Emperor of Russia invested with the Garter -- The Poet Laureate
-- French Prisoners of War -- Joy over Napoleon's defeat at
Leipsic -- "Orange boven" -- The Allies and the War with France
-- The War with America -- The Princess Charlotte and her
establishment -- The Prince of Orange her suitor -- The King's
Health.
Russia was an Ally against Napoleon, worth courting, and,
consequently, the Emperor was made a Knight of the Garter. The
Mission that was sent out to invest him was splendidly appointed.
The King of Arms had a new tabard, robes, &c., and he, and all his
suite, had new carriages especially built for the occasion. They took
out with them the Statute passed at the last Chapter, authorizing
the election of the Emperor as a member of the Order, with the Great
Seal of England in a gold box and blue velvet case; and also the
proceedings of the Election, similarly garnished. They took out a
complete set of habiliments, decorations, and ornaments, necessary
for his investiture, and, as my readers may not know what was then
necessary for turning out a respectable and regulation Knight of the
Garter, I transcribe them.
Shoes of white kid, ornamented with silver lace and roses.
Stockings and pantaloons of white silk, manufactured for the purpose,
in one.
The Jacket, or Doublet, and trunk, of rich white silver tissue,
ornamented with silver lace, in imitation of point lace.
A sword with gold hilt, the belt and scabbard covered with rich
crimson velvet.
A surcoat of rich Crimson Velvet.
A large silver lace rosette for the right knee.
The Installation Garter, richly embroidered, for the left knee.
A superb mantle of Garter blue Velvet, lined with white lustring: the
badge of the Order richly embroidered. The mantle is fastened on the
neck with blue and gold rope, with two long rich tassels.
A hood of Crimson Velvet, which is worn on the right shoulder.
The gloves, white kid, trimmed with very broad silver lace.
A Spanish hat of black velvet, with a beautiful large plume of
Ostrich and Heron's feathers.
The splendid Gold Collar of the Order, with the medal of St. George,
to hang on the breast, with large bunches of broad white ribbons and
rosettes.
Two Stars of the Order richly embroidered.
_Flowing ringlets of hair_, with a bunch of white ribbons to tie them.
This latter item shows how minutely the Emperor's outfit was
provided. It was an age of wigs--and the Emperor's close, military
cut hair, was not _en régle_.
Another event, which people talked about, at the time, was the death,
on the 11th of August, of Henry James Pye, Poet Laureate, aged 69.
He was the son of a Country gentleman, and was educated at Magdalen
College, Oxon. After his father's death he lived at Faringdon, was
made J.P., held a Commission in the Militia, and, in 1784, was
elected M.P. for his County. His circumstances becoming involved, he
had to sell his paternal estate. In 1790 he was made Poet Laureate,
and, in 1792, was appointed one of the Magistrates for Westminster.
He was not very remarkable as a poet, and, probably, his best read
poems were "Faringdon Hill," and "The Progress of Refinement."
There were several candidates for the honour of being his successor,
including Sir Walter Scott. There is a little epigram concerning two
of them, worth repeating--
"Croker and Wharton are _roasted_ so dry
By every _impartial_ Review,
That, combined, they would make but a bad kind of stew,
But, certainly, never a--Pye."
The choice eventually fell on Robert Southey (Nov. 29, 1813).
During the year we hear occasionally of the French Prisoners. On
the 14th of April, two of them, on board the _Samson_, prison ship,
of which we have heard before, in connection with a traitor being
tattooed, fought a duel, and one was killed. Having no swords, they
used two sticks, on the end of each of which was fastened a pair of
scissors. The duel was meant to be _à l'outrance_, for one received a
mortal wound in the stomach, from which his bowels protruded, yet he
still fought on as long as he could. The prisoners, at last, applied
to the ship's surgeon, who sewed up the wound, but the man died very
shortly afterwards.
They must have been a bad lot on board that ship _Samson_, for we
read:--
"July 19. A most diabolical conspiracy has been charged to have been
formed on board the _Samson_ prison ship, at Gillingham Reach, by
three French prisoners, to murder the master's mate, and the sergeant
of marines, belonging to the ship, together with several of their own
countrymen. The murders were to have been perpetrated on each victim
singly, as opportunities presented: when the escape of the murderer,
by mixing instantly with the great body of the prisoners, was to be
facilitated by the other conspirators, and lots were drawn who should
commit the first murder.
"The first lot fell to Charles Mansereaux; but this man, being
troubled by some compunctious visiting of conscience, on reflecting
that the sergeant was a married man, with a family, who would be left
destitute by his death, determined to despatch one of the private
marines in his stead. On Tuesday se'n-night, when this wretch was
watching for an opportunity to effect this purpose, Thomas King,
a private marine, came on the forecastle, when Mansereaux stepped
behind him, and plunged a knife into his back, which passed through
the kidneys, and inflicted a dreadful wound, of which the poor
fellow lingered till Saturday morning, when he expired. Mansereaux
was observed by a fellow prisoner, who instantly knocked him down,
and secured him, or he would, probably, have escaped without being
detected. Mansereaux, on being confined, made a discovery of the
whole plan, and named his associates, both of whom were standing by
at the time of the murder." The three prisoners were at once secured,
but I fail to trace their fate.
On the 22nd of September, three French prisoners escaped, and
murdered a boatman, and the story is thus told in the _Hants
Courier_:--
"Three French prisoners, François Relif, Jean Marie Dantz, and Daniel
Du Verge, having effected their escape from Forton depôt, engaged
the wherry of the above-named George Brothers, to take them to Ryde.
When off the Block-house, (according to their own assertions),
they proposed to the boatman to take them to France, promising
ample reward, and liberty to return immediately; but he, not to be
corrupted by promises or reward, resisted their proposition, and, in
consequence, they stabbed him in sixteen places, (three of which were
mortal,) and threw him overboard.
"The Frenchmen immediately directed their course to sea, and were
promptly pursued by several wherries, in one of which were Lieut.
Sullock, and three seamen of the _Centaur_, at anchor at Spithead. In
consequence of a heavy swell, and bad management, the Frenchmen were
overtaken, after a run of about 15 miles; one of the men belonging to
the _Centaur_ leaped into the wherry among the Frenchmen alone, armed
with nothing but the stretcher, with which he knocked one of them
down: they then surrendered.
"They were taken on board the _Centaur_ for the night, and, on being
searched, a large sum of money was found about them in silver, and
three knives; one of them was very bloody; and on Thursday morning
they were delivered into the hands of the civil power, and landed at
the sally-port. They were taken to the Borough Gaol, when they were
again examined. They confessed that Brothers was killed by two of
them, but that the third was no further concerned than in lending
his knife to the other, when the waterman resisted them. More money
was here taken from them, one, having, actually, concealed in his
pantaloons under his boots (_sic_) thirty-three 5s. 6d. pieces. It
appears that, by the manufacture of lace, toys, &c., the prisoners
accumulated a sufficient sum of money to procure a suit of genteel
clothes each, (besides the sums taken from their persons), dressed in
which they mingled with the crowd of visitors that were walking in
the depôt, eluding by their metamorphosed appearance the vigilance of
the turnkeys and military sentinels." What ultimately became of them
I cannot find out, but, doubtless, two were hanged.
The period of Captivity for these Prisoners of War was drawing to a
close, for Napoleon's power was waning fast, and the reverses which
he experienced at the hands of the Allies at Leipsic on October
16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, may be considered as having determined his
final overthrow. The News was told to England in a _London Gazette
extraordinary_, of November 3rd, and, on the 5th and 6th, London was
brilliantly illuminated.
"Everywhere, except opposite Somerset House, there was the most
perfect decorum and order, the crowds, both on foot, and in
carriages, passed along without the slightest annoyance; but, in the
Strand, the old disgraceful nuisance of scattering dirt and crackers,
and throwing every species of combustible at females, and into
carriages, was practised the whole evening."
[Illustration: Part of Transparency at Ackermann's.
(_November 5-6, 1813, in honour of the victories of the Allies at
Leipsig, &c._)]
Looking at the list of Illuminations, they were not very grand,
when judged by our standard; but there was one transparency shown at
Ackermann's Repository of Arts, which, although very grisly and grim
in its conception, was of decidedly artistic merit. It was called
"The Two Kings of Terror," and I have here reproduced a portion of
it. The whole composition is thus contemporaneously described: "A
design representing Buonaparte sitting upon a drum, in a field of
battle, his hands under his chin, his elbows on his knees; opposite
is seated Death upon a dismounted cannon, in the same position,
his elbows upon his knees,' 'staring the tyrant in the face;' his
right foot has crushed the insolent French trophy, the _ci devant_
invincible French eagle, his left rests upon a cannon ball. In the
background is seen the French legions, filled with dismay, flying
before the conquering Germans, Russians, Prussians, and Swedes. The
whole was surmounted by an emblematic Circle, indicative of Union and
Strength, which was lighted by gas, and of dazzling brightness."
In October Bavaria joined the Allies. In November a revolution took
place in Holland; the people of Amsterdam rose in a body, and hoisted
the Orange Colours, and, with the ancient cry of "ORANGE BOVEN"
(Orange in the ascendant, or victorious) proclaimed the sovereignty
of that house. The example of the Capital was followed by the other
principal towns of Holland; which the French troops were compelled to
evacuate.
The Prince of Orange was in England, the sure asylum of unfortunate
Royalty, and on the 21st of November a deputation came to London
from Holland, inviting him to return. On the 28th he embarked at
Deal for Holland, on board the _Warrior_, of 74 guns, and landed at
Scheveningen on the 30th. The Dutch, having thrown off the French
yoke, were no longer our enemies, so that we had no further reason
for keeping any of that Nation as Prisoners of War, and they,
amounting to 10,000 in number, were ordered to be sent back to
their own country, to assist in liberating it from the domination
of France. On the 2nd of December the Prince of Orange made his
solemn entry into Amsterdam, when he declared his acceptance of
the sovereignty, and the title of Sovereign Prince of the United
Netherlands.
The _entente cordiale_, which thus, of necessity, sprung up
between the English and Dutch, among other things produced the
accompanying illustration, wherein is shown an English and a Dutch
Sailor fraternizing. Above them, is a label "Fendracht maakt Magt."
(_Concord makes Power_), and "The Sea is Open, Trade revives."
On the 1st of December the Allied Sovereigns issued a declaration
at Frankfort, in which they affirmed that they did not make war
upon France, but against the preponderance exercised by the Emperor
Napoleon beyond the limits of his empire; that the first use they
made of victory was to offer him peace upon conditions founded on
the independence of the French Empire, as well as on that of the
other States of Europe; that they desired that France might be great,
powerful, and happy, and that they confirmed to the French Empire
an extent of territory which France, under her kings, never knew;
that, wishing, also, to be free, tranquil, and happy themselves, they
desired a state of peace, which, by a just equilibrium of strength
might preserve their people from the calamities which had overwhelmed
Europe, for the last twenty years; and that they would not lay down
their arms until they had obtained this beneficial result. But,
either this declaration was only meant as a political display, or
else they entirely misjudged Napoleon's character, when they imagined
they could put bounds to his ambition, and dictate terms to him who
had had all Europe at his feet--so nothing came of it.
[Illustration: "The Sea is Open, Trade Revives."
(_Published December 13, 1813, Ackermann._)]
The American War still went on. Madison was again elected President.
At the commencement of the year the Americans attacked Canada direct.
General Winchester attacked and took Detroit, but the English,
under Colonel Proctor, with 500 regulars and militia, and about 600
Indians, advanced against him, the result being, that half his men
surrendered at discretion, and the other half were nearly all cut to
pieces by the Indians.
On the other hand, the Americans captured and held possession
of York, the Capital of Upper Canada, seated on Lake Ontario.
Henceforth, the war was principally confined this year to the Lakes,
with varying fortunes, until we hear from Sir G. Provost, on the
12th of December, that both provinces of Canada were freed from the
invaders, who retired to winter quarters. This war was, occasionally,
conducted on curious principles, as the following will show. It is
taken from the general orders issued by the Commander of the British
Forces at Montreal, dated October 27th. The facts stated are, that
23 Soldiers of the United States Infantry, being made prisoners,
were sent to England, and kept in close confinement, as British
subjects; that General Dearborn had been instructed to put into
similar confinement 23 British soldiers as hostages for the safety
of the former; that the Prince Regent had given directions to put
in close confinement 46 American Officers, and non-commissioned
Officers, to answer for the safety of the last 23 soldiers; and,
also, to apprize General Dearborn, that if any of them should suffer
death in consequence of executing the law of Nations upon the first
23 confined as British subjects, double the number of the confined
American Officers should immediately be selected for retaliation;
and, moreover, that the commanders of his Majesty's armies and
fleets had received orders to prosecute the war with unmitigated
severity against all the cities, towns, and villages of the United
States, in case their Government should persist in their intention of
retaliation.
The Princess Charlotte was, naturally, a prominent subject for
conversation among all ranks, for she was the only child of the
Regent, and, as such, heir-presumptive to the throne. She began, too,
to make herself talked about a little. She was now in her seventeenth
year, on the completion of which she would become of age, and she
began to kick over the traces somewhat, and to show that she had a
will of her own. Her childhood had not been a happy one, and she had
served as a shuttlecock with which papa and mamma had played many a
game. She had a mother whom she seldom saw, and a father whose habits
were the reverse of domestic; she knew, perfectly well, what her
future prospects were, and occasionally she showed a little temper
and wilfulness.
In January, 1813, her governess, Lady de Clifford resigned her
office, and Miss immediately wrote a letter, through the Queen,
to her papa, saying that now she was old enough to do without a
governess, and desiring that whoever should be appointed to be about
her person, in the place of Lady de Clifford, should occupy the
position of a lady of the bedchamber, and not that of _gouvernante_.
The Queen, the Prince Regent, and the Lord Chancellor took sweet
counsel together on the subject, and their unanimous opinion was that
Mademoiselle must still continue in _statu pupillari_, at all events
until she came of age. The young lady was rebellious, but the higher
authorities were too strong for her, and, with many sighs, she had
to give in, and accept the inevitable in the shape of the Duchess of
Leeds as governess.
In January, too, her mother, the Princess Caroline, wrote a very long
letter to the Prince Regent, in which she animadverted very strongly
on the manner in which her daughter was being brought up, especially
in her being debarred from all social intercourse with young ladies
of her own age. The history of this letter is interesting, as showing
the relations existing between this unhappy husband and wife. The
story is thus told[14]:--
[Footnote 14: "Memoirs of her late Royal Highness,
Charlotte Augusta Princess of Wales," &c., by Robert Huish,
Esq., London, 1818, p. 68.]
"It is curious to trace the manner in which this celebrated letter at
last reached the hands for which it was destined.
"It was transmitted, on the 14th of January, to Lord Liverpool, and
Lord Eldon, sealed, by Lady Charlotte Campbell, the lady in waiting
for the Month, expressing her Royal Highness's pleasure that it
should be presented to the Prince Regent, and there was an open Copy
for their perusal.
"On the 15th, the Earl of Liverpool presented his Compliments to Lady
Charlotte Campbell, and returned the letter unopened.
"On the 16th, it was returned by Lady Charlotte, intimating, that, as
it contained matters of importance to the State, she relied on their
laying it before his Royal Highness. It was again returned unopened,
with the Earl of Liverpool's compliments to Lady Charlotte, saying
that the Prince saw no reason to depart from his determination.
"On the 17th, it was returned in the same way by command of her Royal
Highness, expressing her confidence, that the two noble lords would
not take upon themselves the responsibility of not communicating the
letter to his Royal Highness, and that she should not be the only
subject in the empire, whose petition was not permitted to reach the
throne. To this, an answer was given, that the contents of it had
been made known to the Prince.
"On the 19th, her Royal Highness directed a letter to be addressed
to the two noble Lords, desiring to know whether it had been made
known to his Royal Highness, by being read to him, and to know his
pleasure thereon.
"No answer was given to this letter; and, therefore, on the 26th,
she directed a letter to be written, expressing her surprise that no
answer had been given to her application for a whole week.
"To this an answer was received, addressed to the Princess; stating
that in consequence of her Royal Highness's demand, the letter had
been read to the Prince Regent on the 20th, but that he had not been
pleased to express his pleasure thereon.
"Here the correspondence closed; and no ulterior benefit accrued from
it to the afflicted mother, nor to the daughter."
The Princess Charlotte, however, did see more of Society, for she
went to the Splendid Fête given by her father, at Carlton House, on
the 5th of February, in honour of her Majesty's birthday, and at the
ball which followed she danced with her uncle, the Duke of Clarence,
afterwards William IV. Then she went to the Opera with the Duchess of
York, and she also kept her birthday with great festivities, but she
was not presented at Court, as she was resolute in being presented by
no one except her mother.
In February, Warwick House was allotted to her, as a residence, and
all her baggage, saddle horses, &c., were removed thither. Here,
however, her mother was forbidden to visit her, and the chronicles
of the times dilate strongly on an accidental meeting of the mother
and daughter in Hyde Park, where they drew their respective carriages
close together, and embraced each other through the windows,
conversing together for some ten minutes.
When her maternal grandmother, the Duchess of Brunswick died, her
father hinted to her the propriety of a visit to her mother, leaving
it to her whether it should be before or after the funeral. Needless
to say, but very few hours elapsed before she, accompanied by the
Duchess of Leeds, and Miss Knight, were at Blackheath, where the
Princess of Wales then lived.
She was now a young woman, and would be of age early next year, so it
was time to look about for a husband for her; and the person pitched
upon was none other than the Prince of Orange, whom we have lately
seen as going back to Amsterdam, to enjoy his own again. At this time
he was serving in Spain as _aide-de-camp_ to Lord Wellington; but it
was represented to him that there were other things for him to do,
and he quitted the seat of war, and came over to England, possibly
rejoicing in the anticipation of the good things coming to him; and
on the 14th of December, he was formally introduced at Warwick House,
by the Prince Regent, to the Princess Charlotte, whom he was expected
to woo and win. His suit and its success belong to 1814, and will be
told in its place.
Of the condition of the poor old King, this year, we hear very
little; the monthly bulletins were certainly issued, but they were of
the most meagre description. Madame d'Arblay, even, although she was
over here, and had the best of opportunities for hearing about him,
only mentions him once, in her letters to her father, in May:--
"The beloved King is in the _best state possible_ for his present
melancholy situation: that is, wholly free from bodily suffering,
or imaginary mental misery, for he is persuaded that he is always
conversing with Angels."[15]
[Footnote 15: "Memoirs," vol. vii. p. 6.]