[53]. The Duke of Cumberland married a daughter of the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, niece of Queen Charlotte, and widow of the Prince Salms Brauenfels. The marriage was first solemnised at Berlin, but owing to some informality the ceremony was repeated at Carlton House on the 29th August, in a very private manner, the old Queen refusing to be present.
[54]. The news of the occupation of Paris was announced by Mr. Elliston on the 6th at the King’s Theatre, where a mixed performance was being given for the benefit of the widows and orphans of those who fell at Waterloo. In answer to a question, he said he had it in command from Carlton House to announce the tidings, which were fully given in the morning papers of the 7th.
[55]. He was found dead in his dressing-room, about 10 A.M., July 6.
[56]. Daughter of Count Dillon, guillotined at Paris in 1794 for his adherence to the Bourbons. Her mother was the Countess Latouche, of Martinique.
[57]. Her Royal Highness left London on the 26th July in a carriage and four, attended by Lady Ilchester and Colonel Addenbroke, Dr. Short, and Mrs. Campbell.
[58]. Owing to an affection of the eyes, Miss Knight discontinued her journal until the commencement of the ensuing year.
[59]. “The morn (of January 7) was ushered in by the ringing of bells, and preparations were making in the early part of the day for a general illumination in the evening, in compliment to the Princess Charlotte, whose natal day it was; but a desire was expressed that this mark of respect and loyalty from the town might be dispensed with.”—Morning Post, January 10, 1816.
There was a grand ball at the Pavilion, attended by “all the families of rank and fashion” at Brighton.
[60]. Mr. Ward, afterwards Lord Dudley, was a great favourite with the Princess of Wales. “How melancholy are all the recollections attached to his name! A person endowed with such supremacy of talent and situation, and yet so blasted by an invisible hand, that none of the former availed to his happiness. No one, it is said (either for his own sake, or, alas! more probably, for his brilliant position in life), was ever more courted by the fair sex, in despite of a very plain exterior and coarseness of manner. He was accounted one of the most agreeable and seductive of men. The beautiful Mrs. B. was one of those reported to have been not insensible to his attentions. Her melancholy death was, it is said, the actual cause of finally confirming his mental derangement.”—Lady C. Campbell’s Diary, vol. ii. p. 117.
[61]. Major-General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, Michael Bruce, Esq., and Captain John Hely Hutchinson, were tried before the Court of Assize for the Department of the Seine, found guilty of being accessory to the concealment and escape of General Lavalette, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. The trial took place on the 22nd of April. In the first instance, they were accused of plotting against the political system of Europe in general, and the French monarchy in particular, but these charges were subsequently withdrawn.