Triumphs--Her Popularity Increased-The Real Lord Byron--The Princess's Indiscretions and Eccentricities -The Prince's Amour with Lady Hertford-The Re- The Reign of the Regent-A Levée at Carlton House- Difficulties of his Ministers-Visit of the Foreign Sovereigns to London-The Princess and the Em- peror of Russia-At the Opera-The Prince of Orange and the Princess Charlotte-Anxiety of the Regent to get her out of the Kingdom-The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg's Opinion of the Regent-The Princess becomes Rebellious-She breaks off her Marriage-- The Princess of Wales Determines to leave England-The Opinion of her Friends-The Regent Rejoices-Her Departure-The Princess Charlotte's Marriage-Prince Leopold and the Mob-The Marriage Ceremony- Brief Illness and Death-Sorrow of the Nation- Indignations against the Queen and Prince-Marriages -Accusations against the Queen-Bergami in the Tent-Result of the Trial and General Rejoicings- The Queen's Thanksgiving-The Coronation and the King's Vanity-Exclusion of Her Majesty and its Effects-Her Death and Remarkable Funeral-Riots and Bloodshed-The King with his Irish Subjects— O'Connell and the Modern Cæsar-The King's Seclu- sion-His Eccentric Life at Windsor-The Marchion- ess of Conyngham and her Despotic Rule-The King's COURT LIFE BELOW STAIRS. CHAPTER I. News of the King's Madness - Public Anxiety-The Prince's Conduct-What Captain Jack Payne wrote to Sheridan-Removal of His Majesty to Kew--Cruel Treatment of the King-A German Page-The Prince of Wales and Duke of York-Political FactionsThe Plan of Regency-Dr. Willis and the KingMiss Burney Pursued by His Majesty-What Willis Said to the Chancellor-Recovery and Rejoicings— Thanksgiving at St. Paul's--The Bishop of Llandaff and the Queen-The Duke of York's Duel-The Queen smiles upon Colonel Lennox. EANWHILE, the news of the king's mad MEAN ness spread throughout the kingdom, and the consternation and excitement which followed was intense. Vague reports, not only of the violence and hopelessness of his malady, but of his death, were whispered daily, and added to the agitation which possessed all VOL. IV. B classes alike. The stocks fell two per cent.; petitions for His Majesty's restoration were offered up by all religious sects, and in the Jewish synagogues, before the Privy Council had framed a form of prayer to be used in the Church of England; and men of all shades of political opinions hurried to town, anxious, and embarrassed that both Houses of Parliament stood prorogued to November 20, beyond which date no power existing in the State could postpone the meeting. Beyond all, a strong feeling pervaded the public mind that the king's death could bode no good to the country. His Majesty's most bitter affliction seemed indeed to suddenly stir a sense of loyalty in the hearts of the people. Sir Lucas Pepys, one of the royal physicians, told Miss Burney that none of his colleagues lives would be safe, if the king did not recover, and that they all received threatening letters daily. Sir George Baker, another of the medical attendants, had his carriage stopped by the mob, who asked him how the king did, and, on his replying that his case was a bad one, they shouted out, The more shame for you.' • WHAT WILL BECOME OF ME?' 3 But, if there was gloom and consternation abroad, there was fear and depression under the royal roof. The Prince of Wales took possession of Windsor, when all order was banished from the household; and here he remained until the king's removal to Kew, believing he might at any moment be called upon to occupy the throne. The queen, stunned and miserable, lived entirely in two apartments, interfering in no way, and seeing only her daughters and a few of the ladies of her household. She was already slighted as if her reign were a thing of the past, scarce consulted in any of the arrangements concerning the king, and humiliated to find herself ignored by the physicians; who, after leaving His Majesty, proceeded to make their reports to the prince, whom they regarded as the rising sun, and with whom they hoped in this way to gain favour. Left almost friendless and hopeless, her sense of desolation and grief were extreme; her cry, as Miss Burney tells us, "What will become of me? What will become of me?" uttered with the most piercing lamentation, struck deep and hard into all our hearts.' |