[This appears to be the fittest place for the introduction of the following supplementary remarks on the career and character of the Princess Charlotte, which are entered in a separate note-book, and bear proof of having been written, from memory, at a much later date. Some passages have been advisedly omitted, either because they contain statements of doubtful authenticity, recorded as such by Miss Knight, or because they touch, in a manner that might give pain, on the private concerns of living individuals:]
The marriage of the Hereditary Prince of Orange with a sister of the Emperor of Russia gave reason for many people to believe that he and the Grand-Duchess Catherine had contributed to disunite the Prince and Princess Charlotte. What passed at the Portland Hotel seemed intended to prove the contrary.
The King of Würtemberg has since then assured me that the late Queen, the Grand-Duchess, constantly expressed the greatest fondness for Princess Charlotte, and the most fervent regret for her death.
The marriage of the Princess Mary with the Duke of Gloucester took place very soon after that of Princess Charlotte with Prince Leopold, in 1816.
The wish of the Princess Charlotte, after the rupture of the intended marriage with the Hereditary Prince of Orange, was to marry one of the Prussian Princes, and some months elapsed before she entirely gave up this plan, which was opposed on both sides of the water. * * * *
An English lady, who happened to be standing very near the Prince of Orange soon after the news of Princess Charlotte’s death had reached him, assured me that his sighs and sobs were quite affecting.
At a party given by their present Majesties (William IV. and Queen Adelaide) I met the Prince of Orange, who came to solicit protection and assistance during the troubles of Belgium. He took no notice of me, and I have always heard he had been much prejudiced against me, for which I cannot account, as I did what I could with propriety in his favour, after Princess Charlotte had once given her consent; and, indeed, I thought she would have been happier in Holland than in England, as every motive must have engaged the King and Queen of that country to endeavour to gain her affection; and here unfortunately the heir-apparent is always an object of jealousy on the one hand, and of artful intrigues on the other.
The conduct of the Prince of Orange, however, since his marriage has not been such as to make one believe that she would have been happy with him. Providence has done the best for her, and, as it appears, for Princess Victoria.
I have lived to witness the termination of many things, and I humbly bend with resignation and gratitude to the Divine dispensations.