a

her to the Dutch, pledging his word of honor as a prince and a gentleman that he would himself return with her in a fortnight, and never ask her to go again. In this the princess appeared at first ta acquiesce, and the marriage settlements were nearly drawn. A large sum of money was on the way from Holland in order to purchase jewels ; the carriages also were ordered, and the day fixed for the 1st of August. Suddenly, however, the princess expressed doubts as to the security tendered to her that she should not be obliged to reside longer than she wished in Holland, and demanded that a clause should be inserted in the marriage contract, prohibiting her ever quitting this kingdom on any account, or for any time, however short. To this condition the princely suitor had not the power to consent, as he was already engaged to the Dutch to take the princess among them for a short time; but still pledged himself as a man of honor to return to England with her after her first introduction to his nation. This not being thought sufficient, the contract was broken off.

The indignity of being excluded from court, and above all, her separation from her beloved daughter, induced the princess of Wales to become a voluntary exile; though her departure from England, at such a crisis, was deemed impolitic by some, as it afforded opportunities of doubting her

future conduct. The following are copies of the letters which passed between her royal highness, lord Liverpool and Mr. Whitbread, immediately previous to her royal highness's embarkation for the continent, and which will afford a clue to the motives in which her royal highness was influenced in her departure from this country.

Letter from her Royal Highness to Lord Liverpool, first Minister to the Prince Regent, dated Connaught house, 25th July, 1814.

"The princess of Wales requests lord Liverpool to lay before the Prince Regent the contents of this letter.

"Actuated by the most urgent motive, that of restoring tranquillity to the prince regent, as well as to secure the peace of mind of which she has been for so many years deprived, the princess of Wales, after mature reflection, has resolved to return to the Continent. This resolution ought not to surprise the ministers of the prince regent, considering the trouble and disagreeable experience of the princess for so long a time; and still more, after the indignity and mortification to which she has been exposed, by being withheld from receiving her nearest relations, and the most intimate friends of the late duke of Brunswick her illustrious father. "The 'princess is extremely anxious that the prince regent should be informed of the motives,

and clearly comprehend her past conduet as politically exhibited. In exacting a justification from this noble nation, her sole protection since the unfortunate indisposition of the king, she is to be understood as solicitous only to maintain her rights and her honor, which are dearer to her than life itself.

"The princess of Wales would have undertaken ber projected tour long before, if she had not been prevented by the breaking off the projected marriage of the princess Charlotte with the prince of Orange. She could not resolve to leave her daughter without proteetion, at a period so critical. The prince regent having planned to establish the new married couple at the Hague, the princess Charlotte, on that account principally, declined the match. Unwilling to prove any obstacle to future arrangement favourable to the happiness of her daughter, the princess of Wales has at length re solved to return to Brunswick, her native country. She may

afterwards travel into Italy and Greece, where she may probably be able to select an agreeable abode, and live in it for some years.

The princess flatters herself that the prince regent will have no objection to this design.

“ The princess of Wales requests ford Liverpool to represent to the prince regent, that she resigns Montague-house, and the title of the ranger of Greenwich park, in favour of her daughter, as also

the house bequeathed to her by her mother. The princess of Wales hopes the prince regent will grant this favour, the last she will solicit.

"The princess embraces this opportunity to explain the motives which have induced her to decline the grant of £50,000 voted to her by the nation in parliament. She expresses her most lively acknowledgment to this liberal and generous nation for its willingness to grant her such a pension during life; but she has only taken £35,000, because as the gift was intended to support her in her proper rank, and to enable her to hold a court as became the wife of the prince regent, the receipt of it would interfere with her views of travelling, and her purpose to quit England for a season. Such is the substance of her present communication to lord Liverpool, which the princess would have made before, but for the fear of producing new debates in parliament. She has therefore waited the rising of parliament, and is now about to depart for Worthing, to embark, not intending to return previously to London.

"The princess of Wales is happy to assure lord Liverpool that she will ever be ardently solicitous for the prosperity and glory of this generous nation."

Letter from the princess of Wales to Mr. Whitbread and to his friends, dated 25th July, 1814.

"The princess of Wales has the pleasure to in

form, and frankly to'avow to Mr. Whitbread, that she is about to take the most important step in her life. She has embraced the resolution of quitting this country for a time; and has written to lord Liverpool to immediately inform the prince regent of her intention. The princess incloses a copy of this letter to Mr. Whitbread, to inform himself and friends of the plan of conduct which she has adopted.

“The princess is so persuaded of the well known integrity of Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Brougham, that she cannot doubt but they would have proposed such a step, if motives of delicacy had not prevented them.

The princess is deeply penetrated with gratitude for the attentions which they have shewn her, at all times and on all occasions. This kindness on their part has withheld her from asking their advice on the present occasion; in every other instance, she assures them she has always followed the suggestions of her advisers and friends, and conformed to their superior intelligence.

“ Her conscience 'tells her," that her conduct is worthy of her character and of her sentiments, and will always remain so. She has had sufficient leisure to reflect maturely before she adopted her present resolution. People who know not the character of the princess may be disposed to believe,' that she has been induced to adopt this