The National Register. — London, England, 1813-03-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER Our Sing, Conztitution, ant tatuif. R ÜBIISHED AT NO. 11, NEWC ASTLE-iTREET. STRAND. 1 • • • 1 . 1 I t I P ak . . • 111 • . k i i 311) - A - Y. MARCH 7, 1813. No 271. SIT POLI2'ICAL DIS2UISITION. -•iimi.. COMPLETE VINDICATION OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. To continue our observations on the causes of the destruc- 1 tion of the French Grand Army this week , whe n so much " information of home interest and importance, claims admis sion within our columns, would disappoint the just expec tations of the Public. We have, therefore, postponed all ex tensive rematks on foreign subjects. until all the particulars of the question, to which the publication of the Princess of WALES'S Letter to the Pamc e RECENT gave rise, and which was so satisfactorily brought to an issue in the Rouse of Commons, on Friday last, shall be laid before our Rea ders. The interesting discussion which took place that night and the evening before, after strangers had been excluded, together• with the last Report of the Privy Council, on the propriety of restraining the intercourse between the Princess of W A LES and her daughter, will be found in another part of our columns, whilst this article will form an historical summary of the whole. • We gave. last week,• the substance of Air. COCHRANE. JOHNSTONE'S intended Motion, resproting the former in quiries held en the conduct of her Royal Highness. It war generally supposed to hate been countenanced by her au thority, and whilst the well-intentioned were alarmed at its possible consequences, the enemies to the prosperity of the Throne and the People, rejoiced at the mischief they thought it calculated to produce. To endeavour to check in its source, every evil which tends to disturb public tranquillity, is an act of sound policy. The Privy Council, possibly influenced by that laudable motive, closed their Report some days previous to the expected Mo tion, and sent it, signed in due form, to her Royal Highness, fancying its contents might satisfy her scruples, and render the inteuded application t Parliament for a public investi gation unnecessary. This Repot:, which states that all the documents produced in I tine have been re-examined, (con sequently stowing that no part of her Royal Highness's con duct since that period, has inclined the imputation of blame), also declares that, 44 it is highly fit and proper, with a view to the welfare of her Royal Highness the Princess CHARLOTTE, in which are equally involved the happiness Of his 'Royal Highness, in his parental and royal character, Ind the most important interests of the State, that the inter course between her Royal Highness the Princess of VA L ES,. and her Royal Highness the Princess CHARLOTTE, should continue to be subject to regulation and restraint." ltAbows that the delay which has taken place, in the Con frmation of the young Princess, was in compliance with his MAJESTY'S will, who had ordered it to be postponed till she should have reached her eighteenth years and concludes with TI. No. CCLXILI. PR CE remarking, that the expression " suborned traducers" used by her Royal Ilighne ,- ,s in her letter, if intended to be app plied to the PRINCE REGENT, is dearly proved by the do cuments laid before the Council to have no foundation whatever. From this Report, it certainly appeared, that although no fresh grounds for the imputation of criminality against the Princess of \V A LES tad arisen since 1806, yet that the complete acquittal, even of levity of manners, pronounced in 1807, was so far reversed as to render it expedient that het intercourse with her daughter should remain subject to restrictions. Signed by all those, with the exception of the lamented Mr. PE RCEVA 1., who had declared her, in 1807, enthely clear of every lighter - impropriety of conduct, this Re ! port seemingly implying the latter, pi-educed on her Royal Highness a different effect from that which ap pears to have been expected. It did rot recommend fresh restrictions, it is true : but the manner in which it asserted the necessity that the former ones should re main in force, cast, in her opinion, an imputation on her character, which she determined to repel. For this purpose, and with the advice of Counsel, she had recourse on Tues day last to a measure, which increased the fears of the loyal and the hopes of the disaffected. In a letter transmitted to the SPEAKER, in which she mentioned lather harshly the conduct of the Privy Council, her Royal Highness threwherself on the candour and mercy atilt! 'louse of Commons, and re quested to be publicly tried, that her innocence or guilt mi:;lit be made manifest. The receipt of ouch a me s sage, and from • such a quarter, excited a powerful sensation, rind the PRINCE REGENT'S Ministers having declined to found any proposal upon it, every eye was turned , pith anxious expectation to , wterds Mr. C. JOHNSTONE, whose promised Motion was con sidered as the sole means of dissolving the spell which bad su long involved this important affair in obccusity. Thursday arrived, and at the moment when the House, crowded with Members, and the Callcry with visitors, dis played the eagerness of the Public to know the particulars and the result of a discussion, tendered still more interesting by the communication made by the PRINCESS to the SPEAK ER, Mr. LYGON, impelled no doubt by a strong sense of duty, moved the Standing Order for the exclusion of strangers. This Motion was met by one of adjnurnment, OH the part of Mr. BENNETT, while C. JOHNSTONE postponed his own to the following day. It was not till Friday, therefote, that this important discussion took place. after all strangers had again been dismissed. To contend against the right which the House of Commorb undoubtedly and justly poss.eises, of renderii r private whenever it. thinks proper, would be But the use of a privilege may be questioned, t ig its rtriu!; . - easonable. though its ex. •