[CHAPTER XVI.]
The case of Miss Seymour—Satirical prints thereon—The Prince at Brighton, 1806—His birthday—The Green Man—Visit of the Princess Charlotte.
IN 1805 the Prince was much at Brighton, but we hear but little of him except in connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert's guardianship of Miss Mary Seymour, a child of whom the Prince of Wales was very fond, and Lord Stourton tells the story in a pleasant way:
'A circumstance now took place, which ended by blasting all her happy prospects, and, finally, terminated in a rupture with the Prince, which lasted till the end of his life. One of the dearest friends of Mrs. Fitzherbert, Lady Horatia Seymour, in the last stage of decline, was advised to go abroad, to seek, in change of climate, her only chance of recovery. She had, at that time, an infant, and, not being able to take it with her, she entrusted her treasure to the care of her attached friend, Mrs. Fitzherbert, who, having no child of her own, soon became devotedly attached to the precious child, and her affection for the child increased with the loss of the parent. Some time afterwards, one of the near relatives of the family, desirous of having the education of the child placed in other hands, and being jealous of the religion of its protectress, applied to the Chancellor to obtain possession of Miss Seymour, as guardian. Mrs. Fitzherbert, now more than ever devoted to the child, and sharing, in this affection, with the Prince himself, exerted every means to retain the custody of it; and, after all others had failed, had, at last, recourse to Lady Hertford, with whom she was, formerly, intimately acquainted. She requested her to intercede with Lord Hertford, as head of his house, to come to her aid; and, demanding for himself the guardianship of the child, to give it up to her,[76] upon certain conditions as to its education.'
The satirical prints, of course, were to the fore on this subject, although it was a purely private matter. First of all comes (January 9, 1805) 'To Be, or Not to Be, a Protestant.' Miss Seymour is sitting on a sofa, holding in her hand a book, 'Mother's advice to her Daughter, respecting the true principles of the Protestant religion'; Mrs. Fitzherbert, wearing a rosary and crucifix, and having in her hand a book, 'Directions from the clergy, respecting the Duty of a true Catholic, in converting all, etc.,' says: 'I say I have the undoubted right to have the care of her, and to bring her up as I like. Do I not Rule the Roast?' At an open door appears a monk, who says: 'Well done, my Child, you are now serving our holy religion; you shall next use your influence to procure us Emancipation.'