The Prince's debts--Appeal to the King--His retrenchments--'The
Jovial Crew, or Merry Beggars'--Satirical prints--Help from
Parliament--Schedule of his debts.
Early in 1786 matters financial came to a crisis with Florizel.
Notwithstanding his income of nearly £70,000, he had managed in
less than three years to get some £300,000 in debt. Harassed by his
creditors, he had no resource left but to apply to his father, but from
him he got naught but good counsel. In this dilemma Pitt was applied
to, and asked to furnish £250,000. This not being forthcoming, the
King was written to, who replied, asking for a detailed statement of
liabilities. This was furnished, and so astonished the King that he
declined the proposal, and declared that he would never sanction an
increase to his son's income. Then Florizel wrote another letter to his
father, announcing his determination to retrench violently, and set
aside £40,000 a year towards the payment of his debts. To which the
King replied, that if he chose to take a rash step, he must likewise
take the consequences. Then the Prince once more took his pen in hand,
and wrote a letter to his father, which closed the correspondence:
'SIR,
'I have had the honour of receiving your Majesty's written message,
transmitted to me by Lord Southampton, and am greatly concerned
that my poor sentiments cannot coincide with those of your Majesty,
in thinking that the former message which I had the honour of
receiving, in your Majesty's own hand, was not a refusal. After
having repeatedly sent in various applications to your Majesty, for
two years successively, representing that a partial reduction out
of so incompetent an income as mine, was to no purpose towards the
liquidation of a debt, where the principal and interest were so
considerable, I, this year, humbly requested your Majesty that you
would be graciously pleased (having previously laid my affairs before
you, Sir, for your inspection, and painted them in the distressed
colours which they so justly merited), whenever it suited your
conveniency, to favour me with a decisive answer; as the various
delays which have occurred, through the course of this business, have,
in reality, proved more pernicious to me in the situation in which I
have been for some time past involved, than the original embarrassment
of the debt. To not only these, but to any future delays, would I
have, most willingly, submitted, had they really rested upon my
own patience; but the pressing importunities of many indigent and
deserving creditors (some of them whose very existence depends upon
a speedy discharge of their accounts), made too forcible an appeal
to the justice becoming my own honour, and to the feelings of my
heart, to be any longer delayed. Another consideration is, that any
further procrastination might have exposed me to legal insults, as
humiliating to me, as, I am persuaded, they would be to your Majesty.
I, therefore, previously to my having the honour of receiving that
message, had determined, that, should I not be so fortunate as to meet
with that relief from you, Sir, with which I had flattered myself,
and which I thought I had the greatest reason to expect, I would
exert every nerve to render that just redress and assistance to my
creditors, which I cannot help thinking is denied to me. These are the
motives, Sir, that have actuated my conduct in the step I have taken,
of reducing every expence in my family, even those to which my birth
and rank entitle me (and which, I trust, will ever continue to be the
principle and guide of my conduct), till I have totally liberated
myself from the present embarrassments which oppress me; and the more
so, as I am persuaded that such a line, when pursued with consistency,
will meet with the approbation of every candid and dispassionate mind.
'I will not trespass any further on your Majesty's time, but have the
honour to subscribe myself,
'Sir,
'Your Majesty's most dutiful and obedient
'Son and Subject,
'GEORGE, P.'
'_July 9, 1786._'
After the despatch of this letter he immediately acted on it; gave
orders to curtail his household, to stop all building and decoration
of Carlton House, and to sell his race and carriage horses, with a very
few reservations, and go and ruralise at Brighton, which he reached
on July 11. The newspapers and caricaturists, of course, immediately
made capital out of it, _vide_ the _Morning Post_, July 13, 1786: 'A
morning paper of yesterday says that the _Prince of Wales_ set off for
_Brighton_ in a _hired chaise_ and _hack horses_; but we are informed
by authority, which we trust will meet with _equal credit_, that his
Royal Highness was an _outside passenger_ by the _Brighton Dilly_.'
And the caricaturist followed quickly in the wake of the newspaper
men with a satirical print published on July 15, called 'A Trip
to Brighton, or the P---- and his reduced Household returning for
the summer season.' The Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert are inside the
carriage, and the latter is studying the 'Principles of Œconomy.' The
carriage is laden with household effects, vegetables, meat, etc., and
with small beer and raisin wine. One of the footmen is Fox, the other
George Hanger, who is reading, 'For Sale, at Tattersall's, the Prince's
Stud.' Weltje, 'Purveyor, Coachman, Cook and Butler,' is driving.
There is another, which, although not dated, is evidently of the same
period, called 'The Brighton Stud,' in which is seen a groom leading
three donkeys--George Hanger, Fox, and Sheridan. The Prince rides
another donkey (Mrs. Fitzherbert), and Lord Derby (as another) looks
on. This evidently refers to the sale of the Prince's stud, which
realized somewhat over £7,000. Mrs. Fitzherbert went to Brighton
immediately after the Prince.
There is a very amusing satirical print dated August 23, 1786, the best
part of which is the verse attached. It is called 'The Jovial Crew, or
Merry Beggars. A Comic Opera, as performed at Brighton by the Carleton
Company.' The Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert occupy the centre of the
picture. The Prince has a hat full of money, '£7,586. By sale of the
Stud,' and Mrs. Fitzherbert carries a child on her back. The other
beggars, who are mostly on crutches, are on either side.
'1ST BEGGAR, } I once was a poet at London,
MR. S----. } I kept my heart still full of glee;
(_Sheridan._) There's no man can say that I'm undone,
For begging's no new trade to me.
'2ND BEGGAR, } In London I once shone with eclat,
THE ----. } A Stud and brave Household could boast;
(_Prince of Wales._) Give me a brisk wench in clean straw,
And I value not who rules the roast.
'3RD BEGGAR, } A widow I was, buxom and bold,
MRS. F----. } So clos'd with a Royal attack;
(_Fitzherbert._) Tho' 'tis said the marriage won't hold,
But, ecod, I'll stick to his back.
'4TH BEGGAR, } Here comes a patriot polite, Sir,
MR. F----. } Who flatter'd the K---- to his face;
(_Fox._) Now, railing is all his delight, Sir,
Because he's turn'd out of his place.
'5TH BEGGAR, } I was a Jesuitical preacher,
MR. B----. } I turn'd up my eyes when I pray'd;
(_Burke._) But my hearers half starved their teacher,
For they believ'd not a word that I said.
'6TH BEGGAR, } I still am a merry song maker,
CAP. M----. } My heart never yet felt a qualm;
(_Morris._) Tho' poor, I can fiddle and caper,
And sing any tune but a psalm.
'7TH BEGGAR, } Make room for a soldier in buff,
COL. H----. } Who valiantly strutted about;
(_Hanger._) And, if the Peace should be breaking off,
Why, then he'll, most wisely, sell out.
'8TH BEGGAR, } De Beggar vos I in Germany,
MR. W----. } But alms vos here better agree;
(_Weltje._) For, by begging in coot company,
Begging vos de making of me.
'9TH BEGGAR, } Since, Beggars, then, we are happy and free,
L. N----. } Pray talk no more of state axes;
(_North._) For, by the War, you'll surely agree,
That, all, I have beggar'd with Taxes.'
There is a very clever satirical print which refers to the breaking up
of the Prince's establishment. It is called 'The School for Scandal,'
and parodies the scene from Sheridan's play, in which Charles Surface
helps to knock down the portraits of his ancestors. George Hanger is
the auctioneer, and Lot 1 is a picture of the King and Queen, 'Farmer
George and his Wife.' Hanger cries out, 'Going for no more than one
Crown!' and the Prince thus encourages the Colonel, 'Careless, knock
down the Farmer.' One of the audience bids five shillings for the
royal pair. Lot 2 is a portrait of Mrs. Fitzherbert, and Lot 3 one of
Perdita. Through the open door is seen Tattersall's, where the Prince's
stud, etc., were sold. A carriage is numbered Lot 1,000 to show the
extravagance of the Prince's stable arrangements.
A piece of gossip about the Prince at Brighton appears in the _Morning
Post_ of September 25, 1786: 'We hear that the Prince of Wales, a
few days since, was suddenly indisposed at Brighthelmstone; and, at
the same time, several gentlemen who had dined with the Prince at a
friend's table, the preceding day, were seized with symptoms similar
to those of his Royal Highness. They were all more or less affected,
according to the quantity each eat of a particular dish at table.
Happily for his Royal Highness, he eat but moderately; and we have the
pleasure to add, he has now quite recovered. Mr. Keate, the Prince's
surgeon, has been sent for from London; and the business terminated so
favourably, no other assistance was called in.'
During his stay this year he was very quiet, only going to the races,
and superintending the alterations to his house, which were completed
the ensuing spring. He left Brighton for the season on October 17.
The Prince kept his promise of retrenchment for nine long months, and
was sorely put to it for money--a fact of which the caricaturist took
full advantage. Thus, on January 18, 1787, we have 'The Prodigal Son,'
in which the Prince is depicted as seated on the bare ground, feeding
swine; his coat is out at elbows and breeches unfastened; his Garter
has gone, and his three feathers lie on the ground.
Then, on February 26 there is 'Love's Last Shift,' which represents the
Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert in the last stage of poverty. The Prince
sits before a fire, turning a sheep's head, which hangs by a string,
and rocking a cradle in which a child lies sleeping, an event which,
happily, did not occur during his connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert. He
has no breeches on, because Mrs. Fitzherbert is mending them. Weltje
has just brought in some potatoes, and George Hanger has a small
measure of beer.
The Prince's friends felt that this could not go on longer. It was
resolved to appeal to Parliament for aid, and Mr. Nathaniel Newnham,
a merchant, Alderman, and an M.P. for the City of London, was chosen
to open the matter, which he did on April 20, 1787, by asking Mr. Pitt
whether it was his intention to bring forward any proposition to rescue
the Prince of Wales from his embarrassed and distressed situation.
Being answered by the Minister that he had no commands to that purpose
from the King, the Alderman gave notice that, on Friday, May 4, he
would bring forward a motion upon that subject for the consideration of
the House.
[Illustration: LOVE'S LAST SHIFT.]
As a matter of fact, the motion was brought before the House on April
27, and again on April 30, when Fox supported the Prince, and in the
course of his speech, referring to the rumour of the Prince being
married to Mrs. Fitzherbert (a Roman Catholic), said: 'With respect to
the allusion to something full of "danger to the Church and State,"
made by the hon. gentleman, one of the members of the County of
Devon, till that gentleman thought proper to explain himself, it was
impossible to say with any certainty to what that allusion referred;
but he supposed it must be meant in reference to that miserable
calumny, that low, malicious falsehood, which had been propagated
without doors, and made the wanton sport of the vulgar. In that House,
where it was known how frequent and common the falsehoods of the times
were, he hoped a tale, only fit to impose on the lowest order of
persons in the streets, would not have gained the smallest portion of
credit; but, when it appeared that an invention so monstrous, a report
of a fact which had not the smallest degree of foundation, a report of
a fact actually impossible to have happened, had been circulated with
so much industry, as to have made an impression on the minds of the
members of that House, it proved, at once, the uncommon pains taken
by the enemies of his Royal Highness to propagate the grossest and
most malignant falsehoods, with a view to depreciate his character,
and injure him in the opinion of his country.... The whole of the debt
the Prince was ready to submit to the investigation of the House; and
he was equally ready to submit the other circumstance to which he had
alluded, to their consideration, provided that the consideration of a
House of Parliament could, consistently with propriety and decency, be
applied to such a subject. Nay, his Royal Highness had authorised him
to declare that, as a Peer of Parliament, he was ready in the other
House to submit to any of the most pointed questions which could be
put to him respecting it, or to afford his Majesty, or his Majesty's
ministers, the fullest assurances of the utter falsehood of the fact in
question, which never had, and which common sense must see, never could
have happened.'
In a later part of the debate 'Mr. Fox answered, that he did not deny
the calumny in question merely with regard to the effect of certain
existing laws, alluded to by the hon. gentleman; but he denied it
_in toto_, in point of fact, as well as of law. The fact not only
never could have happened legally, but never did happen in any way
whatsoever, and had, from the beginning, been a base and malicious
falsehood.'
The debate was again resumed on May 4, when Mr. Alderman Newnham rose,
and said: 'Sir, I am extremely happy that the motion which I was to
have had the honour of making, this day, is no longer necessary; and it
is with the most sincere and heartfelt satisfaction that I inform the
House that I decline bringing it forward.'
The following is a note to p. 1074 of vol. xxvi. of Hansard: 'On
Sunday the 29th, or Monday the 30th of April, an intimation was given
at Cumberland House, that, if the Prince had no objection, Mr. Dundas
would be glad to have an interview with his Royal Highness. On this
being communicated to the Prince, he sent back word that he was ready
to see him whenever he should call at Carlton House. Accordingly, on
Wednesday, the 2nd of May, late in the evening, Mr. Dundas had a long
general conversation with the Prince, which ended with Mr. Dundas
requesting that the Prince would permit Mr. Pitt himself to wait upon
him. To that, his Royal Highness assented; and Mr. Pitt, in conformity,
was with the Prince at Carlton House, the next day, for more than
two hours: in this long conversation, the Prince stated all his
circumstances to Mr. Pitt, who then promised to lay the same before his
Majesty, and to return an answer as speedily as possible.
'Mr. Pitt thence went immediately to the King, and the same evening a
Cabinet Council was held at nine o'clock, which sat until midnight;
when an answer in writing, by his Majesty's command, was dispatched by
Mr. Pitt to the Prince, informing him in general terms, that, in case
his Royal Highness thought proper to withdraw the motion intended to
be made, the next day, in the House of Commons, everything should be
settled to his Royal Highness's satisfaction. Agreeably to this, the
motion was, the next day, withdrawn by Alderman Newnham, as being no
longer necessary; after which, to the infinite surprise of the House,
the Minister rose up in his place, and said that he could not see, for
his own part, that the motion was then either more or less necessary,
than it ever had been; and added, in answer to Mr. Rolle's question,
that no terms of any kind were settled, but that matters remained _in
statu quo_.
'This proceeding, being related to the Prince, his Royal Highness, the
same night, wrote a letter, with his own hand, to Mr. Pitt, requiring
an immediate explanation of the extraordinary speech delivered that day
in the House of Commons. Mr. Pitt, in answer, requested leave again
to wait upon his Royal Highness. Accordingly the Minister went on
Saturday, at noon, to Carlton House, and had another long conference
with the Prince, in which his Royal Highness (in order to prevent any
more mistakes) gave to Mr. Pitt, in writing, his proposals, which were
in substance:--1. The Prince of Wales to have his debts paid off, in
part, at least. 2. To have a sum granted sufficient to finish Carlton
House. 3. To have such moderate increase made to his annual income, as
may be sufficient to prevent his running in debt in future.
'With these propositions Mr. Pitt took his leave, and on Sunday,
despatched them by a special messenger to Windsor, to the King; who,
on Monday last, returned his answer, signed in form by his Majesty's
own hand. This answer was on the same day delivered by Mr. Pitt to the
Prince at Carlton House, and is nearly to the following effect:--1.
That his Majesty was glad to find the Prince of Wales ready to submit
his accounts to inspection. 2. That it would be necessary for the
Prince, not only to ascertain the whole amount of his debts, but,
also, the particulars thereof, with an exact account of how each debt
was incurred. 3. That the Prince shall engage not to run in debt in
future. 4. That, upon the specifications above required, would depend
his Majesty's determining upon whether he should agree to the payment
of the whole, or any part of the Prince of Wales's debts. 5. That his
Majesty cannot think any increase of income necessary, so long as the
Prince of Wales shall remain unmarried. This answer cannot be supposed
to have been, in any way, satisfactory to the Prince of Wales.
'However, nothing was said upon the business in the House, either
on Monday, or Tuesday, and nothing on those days was done farther
than that the Prince, on Tuesday, sent his commissioners, Colonels
Lake and Hulse, with Mr. Lyte, his Treasurer, to Mr. Pitt, with all
his accounts, etc., etc., for the inspection and information of his
Majesty.'
The account of the Prince's debts which was furnished to the House is
as follows:
SCHEDULE OF DEBTS
Bonds and debts £13,000
Purchase of houses 4,000
Expenses of Carlton House 53,000
Tradesmen's bills 90,804
--------
£160,804
EXPENDITURE FROM JULY, 1783, TO JULY, 1786.
Household, etc. £29,277
Privy purse 16,050
Payments made by Col. Hotham,
particulars delivered to His
Majesty 37,203
Other extraordinaries 11,406
------ £93,936
Salaries £54,734
Stables 37,919
Mr. Robins, etc. 7,059
------ £99,712
--------
£193,648
On May 21 the King sent a message to the Commons, in which he says,
'His Majesty could not, however, expect, or desire the assistance
of the House, but on a well grounded expectation that the Prince
will avoid contracting any new debts, in future. With a view to this
object, and from an anxious desire to remove every possible doubt of
the sufficiency of the Prince's income to support amply the dignity of
his situation, his Majesty has directed a sum of £10,000 per annum to
be paid out of his civil list, in addition to the allowance which his
Majesty has hitherto given him; and his Majesty has the satisfaction
to inform the House that the Prince of Wales has given his Majesty the
fullest assurances of his firm determination to confine his future
expences within his income; and has, also, settled a plan for arranging
those expences in the several departments, and for fixing an order of
payment under such regulations as his Majesty trusts will effectually
secure the due execution of the Prince's intentions.'
The King's message was considered on the 24th, and part of the
Commons' reply runs thus: 'That his Majesty may depend on the zeal and
affectionate attachment of his faithful Commons, to afford his Majesty
the assistance he desires for the discharge of his Royal Highness's
debts, and that, in full reliance on the assurances which his Majesty
has received, this House humbly desires that his Majesty will be
graciously pleased to direct the sum of £161,000 to be issued out of
his Majesty's Civil List for that purpose, and the sum of £20,000 on
account of the works of Carlton House, as soon as an estimate shall be
formed, with sufficient accuracy, of the whole expence for completing
the same in a proper manner, and to assure his Majesty that his
faithful Commons will make good the same.'
Of course there was the inevitable satirical print, 'The Prince in
Clover' (June 2, 1787). The Prince has his hands full of purses,
with which he is, somewhat theatrically, paying his creditors. Three
Ministers--Pitt, Dundas, and Thurlow--are abjectly grovelling behind
him, to the intense delight of Fox, Sheridan, Burke and Lord North.
[Illustration: Decorative motif]
[Illustration: Decorative panel]