The Deposition of Thomas Manby, Esquire, a Captain in the Royal Navy.

Having had read to me the following passage, from the Copy of a Deposition of Robert Bidgood, sworn the 6th of June last, before Lords Spencer and Grenville, viz.

"I was waiting one day in the anti-room; Captain "Manby had his bat in his hand, and appeared to "be going away; he was a long time with the "Princess, and, as I stood on the steps, waiting, I "looked into the room in which they were, and, in "the reflection on the looking-glass, I saw them sa"lute each other-I mean, that they kissed each "other's lips. Captain Manby then went away. "I then observed the Princess have her handker"chief in her hands, and wipe her eyes, as if she was crying, and went into the drawing-room.' I do solemnly, and upon my oath, declare, that the said passage is a vile and wicked invention; that it is wholly and absolutely false; that is impossible he ever could have seen, in the reflection of any glass, any such thing; as I never, upon any occasion, or in any situation, ever had the presumption to salute Her Royal Highness in any such manner, or to take any such liberty, or offer any such insult to her person. And having had read to me another passage, from the same Copy of the same Deposition, in which the said Robert Bidgood says→

"I suspected that Captain Manby slept frequently in "the house; it was a subject of conversation in the "house. Hints were given by the servants; and I "believe that others suspected it as well as myself." I solemnly swear, that such suspicion is wholly unfounded, and that I never did, at Montague House, Southend, Ramsgate East Cliff, or any where else, ever

sleep in any house occupied by, or belonging to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales; and that there never did any thing pass between her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and myself, that I should be in any degree unwilling that all the world should have seen.

The Deposition of Thomas Lawrence, of Greek Street, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, Portrait Painter.

Having had read to me the following Extract from a Copy of a Deposition of William Cole, purporting to have been sworn before Lords Spencer and Grenville, the 10th day of June, 1806, viz.

"Mr. Lawrence, the painter, used to go to Montague "House about the latter end of 1801, when he was

painting the Princess, and he has slept in the house "two or three nights together. I have often seen "him alone with the Princess at eleven or twelve "o'clock at night; he has been there as late as one "or two o'clock in the morning. One night I saw "him with the Princess in the blue room after the "ladies had retired; sometime afterwards, when I "supposed he was gone to his bed-room, I went to see that all was safe, and found the blue room door "locked, and heard a whispering in it, and then ❝ went away."

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I do solemnly, and upon my oath, depose, that having received the commands of Her Royal Highness the Prin cess of Wales to paint Her Royal Highness's Portrait, and that of the Princess Charlotte; I attended for that purpose at Montague House, Blackheath, several times about the beginning of the year 1801, and having been informed that Sir William Beechey, upon a similar occasion, had slept in the house, for the greater convenience of executing his painting; and it having been intimated to me, that I might probably be allowed the same advantage, I signified my wish to avail myself of it; and accordingly I did sleep at Montague House several nights; -that frequently, when employed upon this painting, and occasionally, between the close of a day's sitting and the time of Her Royal Highness dressing for dinner, I have been alone in Her Royal Highness's presence; I have likewise been graciously admitted to Her Royal Highness's presence in the evenings, and remained there till twelve, one, and two o'clock; but, I do solemnly swear, I was never alone in the presence of Her Royal Highness in an evening, to the best of my recollection and belief, except in one single instance, and that for a short time, when I remained with her Royal Highness in the blueroom, or drawing-room, as I remember, to answer some question which had been put to me, at the moment I was about to retire together with the ladies in waiting, who had been previously present as well as myself; and, though I cannot recollect the particulars of the conversation which then took place, I do solemnly swear, that nothing passed between Her Royal Highness and myself, which I could have had the least objection for all the world to have seen and heard. And I do further, upon my oath, solemnly declare, that I never was alone in the presence of Her Royal Highness in any other place, or in any other way, than as above described; and that neither, upon the occasion last mentioned, nor upon any other, was I ever in the presence of Her Royal Highness, in any room what

ever, with the door locked, bolted, or fastened, otherwise than in the common and usual manner, which leaves it in the power of any person on the outside of the door to open

it.

The Deposition of Thomas Edmeades, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Surgeon.

On Tuesday, May 20, 1806, I waited upon Earl Moira, ! by his appointment, who, having introduced me to Mr. Conant, a Magistrate for Westminster, proceeded to mention a charge preferred against me, by one of the female servants of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, of my having said, that Her Royal Highness had been pregnant. His Lordship then asked me, if I had not bled Her Royal Highness; and whether, at that time, I did not mention to a servant, that I thought Her Royal Highness in the family way; and whether I did not also ask, at the same time, if the Prince had been down to Montague House. I answered, that it had never entered my mind that Her Royal Highness was in such a situation, and that, therefore, certainly, I never made the remark to any one; nor had I asked whether His Royal Highness had visited the house:-I said, that, at that time, a report, of the nature alluded to, was prevalent; but that I treated it as the infamous lie of the day. His Lordship

adverted to the circumstances of Her Royal Highness's having taken a child into her house; and observed, how dreadful mistakes about succession to the throne were, and what confusion might be caused by any claim of this child I observed, that I was aware of it; but repeated the assertion, that I had never thought of such a thing as was suggested, and therefore considered it impossible, in a manner, that I could have given it utterance. I observed, that I believed, in the first instance, Mr. Stikeman, the page, had mentioned this child to Her Royal Highness, and that it came from Deptford, where I went, when Her Royal Highness first took it, to see if any illness prevailed in the family. Mr. Conant observed, that be believed it was not an unusual thing for a medical man, when he imagined that a Lady was pregnant, to mention his suspicion to some confidential domestic in the family = -I admitted the bare possibility, if such had been my opinion; but remarked, that the if must have been removed, before I could have committed myself in so absurd

a manner.

Lord Moira, in a very significant manner, with his hands behind him, his head over one shoulder, his eyes directed towards me, with a sort of smile, observed, "that he could not help thinking that there must be something in the servant's deposition;" as if he did not give perfect credit to what I had said. He observed, that the matter was then confined to the knowledge of a few; and that he had hoped, if there had been any foundation for the affidavit, I might have acknowledged it, that the affair might have been hushed. With respect to the minor question, I observed, that it was not probable that I should condescend to ask any such question, as that imputed to me, of a menial servant; and that I was not in the habits of conferring confidentially with servants, Mr. Conant cautioned me to be on my guard; as, that if it appeared, on further investigation, I had made such in quiry, it might be very unpleasant to me, should it come

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