July 24, 1814.
Lady C. Lindsay told me that Mr. Brougham said, when he was obliged to tell Princess Charlotte that she could not in law refuse going to her father, he was so shocked at the manner in which she received this account, that it appeared to him like pronouncing sentence of death on a criminal. The Princess of Wales asked me whether Princess Charlotte was attached to any one of the foreign Princes who had been in England, for that if she was, she (the Princess of Wales) would move heaven and earth to get him for her. I answered that I believed her Royal Highness’s principal wish was to be left quiet on subjects of that nature, at least for many months; and the Princess said that was all she could get out of Princess Charlotte.
Mr. Canning was announced, and ordered to be shown up-stairs. I took my leave. It is certain that on the fatal evening in Connaught-place it struck me that the Princess of Wales was more anxious for the removal of Princess Charlotte out of her house than the Prince was to get her into his. She departed next day for Worthing.[[3]] Soon afterwards we heard that she had asked and obtained leave for going abroad; and it was said Mr. Canning had persuaded her. It is certain that she had for several months formed the plan, which Princess Charlotte had opposed in the most urgent and respectful manner.
I sent my letter to the Prince, and heard it was delivered, but received no answer. I had, during our last interview, asked his leave to visit Princess Charlotte, which he had refused, saying she was to receive no visits. I then had asked permission to write to her, and his answer was, “better not at present.”
I went to Twickenham, where I passed a few weeks with Lord and Lady Aylesbury. Time passed, and Princess Charlotte remained at Cranbourne Lodge till the Morning Chronicle[[4]] published the medical report given in July, recommending her going to the sea. This occasioned great anger, and Baillie was ordered to inquire, in a manner the most inquisitorial, who had obtained and caused this to be published. Amongst the rest I was questioned by letter, and answered that the copy I possessed I gave to the Regent on the 12th of July, and had no means of discovering how it got into the hands of the editor of a newspaper.
DR. BAILLIE TO MISS KNIGHT.
Dear Madam,—I am very sorry to give you any trouble at present, but I am commanded by high authority to ask you the following questions:
Do you know by what individual the medical opinion recommending a residence on the sea-coast this autumn to Princess Charlotte was put into the hands of Mr. Perry, the editor of the Morning Chronicle?
Do you know whether the original opinion, which was at one time mislaid or lost, was ever recovered, and, in that case, what became of it?
I request that you will be so good as to send me an answer to these two questions as early as you can, directed to me at Sunning Hill, Berks.