The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-04 00:00:00

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o vi the weer allte allegations, except those relative to my
preguancy aed delivery, they arc hot to be considered as " leg4lly arid
conclusively- (stabliAed," because spoken to iii preliminary exami
nations, nut carried nu in the presence of the parties concerned. They
do not, indeed, expressly assert-, that my contradictien was not decisive
or salistactory ; they do of expressly state, that they think the fats
and allegations went nothing tootards their legal and conclusive esta-
blishment, but a re-ex onination in the presence of the parties inte-
reste.l: butehey go far to imply such opinions. That those opinions
are utterly te.tettable, apieet the observations I have made, upon the
ertedit and character of those witnesses, I -shall ever most ereaiently
maintflin ; but that these observations heave their credit wholly unaf-
fected, and did not deserve the least notice hoot your Majesty's set-
vents, it is impossible that any honourable man can assert, or any fair
and unprejudieerl mind believe.
I tees.. pis:weed, Sire, to observe, very shortly, upon the advice far-
ther yew) to your Majesty as contained in the remainieg pert of the
paper ; .which has represented, that, both it, the examinations, and
even in my answer, there have appeared many cireumst..nces of con-
duct which ceuld not be regarded but with serious concern, and which.
have suggested the expression of a desire awl expectation, that such
a conduct may in future be observed by me, as may tulle justify those
;barks of paternal regard and atkction, which your Majesty wishes to
chew to all yotti• Royal Family.
.And here, Sire, your 'Majesty will graciously permit me to notice
the hardship of the advice, which has suggested to your Majesty to
convey to me this reproof. 1 conirlain not so much for what it (toe-,
;s fur what it (lees not contain; I mean the absence of all particulars
which is mentioned as the object of their blame. The circum-
stances of conduct which appear in those examinations, and in my
answer, to Which they allude as those which may he supposed to
justify the advice which has led to this reproof, share your Majesty's
servants have not partieulacli mentioned them, I cannot be certain
that 1 know. But 1 v ill venture confidently to repeat the assertion,
which '.have already made, that there areno circumstances olconduct
spokes to by any wituess, (whose infamy and discredit are riot unwi-
se:ere:o:4 exposed and established,) not any where apparent in my
answer, which have the remotest approach, either to crime or inde-
licacy.
For my future conduct, Sire, impressed with every sense of gra-
titode for all former kindness, I shall be beund unquestionably, by
sentiment, as well es duty, to study your Majesty's pleasure. Any
advice which your Mej,!sty may wish to give to me in respect of any
particulars in /fly c-nduct, I shall be hound, and he anxious to obey
as m). law. But 1 must tru t, that your Majesty will point out to.
In 'the particulars which trey happen to displea,e you, and which
you may wish to hive altered. I shall he as happy, in thus le-ling
myself safe prom beree under the benefit of your Majesty's advice,
as I ern now, hi feeling myself secured from danger, uneer the pro-
. tectioe of your justice.
Your lel ajesty will permit me to add one word more.
Your Majesty has seen what detriment my character has, for a
time, sustained, by the false and malicious statement of Lady ,
Douglas, and b. the depositions of the witnesses who were examined
in support of her statement. Your Majesty has seen how many..
. enemies I have, and how little their malice has been restrained by
.any regard to truth in the pursuit of my ruin. Few, es it may be.
• hoped, may be the instances cf such determined, and unprovoked.
netlienity ; yet, I cannot flatter myself that the world does not
produce other poisons. who may be sweyed by simhar runeves to,
.suni!ai wiereediess. Whether the statement to be prepared by the
Prince of Wales, is to be confined to the old charges, or is tutu Med.
• .to bring forward new circumstances, I cannot tell; but if any fresh
otterepts et the same nature shall he made by my accusers, instructed
as they will have 'men by their miscarriage in this instance, I can
hardly hope that they wi:l not renew their charge, Without irnpreved.
artifice, more skilfully directed, and with a malice roamed rather
thin abated, by their previous disappointment. 1, therefore, can
only appeal to your Majesty's justice, in which I confidently trust,
that whether these charges are to he renewed against me either on the
old or ot. fresh evidence; or whether new accusations, as well as new
witnesses, are tobe brought torwaid, your Majesty, atter the expe.
etence of those proceedings, will not suffer your loyal mind to he
prejudiced by ex-parte secret examinations, nor my character to be
whispered away by insinuations, or sugeestions which 1 have no op-
portunity of meeting. If any charge, which the law will recognize,
should be brought egairst me in an open and legal manner, I should
have no right to complain, nor any apprehension to meet it. But till
I may have a full opportunity of so meeting it, I trust your Majeety
will not suffer it to excite even a suspicion to my prejudice. I must
claim the benefit of the presumption of innocence, tilt I am proved
to be guilty ; for, without that presumption, e..ainst the effects of
tsecret insinuation, and ex. parte examinations, the purest innocence
can make no defence, and can have no security.
Surrounded, as it is now. proved. that I have been, for years, by
domestic spies, your Majesty must, 1 trust, feet coltvinccd, that if
I had been guilty, there could not have been wanting evidence to
'have proved my; guilt ; And that these spies have been obliged to
have resort to their own invention, for the g.uppert of the charge, is
the strongest detneree ration, that the truth, undisguised, and cor-
vectly represented, c3till furnish them with no benne againet toes.