The National Register. — London, England, 1820-12-31 00:00:00

410 PERSECUTIONS OF TILE QUEEN. The following touching recital of the continued series of persecutions, to which her Majesty has Loco subjected—formed part of a speech delivered by the. Rev. N.lr. Shephetil, at the recent anniversary of the ConcentriJ Society at Liverpool. Gentlemen, if there ever was a persecuted female, that female is the 0110'11 of England. tier wrongs are of an early date. 'rimy commenced almost from the very mo ment of lier fitet lauding on these shores. It is one of the eviis necessarily attached to the condition of royalty, that in that exalted rank the matrimonial union is rarely effected upon thie , e principles of limited etlectioti by which it is rendered a blessing to the subordinate ranks of the community, With respect to his premed Majesty, it is a matter of public unto tety, that lie entered into the elate of matrimony with Caroline of Brunswick, not be. cause he was mitten with her personal attractions, or because he held in esteem her character aid accomplish. meets, not became this mai riage was stipulated by Nlr. Pitt, as a condition for the payment of hi: daily aceunitt tatiug debts. Whoa his intended bride landed in Ei.g land, who was appointed as one of her ladies of notielir to wait upon her person? Why truly the Coontess of Jereev! To her was committed the task of initiating her Royal Highness in Euglish manners, and of instructing her how to rentlei herbed' pleasing and acceptable to her bushman What happiness could be ex fleeted form a mart iage under stich auspices i It \Vie , .0411 whispered that her !loyal Highness ails sudu iug Wider inneti domestic vexation and uaeasiness. Atel the sit ti atli was in a little time brought ftelv the view of the public. I ler Royal Highness imuurilimeil her mind in detailing her giteeatices in a letter to her mother.— This letter she thirst not send to Bitinseirk by the corn mon post, nor by the metlinin of her father's Envoy. She committed it to the care of a Rev. Divine, who basely and foolishly betrayed her contideuce, by delivering it to the late Queen. Alter this trausuetiou it may readily be believed that she conk) have no peace or tranquiliity at home ; and, very soon after she had given birth to the late lamented Princess Charlotte, his Majesty dismissed her from his palace. And what were the „eroutids of that illstuisaiitl ? Fortunately for her Majesty, the grounds of that dismissal are recorded In a letter from tier illustrious sponse. In that letter, deem lie charge her with tuichastity, with levity of conduct, with any vice, or with any thlly? " Ail horatm." Her iittistrious spouse was pleased to dis miss her whom he had Laity sworn to cherish, upon the plea that "our inclinations arc not in cur power"—a plea of width it has been justly observed in an address to her Majesty trom the town olChorley, that " it it be available to a Prince of Wales, it is equally available to every cri minal who sutlers the judgment of the law." Being Bien banished from the palace tot' her husband, our Queen — then Princess of Wales—withdrew into ritiobtitisive retire ment. Dedicating beraelt to materied tinned—anti hues well she discharged those duties is evinced by the fond and constant attachment of her dauglitca—she was hardly ever heard of, except on occasion ut tier attendance at Court. But, after the lapse of many years, the most beau dalons reports were whispered to the disadvantage of tier character ; and during the Whig administsation an inquiry was instituted into her eonduct—an inquiry by a flagrant misnomer called the " Delicate Investigation." Whatever rimy have been the delicacy of that inquiry, it era:t yet lainly nut deficient in strictness and severity. No deference was paid (1 do attirm that it ought to have heels paid) to bar rank and station. Her servants were submitted to interrogateries, without a moment's warning having been given to her. Every point of her conduct was umaitely scrutinized. Witnesses were heard against her, without her bring apprized of the tesiour it their testimony at the time of their examination, so as to be enabled to rebut it. And what was the result of this celebrated iugnisiticu ? Why, her judges, without puttieg her on her its hence, acquitted tier of the moral turpitude which hail been iiii• pined to her, atid reconditended the prosecution for per jury of the principal et her calumniators. To their award, indeed, was annexed a recomiuendation to his late Majesty to advise her to be mere circumspect in her con duct. But this recommendation was made without tier Royal Highness having been heard in explanation or de fence, and on evidence which site ultimately proved to be an unworthy of credit, that, on her renionstretieg a;einst this procedure, tour late monarch, win, iu his private character, was well deserving of those endearieg Qt. theta, " Good old King!" et length proclaimed les conviction of her nioncence by publicly receiving her at his court. During this fiery ordeal, our Queen derived the most essential beheld firm the countenance and aid of Mr. I'erceval, of Lord Eldon, Lord Liverpool, and Canning. These crafty POittleellla Y.011111:11 themselves into her seceets : they became acquainted with all the particulars of her history : they nese iiitornied of all the grounds tot complaiut which she hail, or fancied that she had, against her husband. And these they con trived to turn to vast profit to theniselvea. They put Ilient carefully up into a green bag: and when, at this' couimencement of the Regency, they were apprehensive of bung itistied out ol'uflice, Mr. Perceval wailed oil they Regent with this green bag under his at in, and said—" Sire, it you displace us, this green bag shall be opened, and the angle uationshall know !KM you have heated your wife." I hesitate ant to say that conduct hike this is only to lie I , as d by that of the villains a il.l Illtela 3011 at dusk iil James's Palk, dud tells you that, it you aid not give him 'Ai., lie will Acense you of an ahumniabie erime. It is it' ange that such a 11111110ellYie 511011 id have succeeded; bat we knew, to our cost, that suer. ed it Md. Mr. Pel. tell al and his friends were , tii tiny Sealed in office. They then soon forgot collliati Hwy halt with the Princess of Wales, and cruelly connived al, ur basely joined in, a belies id indignities tuwaids her, which, whilst Davy were not stillest:me) atrocious to alarm the public unuil, were well calculated to Vitae down hes spirits with mei titit ation and disgust. When lit-r nand vsas iu thus bum• oh depiessiun Fhie was approached by Mr. Canning. of whom it may be said, as Lora Diguy said of the Earl of Siattursi, that the. " man:Alit" , 01 ilia practices are hugely aggravated by these lei 01 ins, whereof God Lain even hint the use, but the 1)s-vil the application." Like baton as illBlll t ,og ear iit Eve, Ire gave her must I m Melees come el. his advistd tier to ti v. me rt•,l,truto aoread. la an t hum, and lii spite et ttie pi ilea. v... 1 eio,soll 311•1)10116114111, sae acted upon Ali. Caiieni A . , a./.. pintail the stoics of Bo Bain. In the letter of had ii telc•cniii trim, her husband, rt was • mted teat Het eas per " theuld toe held maw crania TnE NATIONAL nEcisTrrt to the other." Though I cannot bring myself to subscribe to the opinions of those who construe this passage as a license to her Royal Highness to adopt any line of conflact she might please, it might have authorized an expectation that she would he permittoil to travel, fir to remain in a limd abode, free flue anv particular otisei ration or Nur tTillance. But it is now matter of evidence, that, by some hitherto nukiiown interference, her every motion . was watched by sat , s and iefurnicrs. And the inhume oh this species of vet loin we know too well. We know that they estimate their own importance, and calculate their pro• gable profits, in ratio of the al eocicitisoiess of the tAles which they commitaicate. Hence they exaggerate tri ding errors into crimes; they lids:aloe:4Na innocent actions as guilt; and even forge direct falsehoods, which they are ready to support by perjury. What was likely to he the tale of a female trim was dogged by blouillionuds oh 1111 s description, and whose huspilalily was basely abused by a villain of rank, for the porpcse of purloining her papers: %What is likely to be the late of any mistress of a family, near Viose dwelling an agency subsists, for the purpose of availing itself of the ill-hinumw and malice of fiscarileil and discontented servants, to pick tip anecdotes of her lire nad conveisetion ? Whosoever is inclined to pay hand soilioly for an evil report will nut long he iu want of a vender. fienee we need not be bdrpii , rd at the scanda l:in: stories respecting Tier Majesty, which were conveyed by the medium of it ptisitive travellers from the coutinent, and which wiae aveainniated Mill digested by the Mama. euminission. lime documents which had bets , In 0- cured by that "par nubile leatrum," Brown amid ihmiiuCJl It, it was not, however, thought wildcat to act torso; the litetime of our late reveled Sovereign. liven hi the awtid wreck of his faculties. Inc was the efficient, though protector Of his dauhter-M-I:4w. Bull as sour as he was laid in the grave—nay, I a:a . .; lo .•keil to say. ' it, before his remains were deposited iii the mouth—active operations were commeilei it against oar Queen. Witlient a trial, without a heat Mg. sae was vii totally degraded front her exalted rank, by her name being stilick out of the Liturgy- a psoeeetiing the kgality of which is extremity questionatile, and it:kit:ll 1)06011i the dermional services of England and Ili land with the soggestious of political differences and animosities. liamsed by this nsult, the Queea deli:runnel to repair to raiglaiiil to claim and asset t her rights. At St. affitec' she was met by Loud Hutchinson, with a threat in our hand and a bribe iii the other. By that pick of chit ,dry site was informed that it she proceeded to England she would he met by an im peachment; but that if she she would consent to stay abroad, she should lie indulged with an income of AanUat. a-year. tientlemen, if the ministers had any real faith in the contents of their green bag, what was the meaning of this latter pi oposal ? Why, its meaning was plainly this —"Cu, play the wanton itt Italy—disgrace the nation in your person, iii Europe, Asia, Africa, and A lIICI ied, if yea please; and you shall receive from the lend-citified pro perly of the people of England 30,0 ant. per anicon a purified that you will nut disturb us in the possession of our plares." Butt her ,dajesty despised the threat, and spurned the bribe: she hurried to England " in breath less haste:" and 'lever shall we forget the mode of her reception here—the sensation which thrilled through the whole century at the news of her lifinthig, and the shunts of .iuy w WWII greeted her arrival at the capital. But way did the populace of England thus instantaiieously take part as itti the Queen ? They knew nothing of her emiduct when abroad; they could not foresee what evidence would be broaglit against her. What they had heard reported mince' ruing her was eotirely to her discredit. Why Bien did they so zealously adopt her canse ? Because they saw that SAC WAS weak, dilti that her foes were pmver. id. Beellnsc they counted her enemies as their ei.eim.-s. Because they wlio hailed the tallerl, with (OW Cri'" , stially• hail not only tried to the very teeth, but hhclltJ, the commonalty of Engh:fiel. Because they recollected lila', for a long series of years, she had been the ~"I'-lect of unmet fled perseelliioll: amid because, treat the tact o f her having been once assailed by unpunished pesjety, they drew the natural conclusion, that by pet jury she %mild be assailed again. Gentlemen, no stainer was the Queen landed t h an the in:Misters were all in a bustle. Lot Liverpool hi particular was as busy as a certain personage is said to be in a high wind. He hail immediately as many occupations as Sereth in the Beaux 811114;4CW, "hop Id display lug the versatility of hia Is tents, says to Archer, " O n Sionlaysl draws warrants, and on almidays thaws beer." So on arse day Lord Liverpool was employed in drawing the indictment against the Queen a on another in settling the brief of tile Attorney Gruel al; on a third iii canvassing the depositions of the witnesses; awl tit a fourth, perrhatice, in trying hew Car their oral testimony was likely to agree with the written 'kid:nations—a pro cess which, in certain cases (not hi Lord Liverpool's), I believe the attornies deiminimite fluilliag. And, after all this pains-takiiig, Ins Lordship fin ti erniore un Jet wok the weighty task of sitting to try the came 45 a jams.. Here, Gentlemen, is one of the main hinges of the Qneert's case. \rho were her accusers? The ministers. Who were the jurors that sate to ivy her? The ministers, their relations and (Heads; and, what was more alarining still, their political dependants. But Lord Liverpool solemoly pro tested, on, behalf of himself and his compeers, that they would wash flout their minas all antecedent prejailices, and proceed to hear the evidence, pin awl coo. with the most unimpeachable fait st and infaai Ualiac. Presuaia• limits Man ! I)nes lie imagine that lie e m ,met the cam plea wheels which conipme the fina mai Irmo y of the human mind, and conquer, iii a cause fu winch His all of reputation and of political existence is at stAc, that self= partiality which is a fixed law of If', in rites fame to tile known laws of human stature, any man would be thus impeaelied as a ;mice in a matter of one hundred pounds, what most we think of the jiifiges who sate to try the Queen, with power, patronage, place, and triumph aw alba g them mid pulitical ruin. disgt ace, and imolai, ation awaiting them oil an acquittal? Belpre such a tribunal, however, the Queen appeared to answer—alter a ',team -Aim' of aide 11101 V, I think, than a line 4es W.:s(l hail been concocting tOr arms, :mil iisptlung the partit Mars of which she was, hut Htalvelluus adherence to legal (mint., kept entirely in the flat k. [The Rev. lientleman then took an able review of the progress oldie ti sal, and of the conduct of the Peers.] fielitlellts I), I • MI , 'OM re and enthusiastic admirer of the B, tub Cl,ll3ilitliti'la..• I find it described by the hest legit aam,ritie.; Awl it.,,1i ; ,;1) I cannot agree with the erlcbra ted 31r. Reeve s in his iipiniuu dist the mon:itchy of Bri tain may subsist without the Houses of Lords and Com. lUdllb, 1 regard the regal authority as au integral and iudisp. usable rortion or our Coostii a liaa. I a lias , i t i s my ditty to levk up to the Sovereigo with res creme ; and I am one ef the old school, who think it wholesome and conducive to the public good that the throne should be retarded by the people at large with a kind tormysterions lin,se points I trust von agree with me in sen timent. Waal then must we 'lntik of those rash men who rudely tear away the veil suspended before the throne, and reveal to the public eye what cannot be beheld with. out pain It is not the habit of the people of Eogland to criticise with severity the errors, or even the vices, of persons of exalted rank. They would be disposed to look upon the failings of a Sovereign with the emotions with which the failings of a father are regarded by a dutiful son. It is a wise policy in these kingdoms to keep the pert/Mal proceetliogs and prejudices of tho Monarch at much as possible tint of sight. But how can Ibis be effected, if miolisters grout:tripoli these prejudices great and important transactions of stale. In the ease before ois, the imbue at iaroe had nothing to du, anal had little i o di na ti on to ins ermeldle, with the. loofas wmate dittiwenees which have taken place between the King and Ins wife. nut the moinctot the ministers called ;loon our represent• taiives for a bill of degradation and divorce against the Queen, those ditterencrs, with their caucus and circum stances, became a legitimate subject of puuiie discussion : for it any toot!, after the King's message was fold on the aldc of the House of Commons, had said to the people of England, "This is a matter which, at it concerns the King, you most terbear to canvass," the people tit Eng land would have treated him with contempt, anal would hare said—" If doe King applies :o our i-presentatives to rid him of his wife, and calls orion us to ploy the expenses of the process, we become parties in the canse, and 110 ponce on earth shall prevent n. from exantiniitg into its ',attire and beatings. 'This has, in fact, bean ilie lan gotsge and the conduct of the people of England. I !meat the resale of their investigations; but, for the evil which has arisen from the late inquiry, his Majesty's ministers, mei they alone, are severely responsib.e : I say that for these evils they are severely responsible, because they in;glit have obviated them by :in ordinary degree of spirit and decision. ON THE " LICENTIOUS PRESS." The Country grows sick at heart—the Constitu tion totters—the House of Brunswick is in danger; but where are the authors of so much mischief? Let us see.—The loyalists, as they term themselves —too many of whom mean by loyally a saleable commodity, to be disposed of for their own advan taee—t hese loyalists attribute the evils under which the country labours to Ike Press!—Not to the moon or the magnet—not to solar influence, or mysterious magic, but to the licentious Press! Did the licen tious Press increase taxation ? Does the licentious Press overload the sinews of the former? Does the licentious Press support the Government by the sword? Does the liceatious Press grind down the nerves of the mechanic and the labourer? Did the licentious Press suggest the infamous Gaging Bills? Did the licentious Press oppose the Holy Alliance neitinst mankind? Did the licentious Press prc duce the tyranny of Ferdinand, or the despoiiin of Frederic? Did the licentious Press destroy Alex ander's just opinions, and till their place with the disgusting notions lately ? Did the licen tious Press blow up the Spanish frigate in time of peace—bombard Copenhagen to prove our friend ship to the Danes—pay the Neapolitans for fighting for Murat, and the Sicilians for fi,;liting against him ? Did the licentious Press teech Louis that he had been nineteen yearS King of France i Did the licentious Press generate the loathsome herd of con tractors and sineeurists, which, like so many cancers, devour the body politic? Did the licentiate; Press draw front the suffering nation its hard-earned treasures, to subsidise the banditti of Russia, Austria and Prussia? Did the licentious Press cut off the springs of trade? Did tile licentious Press produce that host of political ills which make the people miserable, hopeless, and discontented ? Or, in truth and iu fact, are not all these ills the freits of the errors or of the crimes of Ministers ? Are they not the consequence of their tyrannical system—Ole re. sults of their mad (sings and base designs? To see the danger and conceal the ilicendiaries may be loy ally, but it is not justice. To witness the wrongs and abuse the sufferers is cruelty : it is worse than the ignorance of old, which heaped upon some poor, but innocent woman, the curses of lantern bru•es, fire the murrain of their cattle or the blights of their harvest ; and just as wise and as rational as the witch-pursuers of past ages, arc the equally be nighted tracers of the causes of national calamity to the use of the twenty-f Our letters ! If we examine all the precious , declarations which have been hatched ill bye places by the trumpeters of loyalty to deceive their Royal Master, they strike the same string, and draw fbrth the same tone :—to the Li centiousness of the Press, and to Blasphemy, with their hair on end and uplifted hands, the devoted sons of cupidity and loyalty ascribe our danger. A cousin of the assassin Louvel, who bears that infamous name, and who belongs to y regiment of dragoons at Thionville, having made some horrible propositions to a trumpeter of the regiment, which the latter rejected with shuddering, Louvel stal;be , l him dead. The murderer is in custody. Lord and Lady Curzon have, with the kind.^!:t regard for the comforts of the poor at this period at the year, made a most acceptable present of blaiskets aid clothing, to the indigent families in the in:igli bourhood of Gopsall. I