mischief in every way. Nothing she can do will diminish the foolish and vile fear of the Prince which some folks have, and the others will take up the thing only on its own grounds. Grey's scruples are all for fear of injuring her. If you have anything to write, address under cover to Lord Thanet, Hothfield, Kent. Yours ever, H. BROUGHAM."

Lady Charlotte Lindsay wrote to me as follows:

"16th March 1814.

"I have found means, without any danger, of letting Princess Charlotte know that I would be with her this morning, and accordingly she received me by herself in Miss Knight's room. She read both your letters very attentively, was very much satisfied with them, and said that it was a great ease to her mind to feel herself in the hands of a person whose integrity, abilities, and discretion she could entirely depend upon; that she should be careful to follow your advice in every respect; and that she was very much obliged to me for having executed her commission so well. She seems very much in earnest in her desire of not leaving England without some Parliamentary security for her return whenever she wishes to do so, and says that she conceives at present, at least, it would be very unsafe for her to go to Holland, as she understands from the young Prince's letters that the levies of troops are going on slowly, and that he finds it very difficult to get them into any state of defence, owing to their indolence, notwithstanding their loyalty to him and his family. Princess Charlotte then spoke a good deal about her mother, and said (what I always

apprehended would be the case) that she was told that her mother found very great fault with her to everybody, and said that she could not think she was her daughter, as she showed such want of character,' and that she had no spirit or steadiness.' I denied ever having heard the Princess of Wales hold such language (which, by the by, was a white lie), but I said it was natural for a mother to feel much solicitude about her daughter's attention, and to be very much hurt at not hearing from her as usual, and at seeing her so seldom; but she said that the King was just now so full of Lady Perceval's business, that she was afraid of asking leave to go to her mother. But she promised me that she would do so very soon, and that she would desire the young Prince of Orange to do so as soon as ever he returns to England. She gave me some instances of the manner in which her mother is watched, and how everything is known by the royal family, who are quite uncomfortable."

The following letters are from Miss Knight to Lady Charlotte Lindsay :

MISS KNIGHT TO LADY CHARLOTTE LINDSAY. "Friday afternoon.

"MY DEAR LADY CHARLOTTE,-Pray forgive my not having sooner put an end to your anxiety by writing; but it really has not been in my power till

now.

"The conference broke off yesterday in the manner you know; and in the evening Princess Charlotte sent a letter to the Prince of Orange, repeating that, as his duties called him to Holland, and hers retained her in

VOL. II.

N

England, she considered the matter as at an end after what had passed in the morning. Her Royal Highness has written to the Princess, and has sent her a copy of her letter to the Prince of Orange. She desires to be kindly remembered to you, and requests, if you have an opportunity with any of the Princess's advisers, to say that she has no objection to her letter being shown to any friends, or mentioned, but would not by any means have it appear in print.

"She has desired the Prince of Orange to inform the Prince Regent of her letter, but has had no answer. She sent back his picture at the same time.— Believe me, my dear Lady Charlotte, your much obliged E. C. KNIGHT.”

MISS KNIGHT TO LADY CHARLOTTE LINDSAY. "Friday.

"MY DEAR LADY CHARLOTTE,-I am just returned from the exhibition at Spring Gardens, where I met Miss Hayman. She brought me a commission from Princess Charlotte, for which reason I must see immediately Mr Whitbread; and pray let him know that she and Lady Elizabeth come on Sunday morning at 3 o'clock to Kensington Palace. There is a violent storm at Warwick House about what concerns Princess Charlotte's going abroad. Her father intends to frighten her with all sorts of dreadful consequences if she will not obey.—I am in great haste-don't answer -and believe me for ever yours, "E. C. KNIGHT."

FROM LADY CHARLOTTE LINDSAY.

as you will see.

"SEMPLING, August 8, 1814.

"MY DEAR MR BROUGHAM,-I am commanded to send you a copy of a letter that the Princess has just written to Mr Whitbread; I have copied it literally, Our baggage is putting on board the Jason, and this night, or early to-morrow, we are to embark. I am much grieved, but not surprised, to find that the idea of the Princess's departure from England has had a terrible effect upon Princess Charlotte her agitation was so great upon receiving the letter announcing her mother's intention, that Baillie and the surgeons were obliged to be immediately sent for. I heard this from Miss Mercer, to whom I had written to give all the comfort I can respecting the probability that the Princess will return to this country again; and the Princess has written herself to Princess Charlotte, to assure her of this.-Adieu.

"CHARLOTTE LINDSAY."

196

CHAPTER XIII.

The Princess of Wales and the Princess Charlotte.

66

THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE AND COURT POLITICS CONTINUED STATEMENT ON THE WHOLE SITUATION TO LORD GREYHIS VIEWS IN ANSWER-QUESTION OF THE HEIRESS TO THE THRONE LIVING ABROAD-PRECEDENT IN THE DAUGHTERS OF JAMES II. THE PRINCESS-LADY CHARLOTTE LINDSAY-MISS MERCER (LADY KEITH) AND MISS KNIGHT-THE PRINCE OF

ORANGE-REVELATIONS OF THE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE REGENT, AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE COUNTRY-THE ASSEMBLY OF THE FOREIGN MAGNATES IN LONDON-THE PRINCE REGENT'S DEMAND THAT THE PRINCESS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE QUEEN'S DRAWING-ROOM-CORRESPONDENCE ON THE AFFAIR-HOW AFFECTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE FOREIGN FLIGHT OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE TO HER MOTHER-THE CONSEQUENCE.

PRINCES IN LONDON

IN consequence of what had passed with the Princess Charlotte, I wrote to Lord Grey upon the whole entanglement of her situation, and desired him to consider it on its own merits, and also with a view to the state both of public feeling and of parties in Parliament. The following correspondence took place on the subject:

TO EARL GREY.

"LANCASTER, March 12, 1814.

"MY DEAR LORD GREY,-I received yours the day before yesterday, and have been prevented by business