AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT.
CHAPTER I.
MISS KNIGHT’S NARRATIVE OF EVENTS ATTENDING THE RUPTURE OF THE ORANGE-MARRIAGE—DISMISSAL OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE—LETTER TO THE REGENT—MISS KNIGHT’S PENSION.
[The following additional narrative of the transactions related at the close of the first volume, was drawn up by Miss Knight for the perusal of a female friend:]
Princess Charlotte having had a long discussion with respect to residence in Holland, of which all the papers were preserved by her Royal Highness, it was at length granted by the Regent’s confidential servants that an article should be inserted in the marriage contract to prevent her being taken or kept out of England against her own consent and that of the Regent—at least, this was the meaning of the words.
The Prince of Orange had always appeared to prefer an establishment in England to one in Holland, and had always said that when his father’s consent to the insertion of such an article came, he would look out for a house, and take one, in case one was not provided by Government.
This consent came, and the article was prepared; but the Regent wished Princess Charlotte even then to waive it as a compliment to the House of Orange, but her Royal Highness persisted in claiming the article. Nearly a fortnight passed after everything appeared to be arranged, and her Royal Highness, seeing the Prince of Orange daily in presence of Miss Knight, often asked him what preparations were making with respect to a house, establishment, &c. He always answered that nothing had been said to him, appeared to be ignorant, and did not then talk of taking a house himself.
While the Prince of Orange was at Oxford, a letter came from one of Princess Charlotte’s aunts, who is very intimate with the Regent, to say that she understood he meant, as soon as the Emperor and King of Prussia were gone, to write over for the Oranges and have the marriage celebrated as soon as possible. This alarmed Princess Charlotte, and she said she resolved to enter into a clear explanation with the young Prince to avoid disputes afterwards.