The Press. — London, England, 1856-03-22 00:00:00

MescH 21, 1856. by Mr. Taylor, and as in other trustworthy books we find some most revolting cases of Turkish barbarity ; one's blood curdles at read ing s•lrh stories as the following : A Turkish officer walking through the town (Kertch), with, as usual, a soldier in attendance upon him, entered a house in which were a woman and a child. The latter, being frightened, ran into a sort of closet in the room. The officer proceeded to offer violence to the woman, who resisted, upon which he spoke some words to the atten dant soldier, who went to the closet, drew his sword, and pinned the child to the wall with it! For other instances of a like kind the reader may consult the works of Mr. Woods and of Dr. Sandwith. We would not palliate the cruelties committed by Russians in this war ; but surely it is only fair to recollect that our semi-barbarous ally. Turkey, has committed as savage enormities as our semi•barbarous foe, Russia. Memoirs of Mrs. Fitzkerbert; with an Account of her Marriage with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, afterwards King George the Fourth. By the Hon. Charles Langdale. London : Bentley. THE present volume is not a biography, and the public will be disappointed if they expect to find in its pages any of that interesting in formation which a life of Mrs. Fitzherbert might be expected to furnish. It is the work of a devout and conscientious Roman Catholic gentleman, who has come forward with ances tral chivalry to vindicate the fame of a lady. His brother, Lord Stourton, was the champion elected by herself, as the following extract from a letter to him will show MY DEAR LORD STOURTON, " I trust whenever it pleases God to remove me from this world, that my conduct and character, in your hands, will not disgrace my family or my friends." Paris, Dec. 7, 1833. And Lord Stourton in his declining days de posited the trust in the hands of Mr. Langdale. On the publication of Lord Holland's " Me moirs of the Whig Party," this gentleman seems to have imagined that the time had arrived for proving himself worthy of the con fidence reposed in him. He considered Lord Holland's account of Mrs. Fitzherbert's con nection with the Prince as derogatory to her honour, and resolved at once to give to the world a full statement of all the facts relating to it. With this object, he applied to the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Keppel, executor of Mrs. Fitzherbert's last surviving trustee, Lord Albemarle, to obtain possession of certain papers which had been deposited at Coutts's after the rest of the correspondence between that lady and George IV. had been by mutual agreement destroyed. These papers consisted of :-1. A mortgage on the palace at Brighton ; 2. The certificate of the marriage, dated, Dec. 21, 1785; 3. A letter from the late King, re lating to the marriage, signed, George IV. ; 4. Will written by the late George IV. ; 5 Memo randum written by Mrs. Fitzherbert, attached to a letter written by the clergyman who per formed the marriage ceremony. Mr. Keppel's fival decision WaS as follows : Quidenham, Attleborough, March 28, 1835. Sir,--In reply to your letter of the 13th instant. allow me to my, that I cannot object to your making public, as you propose, the purport of our correspondence ; and can only regret that I have, with the advice of others, not felt inself at liberty to comply with your wishes in all respects. 1 repeat that the papers-should have been at your disposal, had they afforded any cont ra di c ti on t o L or d H o lland a im putations. He does not dispute the tact of o.e Prince's marriage with Mrs. Fitaherbert, so the documents (as far as I can judge from the memorandum of their contents, which I have in my possession) cannot answer Lord Hob land and his ungracious imputation. These can only be rebutted by their own inherent unreasonableness. I am, Sir. latthfully yore, EDWD. S. KEPPEL. Hon Charles Langdale. Mr. Langdale has therefore availed himself of a written memoir by his late brother, Lord Stour• ton, and such other private information as he possessed, to give an authentic account of the connection between George IV. and Mrs. Fitz herbert, and to rebut the charges which he believes to have been brought against that lady's character. The following is the outline of Mrs Fitzherbert's history up to her union with the Prince : The subject of the present memoir, Mary Ann Smythe, i‘ss daughter of Walter Smythe, Esq., of Brambridge, in MescH 21, 1856. by Mr. Taylor, and as in o books we find some most rt Turkish barbarity ; one's bloc ing sich stories as the follow A Turkish officer walking through with, as usual, a soldier in attendanc a house in which were a woman and being frightened, ran into a sort of The officer proceeded to offer violenc resisted, upon which he spoke some dant soldier, who went to the closet, pinned the child to the wall with it! For other instances of a lit may consult the works of M Dr. Sandwith. We would cruelties committed by Russi but surely it is only fair to r semi-barbarous ally. Turkey, as savage enormities as oui foe, Russia. Memoirs of Mrs. Fitzkerbert; of her Marriage with H.R. Wales, afterwards King Gg By the Hon. Charles Lan Bentley. THE present volume is not the public will be disappoint( to find in its pages any of th formation which a life of might be expected to furnisl of a devout and conscientious gentleman, who has come for teal chivalry to vindicate th 4 His brother, Lord Stourton, tt elected by herself, as the 1 from a letter to him will show MY DEAR LORD STOURTON, " I trust whenever it pleases Go this world, that my conduct and char will not disgrace my family or my frie Paris, Dec. 7, 1833. And Lord Stourton in his d posited the trust in the hands On the publication of Lord moire of the Whig Party," seems to have imagined tht arrived for proving himself w fidence reposed in him. He Holland's account of Mrs. nection with the Prince as 4 honour, and resolved at ont world a full statement of all to it. With this object, he Hon. and Rev. Mr. Keppel, Fitzherbert's last survivinf Albemarle, to obtain posse papers which had been depot after the rest of the corresp4 that lady and George IV. had agreement destroyed. These of:-1. A mortgage on the pa 2. The certificate of the man 21, 1785; 3. A letter from tl lating to the marriage, signed Will written by the late deorF nuiduni written by Mrs. Fitz to a letter written by the clef formed the marriage ceremon final decision WaS as follows : Quidenham, Attleboroui Sir,--In reply to your letter of the 1 to say, that I cannot object to your propose, the purport of our correspon regret that I have, with the idyl( myself at liberty to comply with your repeat that the papertshonld have had they afforded any contradiction imitations. He does not dispute tl marriage with Airs. Fitzherbert, so t] as I can judge from the meniorand which I have in my possession) cam land and his ungracious imputation. rebutted by their own inherent unres I am, Sir !Faith Hon Charles Langdale. Mr. Langdale has therefore av written memoir by his late bi% ton, and such other private i possessed, to give an authent connection between George I' herbert, and to rebut the c believes to have been brou lady's character. The follow of Mrs Fitzherbert's history with the Prince : The subject of the present memoi was daughter of Walter Smythe, Es THE PRESS. the county of Hants, second son of Sir John Smythe, Baronet, of Eske, in the county of Durham, and Acton Burnell, in Shropshire. She was born in July, 1750, and married, in July, 177.5, Edward Weld, Esq., of Lulworth Castle, iu the county of Dorset, who died in the course of the same year. She married, secondly, Thomas Fitzher bert, Esq., of Swinuerton, in the county of Stafford, in the year 1775. He only survived their union three years, leaving her a second time a widow, before she had attained the age of twenty-five. - • • • • • • Mrs. Fitzherbert was first acquainted with the Prince when residing on Richmond-hill, and soon became the object of his most ardent attentions. !luring this period she was made the subject of a popular ballad, which desig nated her under the title of the " Sweet Lass of Richmond hill ": I would crowns resign to call her mine, Sweet lass of Richmond-hill. She was then the widow of Mr. Fitzherbert, in possession of en independent income of nearly 2,0001. a year, admired and caressed by all who were acquainted with her character and singular attractions. Surrounded by so many personal advantages, and the widow of an individual to whom she had been sincerely attached, she was very reluctant to enter into engagements fraught with so many embarrassments, and, when viewed in their fairest light, exposing their object to great sacri fices and difficulties. It is not, therefore, surprising that she resisted, with the utmost anxiety and firmness, the flattering assiduities of the most accomplished prince of his age. She was well aware of the gulf that yawned be neath those flattering demonstrations of royal adulation. For some time her resistance had been availing, but she was about to meet with a species of attack so unprece dented and alarming, as to shake her resolution, and to force her to take that first step, which afterwards led by slow (but on the part of the Prince successful) advances, to that union which be so ardently desired, and to obtain which he was ready to risk such personal sacrifices. Keit, the surgeon, Lord Onslow, Lord Southampton, and Mr. Edward Bouverie, arrived at her house in the utmost con sternation, informing her that the life of the Prince was in imminent danger—that he had stabbed himself—find that only her immediate presence would save him. She re sisted, in the most peremptory manner, all their importu nities, saying that nothing should induce her to enter Carlton-house. She was afterwards brought to share in the alarm, but still, fearful of some stratagem derogatory to her reputation, insisted upon some lady of high character RCCORllanying her, as an indispensable condition ; the Duchess of Devonshire was selected. They four drove from Park-street to P 'onshire-bouse, and took her along the Prince - and covered with with them. She found pale, . blood. The sight so overpowered her faculties that she was deprived almost of all consciousness. The Prince told her that nothing would induce him to live unless she promised to become his wife, and permitted him to put a ring round her finger. I believe a ring from the hand of the Duchess of Devonshire was used upon the occasion, and not one of his own. Mrs. Fitzherbert being asked by me whether she did not believe that some trick had been practised, and that it was not really the blood of his Royal Highness, answered in the negative, and said she had fre quently seen the scar, and that some brandy-and-water was near his bedside when she was called to him on the day he wounded himself. They returned to Devonshire•house. A deposition was drawn up of what had occurred, and signed and sealed by each one of the party, and, for all she knew to the con trary, might still be there. On the next•day she left the country, sending a letter to Lord Southampton protesting against what had taken place. as not being then a free agent. She retired to Aix-la-Chapelle, and afterwards to Holland. The Prince went down into the country to Lord Southampton's for change of air. In Holland she met with the greatest civilities from the Stadtholder and his family, lived upon terms of intimacy with them, and was received into the friendship of the Princess of Ornnge, who at that very time was the object of negotiation with the Royal Family of England for the Heir Apparent. Frequent inquiries were, made about the Prince and the English Court in confidential communica tions between her and the Princess, it being wholly un known to the Princess that she was her most dangerous rival. She said she was often placed in circumstances of considerable embarrassment ; but her object being to break through her own engagements, she was not the hypocrite she might have appeared afterwards, as she would have been very happy to have furthered this alliance. She afterwards saw this Princess in England, and continued to enjof her friendship, but there was always a great coolness on the part of the Stadtholder to wards her. She left Holland in the royal barge, and spent above another year abroad, endeavouring to " fight off" (to use her own phrase) a union fraught with such dangerous con sequences to her peace and happiness. Couriers after couriers passed through France, carrying the letters and propositions of the Prince to her in France and Switzerland. The Duke of Orleans was the medium of this correspond ence. The speed of the couriers exciting the suspicion of the French Government., three of them were at different times put into prison. Wrought upon, and fearful, from the past, of the desperation of the Prince, she consented, formally and deliberately, to promise she would never marry any other person ; and lastly she was induced to return to England, and to agree to become his wile, on those conditions which satisfied her own conscience, though she could have no legal claim to be the wife of the Prince. Immediately atter her return she was married to the Prince, according to the rites of the Catholic Church in this country; her uncle Harry Errington and her brother Jack Smythe being witnesses to the contract, along with he Protestant clergyman who officiated at the ceremony. No Roman Catholic priest officiated. A certificate of this marriage is extant in the handwriting of the Prince, and with his signature, and that of Mary Fitzherbert. The witnesses' names were added ; but at the earnest request of the parties, in a time of danger, they were afterwards cut out by Mrs. Fitzherhert herself, with her own scissors, to save them from the peril of the law. From this period her life may be divided into three epochs. First, from her marriage with the Prince to the Prince's marriage with the future Queen Caroline ; secondly, from her reconciliation with him after this event to the final rupture, a period of about eight years; and, thirdly, from that time to her death in the year 1837. During the early years of her union the only memorable cir cumstance connected with it, was Fox's cele brated denial of the marriage in the House of Commons It is difficult to arrive at a correct judgment of Mr. Fox's conduct. The speech in question was delivered in the house on the 30th of April, 1787 ; and it is certainly con ceivable, though not perhaps probable, that Fox may have remained in ignorance of what had occurred for nearly a year and a half. The friends of that statesman have taken on them selves to pronounce that the Prince told him a falsehood. But the truth of such matters very soon oozes out, and we can hardly acquit Mr. Fox of some sort of jesuitry even had he received, as was reported, a written authority from the Prince to deny the marriage. But the emphatic terms in which he did so seem to have exceeded the Prince's expectations, as they certainly excited the indignation of Mrs. Fitzherbert to the highest degree. The Prince assured her that he had given Fox no such authority : Mrs. Fitzherbert was on a visit to the Honourable Mrs. Butler, her friend and relative, and at whose house the Prince frequently met Mrs. Fitzherbert. The Prince called the morning atter the denial of the marriage in the House of Commons by Mr. Fox. He went up to Mrs. Fitzherbert, and taking hold of both her hands and cares sing her, said, " Only conceive, Maria, what Fox did yesterday. He went down to the house and denied that you and I were man and wife ! Did you ever hear of such a thing?" Mrs. Fitzberbert made no reply, but changed countenance and turned pale. Both Fox and Grey, however, steadily refused to soften down the denial, and with considerable difficulty Sheridan was induced to rise and say a few words in the house laudatory and respectful towards " another person." Mrs. Fitzherbert never spoke to Fox afterwards. The eight years succeeding her reconcilia tion with the Prince after his German marriage she used to describe as the happiest period of her connection with him. " They were ex " tremely poor, but as merry as crickets." Their time was passed principally between Brighton and London; and at the former place, as we learn from other sources, they lived in the most simple manner, unen cumbered by any of the circumstances of royalty. She was first supplanted in the affections of the Prince by Lady Hertford. A Lady Hora tio. Seymour had confided the guardianship of her child to Mrs. Fitzherhert, and at her request the Prince had applied to Lord Hert ford, the head of the house of Seymour, to prevent the child being taken away. It was during these negotiations that Lady Hertford obtained an ascendancy over the Prince, which ultimately led to his separation from one who had so long been the faithful partner of all his troubles. We have not space to detail the exact circumstances of the case, but Mrs. Fitzherbert frequently said she wondered how she survived the mortification of the last two or three years. Shortly before the King's death she wrote him a letter, to which she received no answer : Nothing, she said, bad so " cut her up," to use her own expression, as not having received one word in reply to that last letter. It is true, she observed, that she had been informed by the Duke of Wellington that he more than once expressed his anxiety that a particular picture should be hung round his neck and deposited with him in the grave, and it seemed to be the opinion of his Grace that this portrait was one which had been taken of her in early life, and was set round with brilliants. It appeared the more likely, as this portrait was afterwards missing when the others were returned to her. The copy of the letter, which, in answer to my question, she went into her bed room to fetch, she put into my hands to read. It was an expression of her fears that the King was very ill, and an affecting tender of any services she could render him, in a strain which I could not read without sympathis ing deeply in her distress.