"Your royal father most scrupulously kept his word, and enclosed me the PROOFS he had named, and promised to send. Many times since then have I informed your royal highness that I was in confidence upon those subjects; but you have never condescended to acknowledge those communications, or expressed one sentiment of obligation for the strict silence I have observed. I have been restrained only from the most ARDENT AND PARENTAL AFFECTION TO MY LOVELY DAUGHTER, or long ere this I would have proclaimed the extent of the wrongs I have endured from some of the illegal and unjust impositions practised upon me and the British nation. Your royal highness knew at the moment you met me at the altar in the palace, that you were already the affianced husband of Mrs. Fitzherbert, and you were well aware that if my uncle, the king, had known of that former circumstance, he would have prevented the left-handed marriage taking place. In this his majesty was deceived, and I have been the

[[233]]victim of your intentional imposition. It has generally been supposed by your royal highness' family connexions, that there was some impropriety or defect by which you received an unfavourable opinion of me in the early part of our fatal marriage; and, in my presence, your royal highness has insulted me by such insinuations, though you well know I was not the OFFENDER, but the OFFENDED!!! Up to this period, I have buried your royal highness' UNNATURAL CONDUCT to me in my own bosom; but if I am to be so injured, and if my character is to be so vilified, I shall EXPLAIN MYSELF TO THE NATION, and think I am performing an imperative duty. Your royal highness cannot have forgotten the outrage you committed by entering my chamber at Montague House, and your denial of it to the queen, your mother, for the avowed purpose of traducing my honour. Had I not then been restrained from explanation upon those base designs, by an unalterable love to my child, I should have exposed the infamous conduct you manifested towards me.

"I name these things, Sir, to prove to you the inviolable honour I have observed, in despite of all the insults and provocations I have received from your royal highness and the queen, and also from the creatures employed to ruin me in the estimation of this generous English nation. A time will come when the secrets of my life will

[[234]]be PUBLISHED TO THE WORLD; then let the unprejudiced judge.

"I remain, Sir,

"Your royal highness' most

"Faithful wife and cousin,

"Caroline P."

"To his Royal Highness,
the Prince Regent."

It is more than probable that the confidentially-private and notorious secretary (M'Mahon) was the receiver of these appeals and documents, who, possessing the most unbounded assurance in the ability of his royal master's coadjutors to carry any plan into execution, or to prevent vexatious trouble to any extent, suppressed them at the moment when they might have proved of the greatest consequence to her royal highness. We cannot wonder at this, when we take into account the character of this private secretary, who dared to violate the rights of friendship, and break through the most sacred ties of conjugal affection, treating the honourable engagements of persons in general as matters of minor consequence! Were this depraved man now an inhabitant of the earth, we would ask him if his recollection could furnish the number of inroads he had made upon the abodes of innocence and beauty, to gratify his royal patron. We could ourselves name several instances; but one will suffice, which we copy from the manuscript of a friend, and the substance of which has been before published.