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

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, when 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 message, 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 renderiir
private whenever it. thinks proper, would be
But the use of a privilege may be questioned, t

ig its rtriu!;.-
easonable.
though its ex.
•