この書籍について
マイ ライブラリ
Google Play の書籍
CHAPTER XI.
THE END OF GREATNESS.
Domestic life of the royal family-Return of the King's illness-His
continual agitation-Dr. Symonds not the medical officer for the
King-Capricious changes made by the King in his household-His
humorous eccentricities-Contest between the King and the Prince-
The Queen's conduct-Scant courtesy to the royal invalid-Errors
committed by the King-Wellesley and Nelson-Gradual decay of
the King-His eccentricity at the installation of Knights of the
Garter-Picture of the daily life of the royal family-Position of the
Queen-The King's resignation on his blindness-Distress of his
mind-Renewal of the regency question-Extraordinary assertion by
Lord Eldon-The King's person confided to the Queen-The Queen's
letters to Lord Eldon-Her merry letter to him-A touching inci-
dent The Queen's unpopularity-Marriage of the Princess Charlotte
-Decline of the Queen's health-Disgraceful reception of her by the
City-Her death-Considered as a parent-Her political influence—
The debts of the Prince of Strelitz-The court on George the Third's
ceasing to exercise authority-Regal retinue about the old King dis-
missed-The Queen's funeral-Her will-Her diamonds-Death of
the Duke of Kent-Death of the King-Visit of the Emperor of
France to the Duchess of Gloucester
.
PAGE
193
CAROLINE OF BRUNSWICK.
CHAPTER I.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.
Marriage of Princess Augusta to the Prince of Brunswick-His reception
at Harwich-Wedding performed with maimed rites-The Prince at
the opera-A scene-Odd mode of travelling of the bride and bride-
groom-Issue of this marriage-Dashing replies of Princess Caroline-
Her mother the Duchess a weak and coarse-minded woman-Educa-
tion of German Princesses-Infamous conduct of the Duke of York—
Lord Malmesbury sent to demand Princess Caroline in marriage for
the Prince of Wales-His account of the Princess-Eloquence of the
Duchess on the virtues of the Princess-The Duke's mistress, and
picture of the Court of Brunswick-The Duchess's stories of by-gone
times—The marriage by proxy-Celebration of the wedding-day—
The marriage treaty-Eccentricity of the Duke-Education of the
Princess neglected-The courtesan champion of morality-The Duke's
fears for the Princess-Lady Jersey and the Queen-Lord Malmes-
bury's advice to the Princess-Madame de Hertzfeld's portraits of
the Princess-The Princess's exuberant spirits at a court masquerade
—More admonitions by Lord Malmesbury—Madame de Waggenheim's
taunt, and Lord Malmesbury's thrust en carte
. . 219
CHAPTER II.
THE NEW HOME.
The Princess desires to have Lord Malmesbury for her lord chamberlain—
The Duchess a coarse-minded woman-The Duke of Clarence her
bitter enemy-The Duke and Duchess's caution to Lord Malmesbury,
and his dignified reply-The Abbess of Gandersheim's opinion of
mankind-Difficult question proposed by the Princess, and Lord
Malmesbury's gallant reply-The Abbess without human sympathy
-A state dinner, and a mischievous anonymous letter-The Prin-
cess's departure for England-Her indifference to money-Instances
-Ignorance of the Duchess-Difficulties of the journey-The
Princess's design to reform the Prince of Wales-Indefatigable care
of Lord Malmesbury-Story of the Princess at Hanover-Care as to
her toilette recommended-Presents given by the Princess-Her
arrival in England-Ridiculed by Lady Jersey-Reproof administered
to her ladyship by Lord Malmesbury-The first interview of the
Prince and Princess-Cold reception of the bride-Flippant conduct
of the Princess-Lord Malmesbury reproached by the Prince of
Wales 244
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST YEAR OF MARRIED LIFE.
The Princess's letters to her family intercepted-Unkindness exhibited to
her-The Prince seeks a separation-Acceded to by the Princess-
She removes to Blackheath-Her income settled-Merry hours spent
by the Princess at Blackheath-Intercourse between the Princess and
her daughter-The Princess's unfortunate acquaintance with Lady
Douglas-The boy Austin-Lady Douglas's communication to the
Prince attacking the Princess-The delicate investigation-Witnesses
examined-The Princess hardly dealt with-Her memorial to the
King-Delay in doing her justice-The Monarch's decision-Excul-
pated from the grave charges-Comparison of Caroline Queen of
George II. and Caroline of Brunswick-The Prince and Lady Hert-
ford-Miss Seymour and the Prince's subornation of witnesses——
Persecution of the Princess by her husband-Her appeal to the
King-Menace of publishing the book-The Princess received at the
Queen's drawing-room-Meeting of the Prince and Princess-Death
of the Duke of Brunswick at the battle of Jena-The Duchess a
fugitive-the Princess's debts
266
CHAPTER IV.
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS.
Imbecility finally settled on the mind of George III.-Intercourse between
the Princess and her daughter obstructed-The Whigs betrayed by
the Prince-Sketch of the Duchess of Brunswick-The Princess's
Court at Kensington diminished-Her pleasant dinners there-Lively
outbreaks of the Princess-Her sketches of character-Her indis-
cretion-An adventure-Description of the Princess Charlotte-The
Princess of Wales's demeanour to her mother-Thoughtlessness of
the Duchess of Brunswick-Popularity of the Princess on the wane-
Her determination to bring her wrongs before the public-She be-
comes more melancholy-An incident-Continued agitation of the
Princess-She becomes querulous-The poet Campbell presented to
her-A humorous fault of orthography-The Prince and John
Kemble
288
CHAPTER V.
HARSH TRIALS AND PETTY TRIUMPHS.
The Princess again in public-Restricted intercourse between the Princess
and her daughter-Sealed letter addressed by the Princess to the
Prince Published-The Princess's appeal to parliament-Bitterness
on both sides-Meeting of the Princess and her daughter-The Prin-
cess at Vauxhall-Death of the Duchess of Brunswick-Last inter-
view between the Duke of Brunswick and the Princess-Her depressed
spirits-Unnoticed during the festivities of 1814-Sacrifice made by
the Princess-Unnoticed by the Emperor of Russia and the King of
Prussia-The Princess at the opera-A scene-)
e-Not invited to the
great city banquet-Mr. Whitbread's advice to the Princess-A
freak-Reception of the Regent in the city-The Princess excluded
from the drawing-rooms-Correspondence between the Queen and
the Princess-Her letter to the Regent-Discussed in the House of
Commons
301
CHAPTER VI.
A DOUBLE FLIGHT.
The Prince of Orange proposes to the Princess Charlotte - His suit
declined-Dr. Parr-A new household appointed for the Princess
Charlotte Her astonishment and immediate flight-Alarm and
pursuit-Princess Charlotte removed to Cranbourne Lodge-The
Princess of Wales determines to leave England--Her departure from
Worthing-The Regent's continued hatred of her
. 320
CHAPTER VII.
THE ERRANT ARIADNE.
The Princess arrives at Hamburgh-Assumes the title of Countess of
Cornwall-Travels in Switzerland-Meeting of the Ex-Empress
Maria Louisa, the divorced wife of the Grand Duke Constantine, and
the Princess-The Princess at Milan-Her English attendants fall off
-Her reception by the Pope-At a masked ball at Naples-Her
imprudence-Her festivals at Como-The Princess at Palermo-
Bergami her Chamberlain-The Princess at Genoa-Corresponds
with Murat-Personal vanity of Queen Charlotte-The Pope visits
the Princess-Surrounded by Italians-Her roving life-Proceeds to
Syracuse-At Jericho-Lands at Tunis and visits the Bey-Liberates
European slaves-The Princess at Athens-At Troy-At Constan-
tinople-At Ephesus-At Acre-Stopped at Jaffa-Enters Jerusalem
-Her reception by the Capuchin friars-Institutes a new order of
chivalry-Life on board the polacca-The Princess and Countess Oldi
at Como-Private theatricals a favourite pastime-Agents and spies
-Innocent incidents converted into crimes-Bergami divested of his
knighthood-The Princess at Carlsruhe-Contemptuously neglected
at Vienna-The chamberlain her only attendant-The Princess in
public-Deeply affected by the death of Princess Charlotte-As
uncircumspect as ever.
329
CHAPTER VIII.
THE RETURN TO ENGLAND.
Report of the Milan commissioners-The Princess's determination to
return to England-Studied neglect of her by Louis XVIII.-Lord
Hutchinson's proposal to her to remain abroad-Her indignant refusal
-Bergami's anger on the refusal of the proposition-Discourtesy of
the French authorities to the Princess-Her reception in England-
The Regent's message to parliament-The green bag-Sympathy for
the Queen-Desire for a compromise evinced; meeting for the pur-
pose at Lord Castlereagh's-The contending parties in parliament-
Mr. Wilberforce as Mr. Harmony-Mr. Brougham, the Queen's
especial advocate-The Queen's name in the Liturgy demanded-
Mr. Denman's argument for it-Address of the House of Commons
to the Queen-Her reply, and appeal to the nation-A secret inquiry
protested against-The Queen at Waithman's shop-Violence of
party-spirit
347
CHAPTER IX.
QUEEN, PEERS AND PEOPLE.
The secret committee on the Queen's conduct-Encounter between the
Queen and Princess Sophia-Bill of Pains and Penalties brought into
the House of Lords-The Queen demands to know the charges
against her-Her demand refused-The Queen again petitions—
Lord Liverpool's speech-Her indignant message to the Lords—
Money spent to procure witnesses against her-Public feeling against
the Italian witnesses-Dr. Parr's advice to the Queen-His zealous
advocacy of her cause-Lord Erskine's efforts in her favour-Her
hearty protest against legal oppression-Gross attack on her in a
provincial paper-Cruel persecution of her-Her sharp philippic
against ministers-Lord John Russell's letter to Mr. Wilberforce, and
petition to the King-The Queen at Brandenburgh House-Death of
the Duchess of York-Her eccentricities-Her character-Addresses
to the Queen, and her replies
359