The National Register.
London, England, 1814-07-10 00:00:00

No• 336•

PRINCESS OF WALES.

We Wit day insert a copy of the letter of the Princess of
Wales, sent to the Speaker of the House of Commons on the
4th inst. and which, our readers will perceive, was in conie-
quence of a communication made the preceding day by
Lord Castlereagh to her Royal Highness.

The largeness of the proposed increased income, consider-
Pig the state of the country, is not the least insidious fea-
ture of the proposition ; and though met by the Princess in
a way to qualify to a certain degree the unpopularity of its
Leing made at all, if any thing can qualify it, neither takes
from the burthen or lessens the imprudent acquiescence in
a measure intended to cheat her of her rights, and to stop
all further inquiry on subjects of the deepest moment to the
country and her own character.

It may now be seen in the case before us how much the
forms of Parliament are abused, for objects sinister to their
common usage ; and with what a grave indifference the I
most exalted public character may lend itself to.aid the de-
lusions intended to be practised on the people; and we per-
ceive with disgust that the hint throWn out by Mr. Canning,
of setting hetself up against the sense of Parliament, has in-
duced her to compromise the redress sought after, and to
accept a part of the additional allowance proposed by Lord
Castlereagh. But will this measure meet all the bearings of
her case? Will it stifle the rancour that evidently preys
upon the quiet of both parties ? Will there be no future
disagreements—no new attempts on the one hand, or com-
plaints on the other ? If money can satisfy all these que-
ries, it is the first time it has been known as a specific; and,
in our opinion, instead of diminishing, but increases the
odium, and still leaves the Pi ince Regent exposed to all the
censure that has been heaped upon him, without clearing the
personal conduct of his wife.
But the main question at last lies with the public: they
are to be satisfied as well as the Princess,—and, having in-
listed their best feelings and judgments in her cause, will
txpect to have the motives laid before them which have in-
duced her to forego the further prosecution of objects so
dear, as she herself as told us, to the future safety and wel-
fare of the country. For men will reason more or less fa•
vourably as they Lay be acted upon by the ignoble and de-
grading love of money ; but those whom a fiction of Parlia-
ment may not satisfy to the ptejudice of moral justice,
Vii. No. cccidur.

PnrrE f)d.

require more substantial reasons than any yet laid before
them.

The moment, indeed, that Mr. Methuen brought forward
his motion, and that that motion was acceded to, we foresaw
the danger which surroottded the PI incess,—we trembled for
her firmness. and are now overwhelmed with the conse.
quences of our apprehensions. In the name of truth, if the
Princess be as free from debt as stated by Mr. Whitbreaits
what can induce her to accept an additional allowance, with..
out atonement, without apologies for past treatment ! It is
absurd to talk of " unexpected munificence," which was
first suggested.—All will not do. She is still excluded from
the Drawing-Room—Her name still impeached—and, what
is worse, she has to all intents and purposes accepted a
boon to bury the recollection of what she has suffered
if she be innocent, and the public have unequivocally ac-
quitted her, she had her consolations in the verdict of those
to whom she had appealed,—she had the support of their
honest and unaffected devotion. Will not this step induce
them to revise their judgment ? It is in vain to offer to ex-
tenuate. Here is an evident truckling to pecuniary relief:
the larger or the lesser sum make no difference in the guilty
compromise. The people did not take up her cause on this
ground, but out of a more noble principle. She appealed
to them, and she was beard. As to the " good opinion" and
protection of the House, which she is made to talk el, ex-
cept Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Tierney, and the latter indeed
has alone acted a manly and patriotic part, who has said a
word in her favour ? The generosity of the' Prince has in-
deed been highly praised ; his forgetfulness of past exclave-
gance, and his solicitude to lirn:t an unnecessary expenditure
in future, are admirable topics for those who allow hundreds
of thousands to be lavished without censure, without con-
troul, and without remark. To such people there is nothing
so valueless as their money, nothing they despise more, unless
a truth be to be suppressed, or a witness to be suborned.
For our own parts, if we have ventured to express our-
selves rigidly upon this part of the case, it is because the cha-
racter of the Prince has nothing to do with it. A linked and
insulated proposi;ion took place, wLich should have been
met as Mr. Tierney advised : the money should have !well
refused. It is dangerous, nay.criminal,
to tamper with the
public feeling. If, with the whde nation on her side, het
case has been pictured as deplorable, what will be the bitua-
tic* ,of the Princess with the whole colaltry against La.

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