CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME.
| [CHARLOTTE SOPHIA—Cont.] | |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES. | |
| PAGE | |
| Death of the Duke of Cumberland—His military career—The soubriquet of the Butcher given him—Anecdotes of him—Marriage of Caroline Matilda—Her married life unhappy—Dr. Struensee—Mésalliances of the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland—The Duke of Cumberland and Lady Grosvenor—The Royal Marriage Act—Olivia Serres—Lord Clive’s present of diamonds to the Queen—Disgusting correspondence of the Duchess of Orleans and Queen Caroline—The Prince of Wales’s juvenile Drawing-room—Simple life of the Royal Family at Kew—Prince Frederick and his cottage beauty—Paton and his naval pictures—Royal births—The custom of cake and caudle observed—Petty larcenists—Sarah Wilson and her subsequent life—Death of Princess Mary; and of Princess Augusta, the King’s mother—The Earl of Bute—Neglected education of George III.—Petronilla, Countess Delitz—The Countess of Chesterfield, her conversion by Whitfield—Efforts of Lady Huntingdon to convert the gay Earl of Chesterfield—Mr. Fitzroy—George III. at Portsmouth—Jacob Bryant’s ‘golden rule’—Witty remark of Queen Charlotte—Attendant bards on Royalty; Mark Smeaton, Thomas Abel, David Rizzio—The Princess under the guardianship of Lady Charlotte Finch—The Queen’s benevolence—Satirists | [1] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| PERILS, PROGRESS, AND PASTIMES. | |
| The American War—Dr. Dodd—The Duchess of Queensberry and the ‘Beggar’s Opera’—Royal Progress—Royal Visit to Bulstrode—Mrs. Delany and Queen Charlotte—Birth of Prince Octavius—Strange, the Engraver—The Riots of London—Lady Sarah Lennox—The Prince and his Sire—The Prince’s Preceptors—Errors committed in the education of the Princes—The Prince’s favourite, Perdita Robinson—Marie Antoinette’s present to her—Separate establishment granted to the Prince—Lord North’s facetious remark—Parliamentary provision for the Prince—The Prince’s presence in the House of Commons not acceptable—His pursuit of pleasure—The Duke of Clarence described by Walpole—The Prince of Wales overwhelmed with debts—Dissension in the Royal Family—Marriage proposed to him to extricate him from his debts—The Prince’s connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert—The Prince’s marriage disclaimed by Mr. Fox—The Prince’s behaviour to Mrs. Fitzherbert—The Prince acknowledges his marriage to the Queen | [31] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| COURT FORMS AND COURT FREEDOMS. | |
| Loss of the American Colonies—Political Struggle—The King’s health unsatisfactory—Life of the Royal Family at Windsor—Mrs. Delany—The Queen and the Widow—Early service in the Chapel Royal at Windsor—Rev. Tom Twining and Miss Burney—Miss Burney’s Reception by the Queen—Promenade of the Royal Family on the terrace—The Queen’s ‘dressing’—The Queen’s partiality for Snuff—Country life of the Royal Family at Kew—Princess Amelia; the King’s great affection for her—Scene on the birthday of the Princess—Margaret Nicholson’s attempt to assassinate the King—The Queen’s dread—Her fondness for Diamonds—Mrs. Warren Hastings—The present from the Nizam of the Deccan—Unpopularity of the King and Queen—Their affection for each other—The Queen’s tenderness to Mrs. Delany—Reconciliation of the King and the Prince—A pleasant scene—Another Court Incident | [54] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| SHADOWS IN THE SUNSHINE. | |
| The Princess Amelia—Her connection with the Duke of Grafton—Beau Nash and the Princess—Her despotism as Ranger of Richmond Park—Checked by Mr. Bird—A scene at her Loo-table—Her fondness for stables—Her eccentric Costume—Inordinate love of Snuff—Her Death—Conduct of the Princes—The King’s Illness—Graphic picture of the state of affairs—Lord Thurlow’s treachery—Heartlessness of the Prince—Deplorable condition of the Queen—The King delirious—Particulars of his Illness—Dr. Warren—Melancholy scene—The King wheedled away to Kew—Placed under Dr. Willis—The Prince and Lord Lothian eavesdroppers—The King’s Recovery—The King unexpectedly encounters Miss Burney | [72] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| THE ‘FIRST GENTLEMAN’ AND HIS PRINCIPLES. | |
| Inconsistency of the Whigs—The Tories become radical reformers—Party spirit—A restricted Regency scorned by the Prince—Compelled to accept it—The King’s rapid recovery—Incredulity of the Princes in regard to the King’s recovery—A family scene at Kew—Ball at White’s Club on the King’s recovery, and unbecoming conduct of the Princes—Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s—Indecent conduct of the Princes—Grief of the King—Expectations of the Prince disappointed—Caricatures and satires | [92] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| ROYALTY UNDER VARIOUS PHASES. | |
| Bishop Watson a partisan of the Prince—The bishop’s reception by the Queen—The Prince’s patronage of the bishop—Bishop Watson’s views on the Regency—Laid on the shelf—The Prince and the bishop’s ‘Apology’—Ball given on the King’s recovery by Brookes’s Club—Mrs. Siddons, as Britannia—The Queen’s Drawing-room on the occasion—Mrs. Siddons’s readings at Buckingham House—Gay life of the Duke of York—Popularity of the Duke of Clarence—His boundless hospitality at the Admiralty—Duel between the Duke of York and Colonel Lennox—Littleness of spirit of the Princes—Royal Visit to Lulworth Castle—Assault on the King—Caricatures of the day—Marriage of the Duke of York—Ceremonious royal visit to the young couple—Caricatures of the Duchess of York—Unhappy in her marriage—The Duchess and Monk Lewis—Alleged avarice of the King and Queen—Dr. Johnson’s opinion of the King—Etiquette at Court—The Sailor Prince ‘too far gone’ for a minuet—The Royal Family at Cheltenham—The mayor and the master of the ceremonies—Questionable taste of the Queen in regard to the drama—Moral degradation of England during the reign of the first two Georges—Mrs. Hannah More’s ideas on morality; and Rev. Sydney Smith’s witty remark on it—A delicate hint by the Queen to Lady Charlotte Campbell—The Prince’s pecuniary difficulties—The Prince and affairs of the heart—Mésalliance of the Duke of Sussex | [102] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| LENGTHENING SHADOWS. | |
| The Prince of Wales’s marriage to the Princess Caroline of Brunswick—Her character—The Prince’s behaviour at the marriage ceremony—Lord Holland’s two accounts of the Princess irreconcileable—The Prince’s hatred of the Princess—Propriety of the Queen’s Court—Unpopularity of the King—Pelted by the mob—Birth of the Princess Charlotte—Strict observance of Court etiquette—Marriage of the Princess Royal to the Prince of Wurtemburg—First book stereotyped in England—The Volunteer mania—Attempted assassination of the King—Archbishop Cornwallis’s drums, and Lady Huntingdon’s efforts to induce him to discontinue—Her hot reception by Mrs. Cornwallis—Lady Huntingdon induces the King to aid her—The King’s letter to the archbishop—Conduct of the clergy—Incident of the Drawing-room—The Prince a Radical—The King’s illness—His excitement—Feeling exhibited by the Duke of York—The Prince of Wales incredulous of the recovery of the King—Conversation between the King and Dr. Willis—The Queen’s anxiety—Particulars of the King’s Illness—Recovery of the King—Home scene at Windsor Castle | [128] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| THE END OF GREATNESS. | |
| Queen as an author—Domestic life of the Royal Family—Return of the King’s Illness—His continual agitation—Dr. Symonds not the medical officer for the King—Capricious changes made by the King in his household—His humorous eccentricities—Contest between the King and the Prince—The Queen’s conduct—Scant courtesy to the royal invalid—Errors committed by the King—Wellesley and Nelson—Gradual decay of the King—His eccentricity at the installation of Knights of the Garter—Picture of the daily life of the Royal Family—Position of the Queen—The King’s resignation on his blindness—Distress of his mind—Renewal of the Regency question—Extraordinary assertion to Lord Eldon—The King’s person confided to the Queen—The Queen’s letters to Lord Eldon—Her merry letter to him—A touching incident—The Queen’s unpopularity—Marriage of the Princess Charlotte—Decline of the Queen’s health—Disgraceful reception of her by the City—Her death—Considered as a parent—Her political influence—The debts of Prince of Strelitz—The Court on George III.’s ceasing to exercise authority—Regal retinue about the old King dismissed—The Queen’s funeral—Her will—Her diamonds—Death of the Duke of Kent—Death of the King—Visit of the Emperor of the French to the Duchess of Gloucester | [151] |
| [CAROLINE OF BRUNSWICK], WIFE OF GEORGE IV. | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| MOTHER AND DAUGHTER. | |
| Marriage of Princess Augusta to the Prince of Brunswick—His reception at Harwich—Wedding performed with maimed rites—The Prince at the opera—A scene—Old mode of travelling of the bride and bridegroom—Issue of this marriage—Dashing replies of Princess Caroline—Her mother the Duchess a weak and coarse-minded woman—Education of German princesses—Infamous conduct of the Duke of York—Lord Malmesbury sent to demand Princess Caroline in marriage for the Prince of Wales—His account of the Princess—Eloquence of the Duchess on the virtues of the Princess—The Duke’s mistress, and picture of the Court of Brunswick—The Duchess’s stories of bygone times—The marriage by proxy—Celebration of the wedding-day—The marriage treaty—Eccentricity of the Duke—Education of the Princess neglected—The courtesan champion of morality—The Duke’s fears for the Princess—Lady Jersey and the Queen—Lord Malmesbury’s advice to the Princess—Madame de Hertzfeldt’s portrait of the Princess—The Princess’s exuberant spirits at a court masquerade—More admonitions by Lord Malmesbury—Madame de Waggenheim’s taunt, and Lord Malmesbury’s thrust en carte | [183] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| THE NEW HOME. | |
| The Princess desires to have Lord Malmesbury as her lord chamberlain—The Duchess a coarse-minded woman—The Duke of Clarence her bitter enemy—The Duke and Duchess’s caution to Lord Malmesbury, and his dignified reply—The Abbess of Gandersheim’s opinion of mankind—Difficult question proposed by the Princess, and Lord Malmesbury’s gallant reply—The Abbess without human sympathy—A state dinner, and a mischievous anonymous letter—The Princess’s departure for England—Her indifference to money—Instances—Ignorance of the Duchess—Difficulties of the journey—The Princess’s design to reform the Prince of Wales—Indefatigable care of Lord Malmesbury—Story of the Princess at Hanover—Care as to her toilette recommended—Presents given by the Princess—Her arrival in England—Ridiculed by Lady Jersey—Reproof administered to her ladyship by Lord Malmesbury—The first interview of the Prince and Princess—Cold reception of the bride—Flippant conduct of the Princess—Lord Malmesbury reproached by the Prince of Wales | [209] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE FIRST YEAR OF MARRIED LIFE. | |
| The Princess’s letters to her family intercepted—Unkindness exhibited to her—The Prince seeks a separation—Acceded to by the Princess—She removes to Blackheath—Her income settled—Merry hours spent by the Princess at Blackheath—Intercourse between the Princess and her daughter—The Princess’s unfortunate acquaintance with Lady Douglas—The boy Austin—Lady Douglas’s communication to the Prince attacking the Princess—The delicate investigation—Witnesses examined—The Princess hardly dealt with—Her memorial to the King—Delay in doing her justice—The Monarch’s decision—Exculpated from the grave charges—Comparison of Caroline Queen of George II. and Caroline of Brunswick—The Prince and Lady Hertford—Miss Seymour, and the Prince’s subornation of witnesses—Persecution of the Princess by her husband—Her appeal to the King—Menace of publishing The Book—The Princess received at the Queen’s Drawing-room—Meeting of the Prince and Princess—Death of the Duke of Brunswick at the battle of Jena—The Duchess a fugitive—The Princess’s debts | [235] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS. | |
| Imbecility finally settled on the mind of George III.—Intercourse between the Princess and her daughter obstructed—The Whigs betrayed by the Prince—Sketch of the Duchess of Brunswick—The Princess’s Court at Kensington diminished—Her pleasant dinners there—Lively outbreaks of the Princess—Her sketches of character—Her indiscretion—An adventure—Description of the Princess Charlotte—The Princess of Wales’s demeanour to her mother—Thoughtlessness of the Duchess of Brunswick—Popularity of the Princess on the wane—Her determination to bring her wrongs before the public—She becomes more melancholy—An incident—Continued agitation of the Princess—She becomes querulous—The poet Campbell presented to her—A humorous fault of orthography—The Prince and John Kemble | [263] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| HARSH TRIALS AND PETTY TRIUMPHS. | |
| The Princess again in public—Restricted intercourse between the Princess and her daughter—Sealed letters addressed by the Princess to the Prince—Published—The Princess’s appeal to Parliament—Bitterness on both sides—Meeting of the Princess and her daughter—The Princess at Vauxhall—Death of the Duchess of Brunswick—Last interview between the Duke of Brunswick and the Princess—Her depressed spirits—Unnoticed during the festivities of 1814—Sacrifice made by the Princess—Unnoticed by the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia—The Princess at the opera—A scene—Not invited to the great City banquet—Mr. Whitbread’s advice to the Princess—A freak—Reception of the Regent in the City—The Princess excluded from the Drawing-rooms—Correspondence between the Queen and the Princess—Her letter to the Regent—Discussed in the House of Commons | [277] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| A DOUBLE FLIGHT. | |
| The Prince of Orange proposes to the Princess Charlotte—His suit declined—Dr. Parr—A new household appointed for the Princess Charlotte—Her astonishment and immediate flight—Alarm and pursuit—Princess Charlotte removed to Cranbourne Lodge—The Princess of Wales determines to leave England—Her departure from Worthing—The Regent’s continued hatred of her | [299] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| THE ERRANT ARIADNE. | |
| The Princess arrives at Hamburgh—Assumes the title of Countess of Wolfenbüttel—Travels in Switzerland—Meeting of the Princess with the ex-Empress Maria Louisa and the divorced wife of the Grand Duke Constantine—The Princess at Milan—Her English attendants fall off—Her reception by the Pope—At a masked ball at Naples—Her imprudence—Her festivals at Como—The Princess at Palermo—Bergami her chamberlain—The Princess at Genoa—Corresponds with Murat—Personal vanity of Queen Charlotte—The Pope visits the Princess—Surrounded by Italians—Her roving life—Proceeds to Syracuse—At Jericho—Lands at Tunis and visits the Bey—Liberates European slaves—The Princess at Athens—At Troy—At Constantinople—At Ephesus—At Acre—Stopped at Jaffa—Enters Jerusalem—Her reception by the Capuchin Friars—Institutes a new order of chivalry—Life on board the polacca—The Princess and Countess Oldi at Como—Private theatricals a favourite pastime—Agents and spies—Innocent incidents converted into crimes—Bergami divested of his knighthood—The Princess at Carlsruhe—Contemptuously neglected at Vienna—The chamberlain her only attendant—The Princess in public—Deeply affected by the death of Princess Charlotte—As uncircumspect as ever | [313] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| THE RETURN TO ENGLAND. | |
| Report of the Milan Commissioners—The Princess’s determination to return to England—Studied neglect of her by Louis XVIII.—Lord Hutchinson’s proposal to her to remain abroad—Her indignant refusal—Bergami’s anger on the refusal of the proposition—Discourtesy of the French authorities to the Princess—Her reception in England—The Regent’s message to Parliament—The green bag—Sympathy with the Queen—Desire for a compromise evinced; meeting for the purpose at Lord Castlereagh’s—The contending parties in Parliament—Mr. Wilberforce as Mr. Harmony—Mr. Brougham the Queen’s especial advocate—The Queen’s name in the Liturgy demanded—Mr. Denman’s argument for it—Address of the House of Commons to the Queen—Her reply, and appeal to the nation—A secret inquiry protested against—The Queen at Waithman’s shop—Violence of party spirit | [334] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| QUEEN, PEERS, AND PEOPLE. | |
| The secret committee on the Queen’s conduct—Encounter between the Queen and Princess Sophia—Bill of Pains and Penalties brought into the House of Lords—The Queen demands to know the charges against her—Her demand refused—The Queen again petitions—Lord Liverpool’s speech—The Queen’s indignant message to the Lords—Money spent to procure witnesses against her—Public feeling against the Italian witnesses—Dr. Parr’s Advice to the Queen—His zealous advocacy of her cause—Lord Erskine’s efforts in her favour—Her hearty protest against legal oppression—Gross attack on her in a provincial paper—Cruel persecution of her—Her sharp philippic against Ministers—Lord John Russell’s letter to Mr. Wilberforce, and petition to the King—The Queen at Brandenburgh House—Death of the Duchess of York—Her eccentricities—Her character—Addresses to the Queen, and her replies | [349] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| THE QUEEN’S TRIAL. | |
| The Queen’s reception by the House of Lords—Royal progress to the House—The Queen’s enthusiastic reception by the populace—Their treatment of the King’s party—Marquis of Anglesea—The Duke of Wellington’s reply to them—The Attorney-General’s opening speech—Examination of Theodore Majocchi—The Queen overcome at the ingratitude of this knowing rogue—Disgusting nature of the evidence—Other witnesses examined—Mr. Brougham’s fearless defence of the Queen—Mr. Denman’s advocacy not less bold—His denunciation of the Duke of Clarence—Question of throwing up the bill entertained by Ministers—Stormy debates—Lords Grey and Grosvenor in favour of the Queen—Duke of Montrose against her—Ministerial majority—The Queen protests against the proceedings—The Ministers in a minority—The bill surrendered by Lord Liverpool—Reception of the news by the Queen—Her unspeakable grief | [365] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| ‘TRISTIS GLORIA.’ | |
| The result of the Queen’s trial advantageous to neither party—The Queen’s application to Parliament for a residence—Lord Liverpool’s reply—Royal message from the Queen to Parliament, and its discourteous reception—The Queen goes to St. Paul’s to return thanks—Uncharitable conduct of the Cathedral authorities—Their unseemly behaviour rebuked by the Lord Mayor—Revenue for the Queen recommended by the King—Accepted by her—The Coronation of George IV.—The Queen claims a right to take part in the ceremony—Her right discussed—Not allowed—Determines to be present—The Queen appears at the Abbey, and is refused admittance—With a broken spirit retires—Her sense of degradation—The King labours to give éclat to his Coronation—The Coronation-festival in Westminster Hall described—Appearance of the Duke of Wellington—His banquet to the King—The King’s speech on the occasion—True greatness of the Duke—Anecdote of Louis XIV. and Lord Stair—Regal banquet to the foreign ministers—The Duke of Wellington appears as an Austrian general—Incident of the Coronation—Lord Londonderry’s banquet to the minister of Louis Napoleon | [381] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| A CROWN LOST, AND A GRAVE WON. | |
| The Queen’s agitation—Her illness—Her sufferings—Desires her diary may be destroyed—Her death—Sketch of her life—Her mother a foolish woman—Every sense of justice outraged by the King—Inconsistency of the Whigs—The Queen persecuted even after death—Disrespect shown to her remains by the Government—Protest against a disgraceful haste to remove her remains—Course of the funeral procession interrupted by the people—Collision between the military and the populace—Effort to force a way through the people ineffectual—The procession compelled to pass through the City—The plate on the Queen’s coffin removed—The funeral reaches Harwich—The Queen’s remains taken to Brunswick—Funeral oration—Tombs of the illustrious dead there | [401] |
| [ADELAIDE OF SAXE-MEINENGEN], WIFE OF WILLIAM IV. | |
| The pocket Duchy—Old customs—Early training—The Father of the Princess Adelaide—Social life at the Ducal Court—Training of the Princess Adelaide—Marriage Preliminaries—English Parliament—The Duke of Clarence—Arrival in London of the Princess—Quaint royal weddings—At home and abroad—Duke and Duchess of Clarence at Bushey—‘State and Dirt’ at St James’s—William IV. and Queen Adelaide—Course of life of the new Queen-consort—King’s gallantry to an old love—Royal simplicity—The Sovereigns and the Sovereign people—Court anecdotes—Drawing-rooms—Princess Victoria—The Coronation—Incidents of the day—Coronation finery of George IV.—Princess Victoria not present—Revolutionary period—Reform question—Unpopularity of the Queen—Attacks against her on the part of the press—Violence of party spirit—Friends and foes—Bearing of the King and Queen—Duchess of Angoulême—King a republican—His indiscretion—Want of temper—Continental press adverse to the Queen—King’s declining health—Conduct of Queen Adelaide—King William’s death—Declining health of the Queen—Her travels in search of health—Her last illness—Her will—Death—And funeral | [419] |
LIVES
OF THE
QUEENS OF ENGLAND.
CHARLOTTE SOPHIA.—Cont.
CHAPTER IV.
BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.
Death of the Duke of Cumberland—His military career—The soubriquet of the Butcher given him—Anecdotes of him—Marriage of Caroline Matilda—Her married life unhappy—Dr. Struensee—Mésalliances of the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland—The Duke of Cumberland and Lady Grosvenor—The Royal Marriage Act—Olivia Serres—Lord Clive’s present of diamonds to the Queen—Disgusting correspondence of the Duchess of Orleans and Queen Caroline—The Prince of Wales’s juvenile drawing-room—Simple life of the Royal Family at Kew—Prince Frederick and his cottage beauty—Paton and his naval pictures—Royal births—The custom of cake and caudle observed—Petty larcenists—Sarah Wilson and her subsequent life—Death of Princess Mary; and of Princess Augusta, the King’s mother—The Earl of Bute—Neglected education of George III.—Petronilla, Countess Delitz—The Countess of Chesterfield, her conversion by Whitfield—Efforts of Lady Huntingdon to convert the gay Earl of Chesterfield—Mr. Fitzroy—George III. at Portsmouth—Jacob Bryant’s ‘golden rule’—Witty remark of Queen Charlotte—Attendant bards on Royalty; Mark Smeaton, Thomas Abel, David Rizzio—The Princes under the guardianship of Lady Charlotte Finch—The Queen’s benevolence—Satirists.
The favourite son of Caroline, and the favourite brother of the Princess Amelia, died on the last day of October. His health had long been precarious: he had, like his mother, grown extremely corpulent, and his sight had nearly perished. Indeed, he could only see, and that very imperfectly, with one eye—and yet he was comparatively but a young man; not more than forty-four years of age. His course of life, both in its duties, and its so-called pleasures, had made an old man of him before his time. He had had a paralytic stroke, was much afflicted with asthma, and suffered continually from a wound in the leg, which he had received in his first great battle, at Dettingen, and which had never healed.
He was born when his mother was yet Princess of Wales. She loved him because he was daring and original; qualities which he evinced by his replies to her when she was lecturing him as a wayward child. For the same reasons was he liked by his grandfather, at whose awkward English the graceless grandson laughed loudly, and mimicked it admirably.