
afraid of impugning the character of a _queen_, so celebrated for
_amiability_ and _virtue_! A few days after the interment of the
Princess Charlotte and her infant, the queen again went off for the city
of Bath! and we assert, without fear of contradiction, that her
majesty's eye was never observed to be dim upon this most melancholy
occasion. Let the world judge if such unfeeling deportment agreed with
her majesty's reported sorrow.
On the 19th of November, the Princess Charlotte and her infant were
consigned to the tomb. The Dukes of York and Clarence were supporters to
the chief mourner, Prince Leopold; and, after the ostentatious parade of
funeral pomp, they retired without much appearance of sorrow. It was
said that a king, or prince invested with royal power, could not attend
the ceremony, or join in the cavalcade of a funeral. The regent,
therefore, was not present at the closing scene of his child's hard
destiny. But royalty has many privileges; distinct from the common herd
of mankind. It must not, for instance, reside in the same habitation
with a corpse, lest its delicately-refined nerves should sustain injury,
or be excited to an extreme point of agony!
The body of the unfortunate Charlotte was reported to have been
embalmed, but the heart only was extracted; THE INTESTINES WERE NOT
REMOVED! This was an unprecedented circumstance, as upon all former
occasions this barbarous custom had been permitted. The surgeon who
accompanied Prince Leopold from Germany was solicited to say _why_ this
form had been omitted; and his suspicious reply was, "Neither now, nor
at any future time, shall any power on earth induce me to speak one word
upon the subject." He was then requested to give into the hand of Prince
Leopold a sealed letter upon the subject; this he also positively
refused to do, adding, at the same time, "the prince would not receive
it." Very shortly afterwards, a letter _was_ conveyed into the prince's
hand, offering "to communicate certain facts relative to the demise of
the late princess, his consort, if he pleased to express his willingness
to receive the same." His serene highness never paid attention to that
letter.
It was said, at the time of her royal highness' death, that Prince
Leopold was so angry with the nurse (Mrs. Griffiths) that he turned her
out of the house, without permitting her to stay to attend the funeral.
One thing, however, is certain, that she has several sons in different
public offices. To one of these, her favourite, she said, (when
labouring under the effects of a dreadful illness she had shortly after
the princess' death) "I have never kept but one HORRID SECRET from you,
which has always weighed upon my mind; but I cannot communicate it,
unless I am sure of death the next minute!"
This Mrs. Griffiths certainly knows more about the death of her late
royal mistress than she has yet thought proper to communicate; though,
in one of her moments of compunction, she confessed to a friend of
our's, that the Princess Charlotte had actually been POISONED, and
related the way in which she found it out. Mrs. Griffiths stated, that,
"after giving her royal highness some BROTH (not gruel) she became
dreadfully convulsed; and, being struck with the peculiarity of the
circumstance, she examined the cup from which her royal highness had
drank. To her astonishment, she there perceived a _dark red sediment_,
upon _tasting which_, HER TONGUE BECAME BLISTERED!!!" Mrs. Griffiths
immediately asked Dr. Croft what he had administered to the princess;
but she received no satisfactory answer. A few hours after this,
however, the doctor said sufficient to prove that the princess had been
MURDERED! As Mrs. Griffiths is now alive, we challenge her to deny this
statement, if incorrect.
The lamented princess was treated most cruelly by all around her, and
one of the higher household asserted, that he believed her royal
highness was left "two hours in the agonies of death, without any person
going near her!" Mrs. Lewis, her waiting woman, has denied this
statement; but it is well known, that Mrs. Lewis was placed as a _spy_
about her royal highness even from her infancy.
The last time the prince regent was at Claremont, not long before the
princess' confinement, a most respectable gentleman heard him say, "A
child of the Princess Charlotte shall never sit upon the throne." Did
not this speak volumes as to her intended destruction? Surely no one can
doubt, after these disclosures, that the Princess Charlotte fell a
victim to a vile conspiracy.
The murder of the Princess Charlotte proved the signal for letting loose
the hounds of destruction upon her heart-broken mother. On the morning
of the second day after her majesty's return to Bath, a lady had a
private audience with her. The object of the interview was, to offer the
services of her husband (an officer in the navy) in the impeachment and
intended destruction of the honour of the Princess of Wales. "What
situation does the person occupy?" said the queen. "He is a lieutenant,
please your majesty." "What would be deemed a sufficient recompense for
his attentions?" said her majesty. "Your majesty's good opinion is all
my husband aspires to," said the lady; and, after a few unmeaning
expressions of civility, she retired. Lord Liverpool was consulted, and
gave his opinion that the person in question could not be implicitly
relied on; and a messenger was therefore sent to the gentleman,
according to the address left by his wife, declining the offered
service; and stating that "her majesty had no unkind or ungenerous
feelings towards the Princess of Wales, and had quite misunderstood the
offer, having supposed it to be made under very opposite circumstances."
The lady was recommended to the queen's notice by Lord Castlereagh,
though doubts were entertained whether the lieutenant might be trusted,
as he was believed to be anti-ministerial.
We here relate another fact, relative to the Princess of Wales'
persecutors:--A certain personage sought for an interview with an
individual whom we will disguise under the name of Captain Rock. "Well,"
said his royal highness to the captain, "I wish to engage your
services; you are well acquainted with Italy; we expect the Princess of
Wales will be at Pisa in about three months, and as you have served us
before, we suppose you will have no objection to do so again; you shall
not want for cash." The offer was accepted, and his royal highness
_wrote_ this offer upon paper, and a sum was advanced on the evening of
the same day. This mean slave of power departed; but, before following
the instructions of his royal employer, went off to London, and
communicated to Lord Castlereagh his mission, requiring five hundred
pounds more, declaring the _written_ promise should strictly be
enforced, as he had been a loser by his former services. The amount
demanded was given. "I assure you, my lord," said the captain, "I will
execute my commission well; but I must also be paid well." Lord
Castlereagh assented, and this unmanly spy took his leave of England to
wait the expected arrival of the princess at Pisa.
These proceedings against her royal highness soon manifested themselves
in a commission being appointed at Milan; and rumours were circulated in
this country that her conduct was at variance with propriety.
Mr. LEECH, a Chancery barrister of some eminence, and who was
subsequently elevated to the situation of Vice-Chancellor, and is now
Master of the Rolls; Mr. COOK, also a barrister, and a writer of great
eminence on the subject of bankruptcy; Mr. POWELL, a gentleman of
private fortune and connected with the court; a Colonel BROWN, the
impropriety of whose conduct met with general disapprobation; and Lord
STEWART, the cowardly lordling who had repeatedly vilified the character
of the princess, and had even personally insulted her, were selected as
the individuals proper to conduct an inquiry into the character and
conduct of her royal highness, during her residence on the Continent. To
Milan they repaired. A person by the name of Vimercati was selected as
the Italian agent. Colonel Brown was stationed to assist him. Salaries
were of course attached to their respective offices, and each individual
had his post assigned him. Vimercati was invested with the greater part
of the management of this affair, and the nature of his conduct and
proceedings cannot but excite mingled feelings of surprise and horror.
By this commission, witnesses were first obtained, then examined, and
re-examined; exorbitant prices were offered to them for their testimony,
and threats were made to those who shewed, or pretended to shew, any
dislike subsequently to appear to verify their statements. Rastelli,
afterwards a witness, was employed as _courier_, and to him was
delegated the all-powerful argument of a _long purse_. Dumont, while in
the hands of this commission, carried on a correspondence with her
sister, (who was still in the queen's service) through the medium of
Baron D'Ompteda, (the villain we mentioned a few pages back) for the
purpose of obtaining information from her majesty's servants. And Omati
was paid by D'Ompteda for stealing papers, for the use of the
commission, from his master, who was her majesty's professional agent at
Milan. These are facts proved by witnesses whose characters are
irreproachable, and whose evidence is as well written as parole.