Secret History of the Court of England Volume I Part 5

From the commencement of the year

1788,

the king's health again declined. His mind appeared full of gloomy apprehensions and forebodings; sometimes he uttered the most incoherent language; then, dissolving in tears, would ask after the health of the several members of his family, and especially of his youngest daughter, to whom he was more particularly attached. This state of aberration was, however, strictly concealed from the public as long as possible by the queen. Here, again, mark her German policy! Fearing she could not much longer conceal the king's indisposition, she determined to consult her favourite minister, and they resolved upon a proposition to give to the _queen's_ care the charge of his majesty's person, presuming that step was finally needful, as by its adoption _only_ could she retain an opportunity of exercising _complete controul over her afflicted husband_! On the rea.s.sembling of parliament, therefore, the project of the queen was brought forward by Pitt, who, possessing a decided majority, pa.s.sed what resolutions he pleased. He contended, in opposition to Fox, that the Prince of Wales had no more right to the regency _than he had_! The debates upon this subject were long and warm; but Pitt and the queen finally triumphed. The care of the king's person and the disposition of the royal household was to be committed to her majesty, who would, by this means, be vested with the patronage of _four hundred places_, amongst which were the great offices of lord-stewart, lord-chamberlain, and master of the horse! These "loaves and fishes"

offered the queen a fine opportunity of exercising her tyranny, and further increasing her power!

Let us here digress a little, to reflect upon the _enviable_ state in which her majesty was placed at this period.

Behold, then, the Queen of England, in the enjoyment of health, surrounded with all the luxuries of life, knowing the _intricacies_ of STATE INFAMY, and anxious to hold the reins of government in her own hands, constantly closeted with the minister--ALONE! his years not half so many as those of his royal mistress! See her confiding in his secrecy, submitting her opinions for his decision, and knowing that herself and her family are in his power! The man, who, after this retrospect, p.r.o.nounces there never was a _false step_, or a _deviation from rect.i.tude_, we venture to say is but very little acquainted with humanity! It is also well known to more than one or two individuals, that the Prince of Wales dared to _jest_ with her majesty upon the occasional _private_ interviews she held with this minister; and his royal highness was once seriously sent from her presence, in consequence of a TRIFLING DISCOVERY he made. It therefore seemed the more requisite that the _appearance_ of a rigid decorum must exist at court; consequently, if any lady had been known to violate those bounds, she must be excluded from royal favour, and never again enter the precincts of the palace! Her majesty, it will be perceived from this, knew how to put on the garb of virtue, if she possessed it not! Our love of impartiality, however, obliges us to give an instance contrary to the general edict of the queen. Her majesty was made fully acquainted with Mrs. Fitzherbert's history, and therefore knew that this lady had been left a widow--twice; and that she afterwards accepted the _protection_ of the Marquis Bellois, which intimacy was of considerable duration.

Yet, as soon as the prince _married her_, she was a general visitant at court, and received the most especial and unlimited polite attentions from the queen. Let this example suffice to shew her majesty's _scrupulous_ delicacy!

In March,

1789,

the king was declared convalescent, so as to be able to resume his duties, and defeat those air-drawn schemes of power, which his queen was about to a.s.sume.

The insulted sovereign thus freed the people, for a time, from the artful stratagems and devices arising from the charnel house of oppression.

It is certain, that his majesty was free from all _violent_ paroxysms, and generally manifested a quiet and un.o.btrusive disposition in all things. But then this was the _utmost_ of his improvement. Reason's empire was fatally shook, and the recollection of the past incapacitated him for forming an opinion either upon the present or the future.

The queen, in the mean time, resolved not to be entirely debarred of her prospects of patronage; for, under the specious disguise of kingly authority, her majesty gave appointments and honours to the hirelings around her, and carried "majorities" whenever she pleased.

It was not deemed prudent that the king should open the House in person; therefore, the chancellor delivered the speech in the name of his majesty.

During this session, Mr. Wilberforce pleaded ably for the abolition of West Indian slavery, though to very little advantage.

Some excesses of an unhappy description were practised by the Duke of York; but they were pa.s.sed over without any public punishment or parental rebuke, although a family of high respectability suffered the loss of their only daughter, a most beautiful and accomplished girl, nearly twenty years of age! She was a victim of the duke's sensuality, and destroyed herself by poison soon afterwards,--such were the extreme sentiments of honor and virtue entertained by her. Some of her family yet live to mourn her loss and regret the privileges of royalty!

In this year a revolution broke out in France, and innumerable lives were lost. The opposite views which Burke and Fox took of this event dissolved the friends.h.i.+p that had so long existed between them.

In February,

1790,

the printer of "The Times" newspaper was fined ONE HUNDRED POUNDS for a libel on the Prince of Wales, and the like sum for a libel on the _equally-ill.u.s.trious_ seducer, the Duke of York. If a verdict had been given otherwise, royalty would have been humbled!

In this year, also, a most remarkable occurrence transpired. A very respectable clergyman was induced to marry two persons upon an extreme emergency, without their obtaining a license or the publis.h.i.+ng of banns.

The clergyman was tried at Leicester for this offence, and sentenced to be _transported for fourteen years_! Many appeals were made, in a quiet and peaceable manner, to the judge. Expostulations upon the disproportion of the punishment were also made by various cla.s.ses of society; but, alas! _the happiness of the subject was destroyed_, while the higher authorities remained not only unimpeached, but defended!

During this session, the House was solicited to supply extra sums for the expenditure of the _secret service_, to which, however, many voices were raised in opposition. The prince and his former friends and companions were now apparently in a state of disunion, as each one appeared dissatisfied with the other.

Mr. Fox proved the most unremitting member of the House in the discharge of his duties, opposing the increase of the national debt, and the imposition of new taxes. The salary of the speaker of the House of Commons, however, was advanced to six thousand pounds, remonstrance proving of no avail.

About this time, the prince and two of his brothers became so embarra.s.sed by their imprudent conduct, that they found it expedient to resort to some measure for the attainment of means to satisfy the clamorous demands of their creditors. Jews and money-brokers were tried, but to no effect; and their last resource seemed to be by obtaining the amount desired upon their respective or joint bonds. Every likely person was solicited to grant the loan; yet, after a long and mortifying attempt, all their endeavours proved fruitless. A large interest was offered, and had the parties been persons of indubitable integrity, many of their countrymen would have gladly lent their money upon such terms; but former inaccuracies paved the way for future misgivings. At length the sum was furnished, from foreign houses chiefly,--the amount of which was ONE MILLION!!! The princes received nearly half a million immediately, and the other portion was to be paid according to the stipulation,--the interest being fixed at _six per cent._ This interest, however, was not paid upon its becoming due; consequently there was a suspicion of unfair dealing; but of this subject we must treat anon.

A trifling dispute with Spain this year cost the country THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS!

The year

1791

was a period of continual debate and of hara.s.sing vexation, both at home and abroad. In the mean while, the prince was engrossed in his pursuits of pleasure, ever searching after variety in every possible shape. Such also were the pursuits of his royal brothers.

It now becomes our painful duty to speak of the FEMALES of this "_ILl.u.s.tRIOUS FAMILY_."

It is one of the unnatural distinctions of royalty, and which is often fatal to the happiness of society, that _their ways are not the ways of the other sons and daughters of humanity_. Though royal blood is not of itself considered a barrier against marriage, the very few persons that are eligible to marry a king's daughter, besides the unsurmountable difficulties which religion opposes to such unions, makes them almost amount to absolute exclusion.

It would argue a callous heart not to feel the force of the above reflection, while speaking of the royal daughters of Queen Charlotte.

They were at this period in the bloom of youth, in all the glowing exuberance of health, but from the real enjoyment of which the miserable etiquette of regal splendour, and the feigned prudery of their mother, debarred them. In the full meridian of their state, possessing every exterior advantage calculated to excite vulgar envy and admiration, these royal ladies were less blessed, in reality, than the daughters of peasants, who were free to marry the men of their choice. When this secluded state of royalty is considered, the reflecting mind will feel disposed to exercise charity and forbearance; but the subjects of our present notice partook of _rather more_ of female frailty than ought to have been allowed. We have heard, indeed, of the most desperate excesses committed by _royal_ ladies, and are ourselves acquainted with an _accoucheur_, who officiated under a circ.u.mstance of a lamentable kind,--INDEPENDENT OF THE BIRTH OF CAPTAIN GARTH! Alas! were the crimes of the court of Charlotte but painted in their true colours, how would Virtue blus.h.!.+--how would Honesty be abashed!--how would Credulity be staggered! The slightest deviation from honor in a tradesman's daughter is generally punished by eternal disgrace! For the present, we must leave these very painful reflections; though we fear _truth_ will compel us to renew the subject.

The revenue was, as usual, unequal to meet the extravagancies of the royal family, and so was added every succeeding year an increase to the already immense "NATIONAL DEBT."

The queen became now much disturbed by the dissatisfaction so generally expressed by all cla.s.ses of society, and she therefore resolved to give the minister her opinion upon the subject. Mr. Pitt accordingly presented himself, and was received with courteous attention. The queen expressed her fears of an ill _ultimatum_, unless some plan could be proposed to satisfy the desires of the people. After various propositions were made and rejected, it was deemed prudent to resist any and every motion which might be made in the Commons for reform in the state of the representation, and to rule over the people by _force_, if found needful.

The House met early in the year

1792,

and the king announced the marriage of his second son, Frederick, with a daughter of the King of Prussia. In March, Mr. Pitt proposed to settle thirty thousand pounds per annum upon their royal highnesses! The Opposition remonstrated, but the motion was finally carried.

Much interest was excited upon the subject of the slave trade; and Mr.

Wilberforce urged the abolition of it in very warm and generous language. Mr. Pitt was eloquent on this occasion, and pleaded, most animatedly, in favour of its entire abolition; but the minister _was not sincere_. A series of resolutions were ultimately agreed upon, and sent up to the Lords for their concurrence.

The Duke of Clarence now commenced his parliamentary career, by violently declaiming against the abolition of slavery and its advocates.

This caused it to be delayed, and the guilt of Britain increased.

The queen _appeared_ vexed at this circ.u.mstance, as she had imagined such a concession would have given great satisfaction, without decreasing her influence at home.

In a private conversation with an ill.u.s.trious person, some days after this defeat, Mr. Wilberforce said, "He did not believe the queen or the minister were _truly desirous_ of the abolition of slavery; for, if it had been intended by them to be carried, they would have secured it in the Upper House."

After thus trifling with the wishes of the people, it appeared probable that dissatisfaction might arise amongst the middle cla.s.ses of society; to provide against which, the establishment of a new police for Westminster was proposed and carried.

The year

1793

commenced with the usual aspects, and power appeared to have had a hardening influence upon the minds of statesmen. The crisis seemed near, that some salutary and healing measure of reform in the state of the representation must be adopted; for it was imprudent any longer to be silent on the subject. Mr. Grey, therefore, moved the question in the House, on the 30th of April, and was supported ably by Mr. Erskine and others; but the minister (Mr. Pitt) repelled the motion, and spoke as warmly for its withdrawal as he had formerly spoken in its defence, and of its necessity. The result was prejudicial to the rights and privileges of free-born men; the motion was dismissed, and a royal proclamation issued against all seditious writings and correspondences,--plainly proving that the crown needed the aid of _spies and informers_, in order to continue its baneful and injurious influence over a deluded and degraded people! Thus was an attempt to obtain justice defeated by a combination of overbearing tyranny and oppression; and thus was the "state automaton" moved at pleasure by the secret springs of court intrigue and infamy, regulated by the queen! One extreme generally leads to another, and so by degrees the freedom of the const.i.tution was changed to tyrannical fetters, under the a.s.sumed t.i.tle of "_improvements in our code of laws_," whilst distress continued, and expostulation, as usual, proved fruitless.

Mr. Pitt, at this time, through a private channel, communicated his desire to see Mr. Canning, who of course promptly attended. The premier complimented Mr. Canning on his reputation as a scholar and a speaker, and stated, that, if he concurred in the policy which government was then pursuing, arrangements would be made to bring him into parliament.

These few words will briefly explain to future generations the manner of introducing members to parliament by this minister.

Previous to this _honourable_ offer, Mr. Canning belonged to what was then termed "the opposition faction," and among those who were the _most violent_ in their opinions, _he_ had been considered and spoken of as their _protege_. But a seat in parliament from the hands of a prime minister, who, however haughty and reserved in his general manners, had perhaps, for that very reason, a peculiar power in fixing himself in the minds of those whom he wished to please, was a tempting offer to a young man, conscious of superior talent, but rendered by his situation in life agreeably alive to such flattering and powerful notice. Our readers will hardly feel surprised, then, at his after vacillating conduct, which we shall have occasion frequently to notice.