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During his illness, the town had been, as usual, divided in its allegiance towards the king and the prince; the former announced that His Majesty was perfectly well, whilst the latter hinted at dark things regarding their sovereign's health. Lady Malmesbury, indignant that the new doctors who attended the king issued bulletins contrary to her desires, loudly proclaimed them merely signing physicians,' who set their names to what others reported; whilst one of the royal maids-ofhonour wished them, As the Spaniards say, with Mahomet.' But, in the midst of this party warfare, Everybody,' says Lord Minto, 'goes to see "Valentine and Orson," and weep over the death of a bear.'

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CHAPTER V.

The Princess of Wales in Retirement-The Young Princess and her Mother-The Douglas Scandal and its Consequences - The Secret Commission-The Princess Triumphs-Her Popularity Increased-The Real Lord Byron--The Princess's Indiscretions and Eccentricities -The Prince's Amour with Lady Hertford-The Regency Commences-The Princess's Visit to WindsorFresh Insults-The Feelings of the People.

URING the early years of her separation,

DURD

the Princess of Wales lived at Blackheath in comparative retirement, taking little part in the state ceremonies; holding no Court, but receiving her friends, whom she delighted to entertain with pleasant dinners and petits soupers, which were all the merrier from the hostess's hatred of ceremony. Her guests, at this time, numbered some of the most brilliant members of the nobility, and many of the most distinguished foreigners of the day; amongst

the latter were the Comte d'Artois, afterwards Charles X., the Duc de Barri, Prince de Condé, and Duc de Bourbon. In private, her life was solaced by the company of her little daughter, then a most promising and vivacious child, who bade fair to become an interesting and clever woman. Lord Minto, who became the princess's friend and adviser, gives us a pleasant picture of a few hours he spent at Blackheath in 1798.

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Our dinner,' he writes, consisted of Lady Jane Dundas, Lady Charlotte Grenville, and Lady Mary Bentinck. Some men, among whom was Tom Grenville, disappointed her. Princess Charlotte was in the room till dinner, and is really one of the finest and pleasantest children I ever saw. The Princess of Wales romped with her about the carpet on her knees. Princess Charlotte, though very lively, and excessively fond of romps and play, is remarkably good and governable. One day she had been a little naughty, however, and they were reprimanding her. Amongst the rest, Miss Garth said to her,

"You have been so very naughty, I don't know what we must do with you."

YOU MUST SOOT' ME.

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The little girl answered, crying, and quite penitently,

"You must soot me;" meaning shoot her; but they let her off rather cheaper. Our dinner was pleasant as could be.'

But the keen delight which the society of her child afforded the princess, was not long permitted her; and, under the plea that her surroundings were not suitable to the education of the heiress-apparent to the throne, the prince desired to take her under his own care; but here the king, fortunately, stepped in, and seeing the malignity which prompted this act, as well as fearing the pernicious influence of Carlton House, he insisted on the equal right of the unhappy mother to instruct her child, and claimed for himself the duty and responsibility of her education. The prince, who had not looked for interference in this quarter, angrily remonstrated, declared this was a direct insult offered him, refused to relinquish his paternal rights, and avowed that nothing but 'strong, particular reasons' could justify His Majesty in his conduct. The king promptly admitted that he was influenced by strong, particular rea

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sons,' and that necessity, as well as law, precedent, and the wishes of the mother required he should become the guardian of his grandchild. To this the prince, after much fume and fury, acting on the advice of Mrs. Fitzherbert and his ex-mistress, now Mrs. Charles Fox, submitted. The Princess Charlotte was then removed to a house in the vicinity of Blackheath, where she was placed under the charge of Lady Elgin; and the intercourse between mother and daughter was limited to a weekly visit.

The maternal feelings of the princess, being thwarted in this way, found vent in adopting children, and placing them out under care in the village, where she constantly visited them ; but, not satisfied with this, she subsequently had one of them, an infant of a few months old, named William Austin, removed to her own house, where she tended him with the greatest care and affection, an indiscretion she soon had cause to bitterly repent. Her interest in children, indeed, prompted her to form the acquaintance of a woman who subsequently almost effected her ruin. Hearing that her neighbour, Lady Douglas, had been confined of a remark

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