Secret History of the Court of England, from the Accession of George the Third to the Death of George the Fourth, Volume 1 (of 2) / Including, Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of the Princess Charlotte

by Lady Anne Hamilton

1813,

the princess found her situation more irksome than ever; and she resolved, therefore, to inform the prince regent of the hardships of her case, soliciting his royal highness to inform himself of all or any part of her behaviour or demeanour, to which the queen had made such heavy objections. The following is an exact copy of the letter of her royal highness to the prince:

27th Jan., 1813.

"Sir,

"On the 14th of this month, I transmitted to the hand of your royal highness a letter relative to

[[223]]the cruelty and injustice of my situation, in reference to my beloved child's separation from me, the most heart-rending point upon which you could so severely afflict me. Why does your royal highness refuse to answer my simple, but honest and honourable inquiry? What have I not endured since the moment I became your princess and wife? Heaven only knows, and heaven only can avenge my wrongs. It is now more than seventeen years since I gave birth to your lovely daughter, Princess Charlotte of Wales, at which time I did most certainly hope and also believe, that her royal father's affectionate recollections of her mother would not only revive, but be exemplified. Yet to this time, your royal highness has not evinced one spark of regard to the consort you vowed 'to love and cherish.'

"More than this, my lord and husband, you permit her majesty to usurp such extreme authority over me, and insult me in every possible way. Why, my lord, I ask, do you allow these indignities to be imposed upon your cousin and wife, (so called) the mother of the heiress to the throne of these united kingdoms? If I had deserved such treatment, I should most naturally have avoided all scrutiny; but, that I have endeavoured to obtain all possible investigation into my conduct, I need only refer to my several correspondencies with your august father, your brother of York, privy council, &c. &c.

"I cannot conclude without saying, if you refuse

[[224]]me justice, I will leave indisputable proofs to this insulted nation that its generosity has been abused, though, at the same time, I would save you yourself from IGNOMINY at the hazard of my liberty. To the queen, I never will bow. Her majesty WAS, IS, and EVER WILL BE, A TYRANT to those she may imagine obstacles in her path. Perhaps her majesty presumes I am not an object of material consequence; but time will develop all these things. If this letter meet not with your royal approbation, I can only regret it, and waiting your reply,

"I am, ever,

"Your faithful and devoted

"CAROLINE."

"P.S. I entreat your royal highness to inform yourself of every part of my conduct which may at any time have been esteemed derogatory; and, while I beg this favour, I trust your royal highness will never again submit to the unprincipled, slanderous, and abominable aspersions cast upon my character. Let me suggest, my lord, that TRUTH MUST PREVAIL, SOONER OR LATER. After the most deliberate, careful, and scrutinizing investigations, I only beg to be punished with the most extreme rigour, if I am found GUILTY; but if free from guilt, I ought to say, I have an indisputable right to be ACKNOWLEDGED SO!"

"To his Royal Highness,
the Prince Regent."

[[225]]This letter was not noticed when the commissioners sat on the 23rd of February; and Lord Liverpool never even mentioned it when communicating with the princess, or when he had the private interview with her royal highness, by the regent's request.

We should not act with justice or honour if we neglected to state this omission; because the letter reflected much credit upon the princess, and ought to have been the first read when the council assembled. The result of this new inquiry, however, was what the vindictive queen intended it should be; for the almost-distracted Princess of Wales was refused the natural privilege of intercourse with her only daughter!

In the mean time, every opportunity was gladly embraced to detract the character of the princess. Base inuendos and malicious remarks were incessantly poured forth against her, until her life became one continued scene of sorrow and abuse, caused by those from whom she ought to have experienced protection. Under these imputations, the princess again appealed, by an address to the Speaker of the House of Commons; and, after many inquiries and replies, the subject was dismissed with an acknowledgment, that "Her royal highness is declared free from all imputation."

We must not here forget to mention, that Mr. C. Johnstone submitted a motion, on the 5th of March, "to request the prince regent will permit the copy of a certain report, made in 1806, to be laid before the House;" but Lord Castlereagh opposed it, as

[[226]]being unnecessary, and the document was consequently refused.

Notwithstanding the disgust manifested by every honest Englishman at the base conduct of Sir John and Lady Douglas, when they preferred their abominable charge against the character of the Princess of Wales in the year 1806, they had the hardihood to present a petition to the House this year to re-swear to the truth of their former depositions concerning the conduct of the Princess of Wales! No proceedings, of course, took place in consequence of this attempt still to propagate their calumnies; but a motion was made by Mr. C. Johnstone, a few days afterwards in the House of Commons, "That the petition of Sir John and Lady Douglas ought to be regarded as an audacious attempt to give a colour of truth, in the eyes of the nation, to evidence which they had delivered touching the conduct of her royal highness the Princess of Wales, and which evidence was a foul and detestable endeavour to bring the life and honour of her royal highness into danger and suspicion." This resolution, however, could not be passed, in consequence of the House not being in possession of the evidence, which was refused, as we have just stated, by Lord Castlereagh; but many members expressed their agreement with the sentiments of the resolution.

What was the real reason for not prosecuting Sir John and Lady Douglas, after the House had rejected their petition with such indignation, on the motion of Mr. Johnstone, it is not very easy to

[[227]]divine; that alleged by Lord Castlereagh is most certainly not a satisfactory one. It has been often insinuated, that if the conspiracy against the life and honour of the Princess of Wales did not originate with her royal relatives, it was certainly fostered and brought to maturity by persons connected with the queen and the prince regent; and the evidence of Bidgood and Cole very much favours that opinion. If the Douglases, and Bidgood and Cole, were the "suborned traducers," to which her royal highness alluded in one of her letters to the prince about this time, the impunity with which the knight and his lady were suffered to continue at large cannot excite surprise. This impunity, the report that Bidgood had received a pension of one hundred and fifty pounds a year, and the direct interference of the Prince of Wales in promoting the inquiry, and in entering his caveat to prevent the princess being received at court, have thrown a suspicious veil around this part of the proceedings, which will not be very soon removed.

On the 23rd of March, the Princess of Wales had to bear another severe stroke of fortune, in the death of her mother, the Duchess of Brunswick, who was interred with much funeral pomp, at Windsor, on the 31st. This melancholy event, following so closely after her late persecutions, was as much as the princess could endure; and had it not been for the sympathetic attentions of one confidant, her royal highness would, no doubt, have sunk under her immense load of sorrow.

[[228]]In July and August, the princess devoted the greater portion of her time to correspondence with the prince, her husband. Very many of the letters could not, we think, have met the eye of the regent, or answers must have been sent, if only in common courtesy, as the prince knew his honour, and also that of his family, were at stake. We have transcripts of all these letters; but shall content ourselves with only introducing the last she wrote to his royal highness previous to her going abroad. The following is a literal copy of it:

"23rd of Aug., 1813.

"Sir,

"I have waited, with most anxious feelings, to receive an acknowledgment of the safe receipt of several important communications which I addressed to you as 'private and confidential.' To this hour I have not received a reply, and I therefore take up my pen for the last time upon this most disagreeable business. To you it is well known, that the good king, your father, has invariably treated me with the most profound respect, and proper attention; and his majesty would have done me more essential service long since, had it not been for the oath he gave to Lord Chatham, to preserve from all public investigation the connexion formed in 1759 with the Quakeress.

"I am aware, Sir, that you may say I intrude myself upon your royal notice very frequently; but I think and feel it to be my indispensable duty and privilege. I have lately had an interview with

[[229]]Lord Liverpool; but his lordship cannot serve your royal highness and the persecuted Princess of Wales. I, therefore, shall not submit myself to any further interviews with his lordship, by my own request. As I intend this letter as a final appeal and explanation to your royal highness, I beg to ask your forbearance and lenity on account of its length and detail.

"Your royal highness has not forgotten how strangely I was allured from my father's court to receive your hand in marriage (the letters of 1794 bear me witness). You cannot have forgotten the kind reception of the king, your father, on my arrival in the metropolis of this empire, and the sarcastic manners of the queen. Two days had scarcely passed after our marriage, when you commanded me to receive Lady Jersey upon all occasions, although your royal highness was too well acquainted with the deep-laid schemes formed by her majesty against me, which were to be put into execution by Lady Jersey; and when I most humbly requested of you, that I might be secluded from all society rather than endure that which was so hateful to me, your royal highness cannot have forgotten the inhuman reply you made me, 'The Princess of Brunswick has answered every purpose I desired, inasmuch as my debts are to be settled, and my income augmented, and I will provide an heir to the throne more worthy of popular regard than any descendant of my father's family could ever prove.' These, Sir, were words

[[230]]of so heavy and doubtful a character, that from that moment I never forgot them; and from the hour in which my Charlotte was born, I have feared for her health and happiness. How your royal highness could thus insult me, you can best imagine.

"Another most material grievance imposed upon me was, your unnatural remark to Lady Jersey, in my presence, 'that you thought the king TOO FOND of the Princess of Wales; and if her royal highness had any children, his majesty would no doubt be the FATHER, INSTEAD OF THE GRANDFATHER.' Lady Jersey's reply will never be effaced from my memory, while reason holds her empire: 'Yes, my prince, and you deserve it, if ever you notice the Princess of Wales again in the character of a husband or lover.' Your royal highness may remember I instantly left the room, more deeply insulted and wounded than language can describe. From that time, I was aware of my cruel fate, and I did deeply deplore the necessity which had forced me from the much-loved scenes of my infancy and youthful years.

"The very remarkable request of Mr. Pitt, in 1800, for a private interview with me, was another cause for disquiet to my mind; but I acceded immediately, and he accordingly was admitted. The object of that minister's visit was to solicit my silence upon the subject of the bondholders, whose fate had caused so great an interest in several countries, and whose families had been the victims

[[231]]of their ready acquiescense to the wishes of the royal princes. 'But' said Mr. Pitt, 'these affairs are of as much consequence to your royal highness as they are to the other members of the royal family; and if matters of this kind are to be canvassed publicly, your royal highness may rest assured that ere long your family will not be permitted to occupy the exalted rank and station they now enjoy. I therefore most earnestly recommend that your royal highness does not name these subjects to any of the anti-ministerial party, who are not at present in possession of the circumstances.' I do not doubt but Mr. Pitt laid the whole of this conversation before your royal highness, and he must have noticed the very cool and guarded reception I gave him. To have behaved openly to Mr. Pitt was impossible, as I knew too well his avowed hostile feelings against me. But a few days had elapsed after this interview, when I had the pleasure of seeing the good king. I now take the liberty of laying before your royal highness the substance of our conversation. 'My dear daughter,' said his majesty, 'I hear Pitt has paid you a confidential visit,' 'Yes, Sire, he has,' I replied. 'What was the object of it?' 'Upon the subject of the bondholders, your majesty.' 'I hope you made no rash promise?' said the king; 'None, Sire.' 'Why could not Pitt have called upon you at a more suitable hour, Caroline?' 'I do not know, Sire; but I plainly saw Mr. Pitt did not think much etiquette was necessary to the Princess of Wales, as he well knew

[[232]]it was my dinner hour; and yet I was determined not to refuse myself, as I was perfectly sure the whole of the affair would be reported to the queen.' 'Caroline, my niece,' said the king, 'do not, pray do not, fear Pitt, or any of my family. I will put you in possession of some affairs which will soon silence them all; and before the end of this week I will send you a small parcel of important papers, by the hand of a trusty messenger.'

"Your royal father most scrupulously kept his word, and enclosed me the PROOFS he had named, and promised to send. Many times since then have I informed your royal highness that I was in confidence upon those subjects; but you have never condescended to acknowledge those communications, or expressed one sentiment of obligation for the strict silence I have observed. I have been restrained only from the most ARDENT AND PARENTAL AFFECTION TO MY LOVELY DAUGHTER, or long ere this I would have proclaimed the extent of the wrongs I have endured from some of the illegal and unjust impositions practised upon me and the British nation. Your royal highness knew at the moment you met me at the altar in the palace, that you were already the affianced husband of Mrs. Fitzherbert, and you were well aware that if my uncle, the king, had known of that former circumstance, he would have prevented the left-handed marriage taking place. In this his majesty was deceived, and I have been the

[[233]]victim of your intentional imposition. It has generally been supposed by your royal highness' family connexions, that there was some impropriety or defect by which you received an unfavourable opinion of me in the early part of our fatal marriage; and, in my presence, your royal highness has insulted me by such insinuations, though you well know I was not the OFFENDER, but the OFFENDED!!! Up to this period, I have buried your royal highness' UNNATURAL CONDUCT to me in my own bosom; but if I am to be so injured, and if my character is to be so vilified, I shall EXPLAIN MYSELF TO THE NATION, and think I am performing an imperative duty. Your royal highness cannot have forgotten the outrage you committed by entering my chamber at Montague House, and your denial of it to the queen, your mother, for the avowed purpose of traducing my honour. Had I not then been restrained from explanation upon those base designs, by an unalterable love to my child, I should have exposed the infamous conduct you manifested towards me.

"I name these things, Sir, to prove to you the inviolable honour I have observed, in despite of all the insults and provocations I have received from your royal highness and the queen, and also from the creatures employed to ruin me in the estimation of this generous English nation. A time will come when the secrets of my life will

[[234]]be PUBLISHED TO THE WORLD; then let the unprejudiced judge.

"I remain, Sir,

"Your royal highness' most

"Faithful wife and cousin,

"Caroline P."

"To his Royal Highness,
the Prince Regent."

It is more than probable that the confidentially-private and notorious secretary (M'Mahon) was the receiver of these appeals and documents, who, possessing the most unbounded assurance in the ability of his royal master's coadjutors to carry any plan into execution, or to prevent vexatious trouble to any extent, suppressed them at the moment when they might have proved of the greatest consequence to her royal highness. We cannot wonder at this, when we take into account the character of this private secretary, who dared to violate the rights of friendship, and break through the most sacred ties of conjugal affection, treating the honourable engagements of persons in general as matters of minor consequence! Were this depraved man now an inhabitant of the earth, we would ask him if his recollection could furnish the number of inroads he had made upon the abodes of innocence and beauty, to gratify his royal patron. We could ourselves name several instances; but one will suffice, which we copy from the manuscript of a friend, and the substance of which has been before published.

[[235]]The private secretary of the prince (M'Mahon) was accustomed to retire for recreation to Bath, at certain periods. At the time to which we now advert, he was travelling to that city, and, at Marlborough, a respectable and venerable gentleman, accompanied by two young ladies, took their seats in the stage coach. The courtier was not wanting in attentions, and, in reply to his numerous questions, he soon received the information, "that the gentleman was a poor clergyman, residing near Marlborough; that the two young ladies were his daughters, whom he then was accompanying to visit a relation at Bath." M'Mahon's polished manners, added to the fixed determination of sacrificing these ladies to his royal master's desires, had the hoped-for effect, and the deluded party was anxious to cultivate further acquaintance with the stranger. Two days after their arrival, the intriguing secretary wrote and despatched the following letter to the prince:

"(Most Private.)

"Bath, Sunday Evening.

"Sir,—Ever alive to the obtaining possession of any object which may contribute to your royal pleasures, I hasten to inform your royal highness, that chance has thrown me into the company of two most lovely girls, the daughters of an indigent curate, and who, from their apparent simplicity and ignorance of the world, may be soon brought to comply with the wishes of your royal highness. I shall immediately devise some plan by which they may be induced to visit the metropolis, and the remainder of my task will then not be difficult of execution. The prize is too valuable to be lost sight of; the elder of the girls bears some resemblance in her form and make to Hillisberg, although it is evident that the whole fullness of her growth has not yet developed itself. The younger is more of a languishing beauty; but, from the knowledge which I

[[236]]possess of your royal taste, the elder will be the object of your choice.

"I have the honour to remain, &c. &c.

"JOHN M'MAHON."

"To his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, &c. &c."

The intimacy at Bath was cultivated. M'Mahon promised to intercede for the interest of the worthy clergyman, and afterwards engaged to ensure him promotion.

In the midst of explanations, promises, and engagements, M'Mahon was summoned to town by the royal order. Ere he departed, he promised, instantly upon seeing the prince, to lay their case before him, and dwelt in vivid terms upon the effects of such a representation. Within the ensuing fortnight, the clergyman received a letter from him, announcing "that a vicarage was vacant, in the gift of the crown, to which he should receive the presentation." M'Mahon again visited Bath, and recommended the clergyman and family to take up their abode in the metropolis. For this purpose, he had engaged apartments in the house of Mrs. General Hamilton, in Gloucester-place, to which they soon resorted. In the mean time, M'Mahon informed the clergyman that his induction would shortly take place, and that, in the interim, he must employ himself in the most agreeable manner, as also his daughters, in such amusements as the town afforded. Mrs. Hamilton was also pleased to say she would be their conductor and companion upon all occasions. The lady just named was a gay,

[[237]]though unsuspected, character. Shortly after this period, at an evening party, M'Mahon introduced Colonel Fox, "a gentleman," he said, "allied to the noblest families, and of an immense fortune."

If our readers should here inquire, who was Colonel Fox? we answer,—the Prince of Wales.

We hasten to the conclusion of this most infamous history. The deceived clergyman was informed that he must proceed to a village in Leicestershire, where his induction would instantly take place; and he, therefore, hastily took leave of his daughters, with an assurance that they were in the best society. Indeed, Mrs. Hamilton had evinced such interest and apparent solicitude in their happiness, that his heart was relieved from any doubts for their safety. This amiable father took leave of his children in the most affectionate manner; but little did he imagine that embrace would be the last he should ever receive from them,—yet so it proved. A short time after, early in the day, M'Mahon called upon Mrs. General Hamilton, expressing the necessity of her seeing her solicitor upon some affairs relative to the estate of her deceased husband.

The carriage was ordered, and the secretary promised to remain with the younger, while the elder sister accompanied Mrs. Hamilton. "We will first drive to Taylor's, in Bond-street," said Mrs. Hamilton, "he has some commissions to execute for me," and accordingly they were set down there.

The obsequious shoe-maker requested them to walk into the drawing-room, which they did; and in

[[238]]a few minutes Mrs. Hamilton said, "I will now step down, and transact my business with Taylor." In a short time she returned, saying, "How truly fortunate we are; Colonel Fox has just entered the shop, and, being informed you are here, has solicited permission to keep you company until I return from my solicitor's; you cannot refuse the request;" and then, without waiting a reply, she left the room. The pretended Colonel Fox entered; he professed eternal love and unalterable constancy; and, within one hour, this lovely, but most unfortunate, female was added to the infamously-swelled list of the prince's debaucheries and cruel seductions. The younger sister still lives—a melancholy proof of outraged and insulted honour.

We have given this detail to satisfy the scrupulous portion of society, that the prince merited a thousand-fold more exposure and execration than he ever received.

At this period, Mr. Whitbread was very pressing with the Princess of Wales, advising her to make a tour upon the continent, in order to divert her mind from the provocations she was so frequently called upon to endure. Upon one occasion, he urged the subject with considerable warmth, and his great earnestness surprised her royal highness. With her usual readiness, she said, "I feel sure Mr. Whitbread does not intend any thing disagreeable in these remarks; but, Sir, are you aware that Mr. Canning has been pressing the same opinion upon my notice? and I do not comprehend why this suggestion is made

[[239]]by you also. If I go away, shall I not leave my beloved child exposed to the determinate will and caprice of the queen, and others, who, doubtless, will vex her as much as possible? Are you, Sir, requested to represent this to me, or is it your private opinion?" Mr. Whitbread replied, "It is my personal opinion, and solely to provide against any unhappy effects arising from the queen's displeasure, which," he added, "I well know is unbounded."

On the 27th of May, the princess went to the Opera House. It was her first appearance in public since her triumphant acquittal. Her royal highness was received with considerable acclamations, while even her enemies were compelled to acknowledge "the dignity, delicacy, and feeling, pre-eminently displayed in her behaviour."

On the 30th, the regent gave a grand supper and ball, but the princess was not invited.

The supplies required for the service of this year amounted to upwards of one hundred and twenty millions!

Endless vexations and anxieties attended the Princess of Wales up to the year