Star.
London, England, 1813-03-19 00:00:00

PRINCESS OF WALES.

,LETTER FROM THE PRINCESS OF WALES TO THE
KING.

Stitt-By my short letter to your Majesty of the lilth Instant,
In answer to your Majesty's communication of the 10,h, I anti-
ted my intention pf representing to your Majesty the various
grounds on which I felt the harthhip of my case ; and a review
of which, U confidently hoped, would dispose your Majesty to
recal your determination to adjourn, to an indefinite period, my
reception into your Royal presence; a determination which, in
addition to all the other pain which it brought along with it, af-
fected me with the disappointmmt of hopes which I had fondly
eherish.,d with the must prilect confidence, because they rested
On your Maje•ny's gracious assurance.

Inds;end;ntli, however, of tkit communication from your
aje•ty, I should have felt myself bound to have troubled your
Majesty with mud) of tie contents of the present letter.
Upon the receipt of the paper, which, by your Majcsty's com-
mands, was transmitted to the by the Lord Chancellor, on the
28th of last mouth, and which communicated to me the joyful
intelli6ence, that your Maje,ty was advised, " that it was no
longer necessary for you to decline receiv.ng me in o your Royal
presence," 1 conceived myself necessarily called upon f) seed an
immedive answer to so mutt of it as respected that int ell,gence.
I could fiat wait the time which it would have required, to state
these Misers • Jas which i. was impossible for me to refrain
from inakinr, at some period, woo the other it paryi-
culars which ehat y aper contained. _

Accordingly, I -ansteei ed it inintedietey ; and as your Ma-
tety''s greet:tee sad fonds:p:y of last Tit urselay fertiegle, an-
weed to me your plestire, that 1 should be received by your
Majesty tan a dry subsequent to the then ensuing week, I was
led most confidently to assure myself that the last week would
vot have passed without my having received that sa; isfaction.
I therefore determined to wait in patience, wizheut further in-
trusion upon your Majesty, till 1 miefit have the opportunity of
guarding myself trom the possibility of being misunderstood, by
personally explaining to your Majesty, that whatever observa
tions I had to make upon the paper so communicated to me, on
sthe 28th ultimo; and whatever camplaitits respecting the delay,
and the many cruel circumstances which had attended the whole
of the proceedings against me, and the unsatisfactory state in
which they were at length left by that last communication, they
were observations and complaints which affected those only, un-
der whose advice your Majesty had acted, and were not, in any
degree intended to intimate even the most distant insiuuatiou
against your Majesty's justice or kindness.
'l'hat paper established the opinion, which I certainly had ever
confidently entertained, but the justness of which I had not be-
fore any document to establish, that your Majesty had, frum the
,first, deemed this proceeding a high and important matter of
State, in the consideration of which, your Majesty had not felt
yourself at liberty to trust to your own generous feelings, and to
your own Royal and gracious judgment.
1 never did believe that the cruel state of anxiety, in which I
bad been kept ever since the delivery of my answer, for at least
sac - weeks, could be at all attributable to your Majesty :it
unlike eve thing which I had ever experienced from
joity's can recension, feeling, and justice ; and I found
paper, that it was to your confidential servants I was
the length of banishment from your presence, which
last, edvised your Majesty, it was no longer necessary
, continued, I perceive, therefore, what I always be-
, ;hat it was to the m and to them only, that I owed the
rattedcontinuance of my sufferings, "and of my-disgrace;
your Majesty, considering the whole of this proceeding
teen instituted and conducted under the grave responsi-
your Niajtis'y% servants, had not thought proper to rake
or express any opinion, upon any part of it, but such as
!commended ley their advice.
nced by these sentimetits, and anxious to have the op
of conveying them, with the overfiowings of a grateful
sour Majesty, what were my sensations of surprise,
teatime and disappointment, on the receipt of your Ma-
'etter of the 10th Instant, your Majesty may conceive,
, ant utterly' unable to express.
letter announces to me, that his Royal Highness the-
Wales, upon receiving the severaLdocuments which
lesty directed your Cabinet to transmit to him, made a
tommunicazion to your Majesty, of his intention to put
.he bends of his lawyers, accompanied by a request,
blajesty 'would suspend any further steps in the bud-
el the Prince of Wales should be enabled to submit to
eje,ty the statement which he proposed to make; and it
J announces to me, that your Majesty, therefore, considered
incumbent on you to deter naming a day to me, until :be fur-
--mit of the Prince of Wales's intenuo.s should Levee been
even to your Majesty.
ittermleation of your Majesty, on this request, made by
ral Highness, I humbly trust your Majesty will permit
'rest you, in your most gracioua justice, to reconsider.
ije,.ty, I an convinced, must have been surprised at the
id ptieveiled upon by the importunity of the Prince of
t.thin "thin dttermination necessary, or pour Majesty's
,y and justice wotild never have adopted it. Aud if 1
y your Majesty of the unparalleled injustice and cruelty
iterposi ton of the Tr.nce of Wales, at such a tittle,
er such eircumvat.cee, I feel the most perfect s.unfidence
,ur I'vlajt sty v.ill hasten to renal it.
mold basely be wanting to my owri interest and feelings, if
not plainly state my sense of that injustice and cruelty ;
I did mot shiest loudly complain if it. Your Majesty wet
paefalbrelhe just grounds of soy complaint, when I retrace
-dibe cif theft proceedings 1. em their commencement.
`our Noble Leeds, appointed by your Majesty to enquire
:bargee brought against me, in their Report of the 14th
after having stated that his Royal Highness the Prince
a had lalillstee.re film, the charge which was made agaia.4
Lady I,kietas, and the declarations is support of it, pro-
the'following 111:1111.cr : •
the painful situation in which his Royal Highness was
_ by these communications, we learnt that his Royal
%tunas had adopted the wily course which could, in our kids-
., Wile pro icsy he felivwid• WllgP il4feeli9l44 h

• • •
U these had been thus Itinfidently alleged, and particularly di, rags me, as I must always madder It, which, however fn-
" tailed, and had been in some degree supported by collateral te gave the utmost publicity and exposure to the existence
" evidence, applying to other facts of the same nature, (though of these charges—l mean the sending two Attornies, armed
" going to a far less extent) exam only could be pursued. with their Lordships' warrant, to my house, to bring before
" Every sentiment of duty to your Majesty, and of concern them, at once, about one half of my Household for examination.
" for the public welfare, required that these particulars should The idea of privacy, after an act so much calculated, from the
" not be withheld from your Majesty, to whom more partial.. extraordinarrnatere of it, to excite thesreatest attention and
" larly belonged the cognizance of a matter of State, eo nearly surprise, your Majesty must feel to have been impossible and
" touching tile heneureaf your Majesty's Royal Family, and by absurd; for an attempt at secrecy, mystery, and concealment on
" possibility; affecting the succession of your Majesty's Crown. my part could, under such circumstances, only hive been con-
" Your Majesty had been pleased, on your part,' to view the strued into the fearfulness of guilt.
" subject in the same light. Consideriog it as a matter, which, It will appear, also, that, from that time, I heard nothing au-
" on every account, demanded the moat immediate inveriga- thentically upon the subject till the 11th of August, when I was
" tion, your Majesty had thought fit to cosiimit into our hands furnished, by your Majesty's commands, with the Reporr. The
" the duty of ascertaioing, in the first instance, what degree of several papers necessary to my understanding the whole of these
" credit was due to the information, and thereby enabling your charges, in the authentic state In which your Majesty thought it
" Majesty to decide what further conduct to adopt respecting proper graciously to direct that I should have them, were um de-
" them.' livered so me till the beginning of September. •
His Royal Highness then, pursuing, as the four Lords say, My answer to these various charger, though the whole sub-
the only course, which could in their judgment, with propriety,. be ject of them was new to those whose advice I had recourse to,
pursued, submitted the matter to your Majesty. Your Majesty long u that answer was necessarily obliged to be, was delivered
directed the Inquiry by the four Noble j,ords. The four Lords, to the Lord Chancellor, to be forwarded to your Majesty, by
in their Ineport upon the case, justly acquitted me of all crime, the 6th of October : and from the 6th of October to the sloth of
and expressed (I will not nil now to say how unjustly) the cre- January, I was kept in total ignorance of the effect of that an-
dit which they gave, aottthe consequence they ascribed to other swer. Not only will all this delete be apparent, but it will be
matters, which they did not, however, characterize as amount- generally shewn to the world, how your Majesty's Servants had,
ing to any crime. To this Report I made my answer. That in this Important business, treated your daughter-in-law, the
answer, together with the whole proceedings, was referred by Princess of Wales ; and what measure of justice she, a female,
your Majesty, to the same four Noble Lords, and others of your and a stran;er in your land, has experienced at their bands.
Majesty's confidential servants. They advised your Majesty, j Undoubtedly against such a proceeding I have ever felt, and
amongst much other matter, (which must be the subject of far- still feel, an almost invincible repugnance. Every sentiment of
titer observations), that there was no longer any reason why you delicacy, with which a female mind must skrink.from the act of
should decline receiving me.. bringing before the public such charges, however conscious of
Your Majesty will necessarily conceive that 1 have always their scandal and falsity, and however clearly that scandal and
looked upon my banishment from your Royal presence, as, in falsity may be manifested by the answer to those charges ; the
fact, a punishment, and a severe one too. I thought it sufficiently respect still due from me to persons employed in ' authority
hard, that I should have been suffering that-punishment,nluting under your Majesty, however little respect I may have received
the time that this Inquiry has been pending, while I was yet only i from them,—my duty to his Royal Highness the Prince of
under accu-ation, and upon the principles of the just laws of your Wales,—my regard for all the members of your august Family,
Majesty's kingdom, e ntitled to be presumed to be innocent, till —my esteem, my duty, my gratitude so your Majesty,—my al-
-1 was proved to be guilty. But I find this does not appear to be fectionate gratitude for all the paternal kindness which I have
enouge, in the opinion of the Prince of Wales. For new, when ever experienced from you,—my anxiety not only to avoid the
after this long Inquiry, into matters which required immediate risk of giving any offence or displeasure to your Majesty,but also
investigation, I have been acquitted of every thing which to fly from every occasion of creating the slightest sentiment of
could call for my banishment from your Royal presence : uneasiness in the mind of your Majesty, whose happiness it
After yot.r Majesty's confidential servants have thus expressly would be the pride and pleasure of my life to consult, and to
advised your Majesty, that they see no reason why you should promote,—all these various sentiments have compelled me to
any longer decline to receive me into your presence—after your submit, as long as human forbearance could endure, to all the
' Majesty had graciously notified to me, your determination to re- unfavourable inferences which were through this dslay daily
ceive me at an early day, his Royal Highness interposes the de- Increasing in the public mind. What the strength and efficacy
mand of a new delay—desires your Majesty not to take any step of these motives have been, your Majesty will du me the justice
—desires you Let to act upon the advice which your own confi- to feel, when you are pleased graciously to consider how long I
&tidal servants have given yon, that you need no longer decline have been contented to suffer those suspicions to exist against
seeing ttie—not to execute your intention, and assurance, that my innocence, which the bringing before the public of my accu-
you will receive Inc at an early day—because he has laid the do- scion, and my defence to it, would so indisputably and iinmedi-
cuments before his Lawyers, and intends to prepare a further ately have dispelled.
statement. And the judgment of your Majesty's confidential ser- The measure, however, of making these proceedings public,
veins is, as it were, appealed from by the Prince of Wales, whatever mode Icm adopt (considering especially the absolute
(whom, for this time, at least, I must be permitted to consider impossibility of suffering any partial production of them, and the
as assuming tie character of my accuser); the justice dee to me necessity that, if for. any purpose any part of them should be
Is to be suspended, while the judgment ot your Majesty's sworn produced, the whole must be brought before the public), remains
eisrants is to be submitted to the revision of my accuser's Court- surrounded with all the objections which I have enumerated;
sd : and I, though acquitted in the opinion of your Majesty' con- and nothing could ever have prevailed upon me, or can now even
fidential servants of all that should induce your Majesty to decline prevail upon me, to have recourse to it, but en Imperious sense
receiving me, am to have that punishment which had been in- of indispensable duty io my future saity, to my present charac-
flieted upon me, during the enquiry, continued after that acquit- ter and honour, and to the feelings, the character, and the in-
tal; till a fresh statement is prepared, to be again submitted, for terests of my child. I had flattered myself, when once this long
aught I know, to another inquiry,. of as extended a continuance proceeding should have terminated•tn my reception into your
as that which has just terminated. Majesty's presence, that that circumstance alone would have so
Can it be said that the proceedings of the four Noble Lords, strongly implied my innocence of all that had been brought against
or of your Majesty's confidential servants, have been so lenient me, as to have been perfectly sufficient for my honour and my
and considerate towards me and my feelings, as to induce a sus- security; but accompanied .as it now must be with the know-
picion that I have been too favourably dealt with by them ? and ledge of the fact, that your Majesty has been brought to hesitate
that the advice which has been given tinyour Majesty, that your 'upon its propriety, and accompanied also with the very unjusti-
Majesty need no longer decline to receive me, was hastily and liable observations, as they appear to me, on which l shall pre-
partially delivered? lam confident your Majesty must see the sently proceed to remerk; and which were made by your Ma-
very reverse of this to be the case—that I have every reason to f jetty's servants, at the time when they gave you their Attlee to
complain of the inexplicable delay which so long withheld that receive me; I feel myself in a situation, in which I deeply regret
advice; and the whole character of the observations with which that I cannot rest, in silence, without an immediate reception
they accompanied it, marks the reluctance with which they into your Manety s presence; nor, indeed, with that reception,
yielded to the necessity of giving it. unless it be attended, by other circumstances, which may mark
For your Majesty's confidences: servants advise your Majesty, my satisfactory acquittal of the charges which have been brought
" that it is no honer neenssary for yeu to eecliiie receiving inc ' against me.
'' into your Royal presence." li this is their (million and their It'shall at no time be said, with tenth, that I shrank back from
advice now, why was .t not their opinion and their advice four these infamous charges; that I crouched before my enemies; and
months ago, front ;he date of my answer? Nay, why VMS it'llCt courted them, by my submission,' into moderation! No, 1 have
.heir opinion :.std advice front the date even of the original Re- ever boldly defied them. I hive ever felt, and still feel, that, If
port itself? For not only had they been in possession of my an- they should th nk, either of pursuing these accusations, or of
swer for above .rixteers weds, which at least furnished them with bringing forward any other which the wickedness of individuals
all the materials on which this advice was at length given; but may devise, to affect my honour, (since my conscience tells me,
further, your Majesty's confidential servants are forward to state that they must be, as base and groundless as those brought by
that after having read my observations, and the affidavits which Lady Douglas), while the witnesses to the innocence of my con-
were annexed to them, they agree in tine opinions (not in any single duct are all living, I should be able to disprove them all, and,
opinion upon any particular branch of the case, but in the opinions whoever may be my accusers, to triumph over their wickedness
g:.vrally) which were submitted to your Majesty, in the or:gloat and malice. But should these accusations be renewed; or any
iteport of the four Lords. If, therefore, (notwithstanding their other be brought forward, at any future time,drath may, 1 know
concurrence in a!I :he opiniuns contained in the Report) they not how soot), remove trout my innocence its best security, and
have never.heless given to your Majesty their advice," that it is • deprive me ot the means of my justification, and my defence.
"no longer necessary for you to decline receiving me," what I There are !herefare other measurete which I trust your Ma-
coied have prevented their ohfeting that advice, even front the ' jesty will think indispensable to be 'Alen, for my honour, and
14th of July, the date of the original Report itself ? ()r what ; for my security. Amongst these, I most humbly submit to your
could have warranted the withholding of it, even for a single Majesty my most earnest entreaties that the proceedings, Liclud-
moment ? Instead, therefore, of any trace being observable, of ' ing not only my first answer, and my letter of the sth ot Decent-
hasty, precipitate, and partial determination iu my favour, it is ber, but this letter also, may be &rectos by your Majesty to be?
impossible to interpret their conduct and their reasons together so preserved and deposit:d, as that they may, all of them, securely
in uny.other sense, than as amounting to an admission onyour remain eernianent. authentic documents and memorials of tLis
Majesty's confidetrial servants themselves, that I have, in cone- accusation, awl the manner it, winch 1 me: it; of my defence, as
quence of their withholding that adyice, been unnecesaarey and well as of the charge. That they may remain capable at any time
cruelly banished, front your Royal presence, front that 14th of of Reiss; resorted to, it the malice whicu produced the charge
July, to the 28th of January. including a space of above six orig hall ever venture to renew it.
mouths; and the effect of the interposition of the Prince, is to ± Bey ind this, I an. sure your Majesty will think it but proper
prolong my sufferings, and my disgrace, under the same banish- • and jun that I should be restored, In every respect, to the same
ment, to a period perfectly indefinite. trail elenc- t'.e proceedings, wrier these false charges,
The principle which will admit the effect of such interposition have nelovei! m i hat, besides being graciously received again
now, may be acted upon again; and the Prince may require a tit o the oosion ef yaw Itlaj sty's Royal Family, restored to my
further prolongation upon fresh statements, and fresh charges, . former respect and station amongst them, your Majesty will be,
kept back potsibly for the purpose of being, from time to time, graciously pleneel, tido rto exert your influence with his Royal
conveniently interposed, to prevent fur ever the arrival of that Highness the Prince of Wales, that I may be restored to the use
hour, which, displaying to the world the acknowledetept o: my of my apartment in Centon-house, which was reserved for me,
unmerited suss: rings and disgrace, may, at the same time, expose . except whets the apartments were undergoing repair, till the date
the true malicious and unjust quality of the proceedings which of these proceedings ;or to atom' to me some apartment in one
have been so lung carried on against me. of your Royal Palates. econte apartment In or near to London is
Tint unreasonable, unjust, and cruel interposition of .his Royal indis-p, nsably necessary for my convenient attendance at the
Highness, as- I must ever deem it, has prevailed upon your Ma- Drawing-room. And if lam nut restored to that atCarlton-house,
jesry to rezell, re my prejudice, your gracious purpose of recetv- !trust your Majasty will graciously perceive, how reasonable it is
ing me, in pursuance of the advice of your servants. Do I then that I should request, that some apartment should be assigned to
flatter myself too much, when I feel assured that my just en- me, suited to my dignity and situation, which may mark my re-
treaty, founded upon the reasons which I urge, and directed to ception and acknowledgment, as one of your Majesty's family,
counteract only the effect of that unjust interposition, will induce and from which my attendance at the drawing-room may be easy
your Majesty to return to your original determination ? ' and convenient.
Restored, however, as I should feel myself, to a state of come If these measures are taken, I should hope that they would
parative security, as well as credit, by being at length permitted, prove satisfactory to the public mind, and that I may feel myself
upon your Majesty's gracious reconsideration of your last deter- fully restored in public estimation to my former character. And
mination, to have access to your Majesty; yet, under ail the should they prove so satisfactory, I shall indeed be delighted to
citcumatances under which I should now receive that mark and think, .that no farther step may, even now, appear to be neces-
confirmation of your Majesty's opinion of my innocence, my oar/ to my peace of mind, my security, and my honour.
character would not, I fear, stand cleared in the public opinion,) But your Majesty will permit me to say,tbat if the next week,
by the mere fact of your ajesty's reception of me. This revo- which will make more than a month from the time of your Ma-
cedon of you r Majesty's gracious purpose has flung an additional jesty's informing toe that you should receive me, should pass
cloud about the whole proceeding; and the inferences drawn in without my being received into your presence and without hay-
the pablic mind, front this circumstance, so mysterious and so Inc the assurance that these other requests of mine shall be corn-
perfectly inexplicable, upon any grounds which are open to their plied with, I shall be under the painful necessity of considering
knowledge, Las made, and will leave so deep an impression to teem as refused. In which case, I shall feel myself compelled,
my prejudice, as scarce any thing, short of a public exposure of however reluctantly, to give the whole of these
.promesdings to
all that has passed, can possibly efface. ; the world; unless your Majesty can suggest other whet:ate
The publication of ail these proceedings to the w odd, then, means of securing my honour and my lice, front the rift et t t the
seems to me, under the present circumstances, (whatever reluc- continuance or renewal of these proceedings, for the Metre, as
tance I feel against such a measure, and however I regret the well as the present. Fur I entreat your Majesty to bel eve, that
hard necessity which drives me to it), to be almost the only re- it Is only in the absence of all other adequate means, that I can
miming resource, for the vindication of my honour and charace have resort to that measure ; that I consider it with deep regret
ter. The falsehood of the accusation is, by no means, all that that I regard it with serious apprehension, by no Weans so much
Will, by such publication, appear to the credit and clearance of on account of the effect it may have upon myself, as on aceoune
my character; but the course in which the whole proceedings of the pain which it may give to your Majesty, your august Fa-
have been carried en, or rather delayed, by those to whom your mily, and your loyal subjects.
Mejesty referred the consideration of them, will chew, that, As far as myself am concerned; lam aware of the observations
whatever meesure of justice I may have ultimately received at to which this publication will expose nit ; but lam placed in a
their hands, it is not to be s trisected as wising front any merci- situation in which I have the choice only of two mast unpleasant
ful and indulgent cousideration 'of me, of n:y feelings, or of alternatives ; and lam perfectly confident that the imputations
my case. j and the loss ot character which must, under these circumstances,
It will be seen how my feelings had been h tressed, and my fulloW from my silence, are most injurious and unavoidable—that
character and honour the nelays nitwit lave taken my silence, under such circumstances, Wig lead inevitably to n:y
place in these paoceetliegs : it *ill be seen, that the existence of ; utter infamy and ruin. Ihe publication, on the other baud, will
the charge against me had avowedly bent known to the public, i expose to the world nothing, which is spoken to by any wallas
front the 7th of June in the last year. I say known to the pub. (whose infamy and discredit is not unanswerably exposed and
lic, because it was on that day that the Commissioners. acting,: established) which can, In the slightest degree, affect my chanc-
es I ant to suppose, (for so they state in their Report) tinder the ter, for honour, virtue, and delicacy. '
anxious wish, that their trust slimed he eine:tot:4 eet as little There may be circumstances discloeed,menifestlng a degree of
publicity as poss:ble, autavrised that yaw sexy inTullaad Coadettelason and familiarity in my beivinur tad auP4uCtt

which In the Opinions or many, may be considered as not an
ciently guarded, dignified, and reserved ; circumstances.
ever, which my foreign education, and foreign habits, mi.
to think, in the humble and retired situation in which it v
fate to live, and where I had no relation, no equal, no 'elec.!
adviseme, were wholly free from offence. But when they
been dragged forward, front the scenes of private life, in a
proceeding on a charge of high treason and adultery, tin
to derive a colour !and character, from the nature of the .
which they are brought forward to support ; and I cannot
believe, that they have been used for no other purpose, tb•
afford a cover, to screen from view the injustice of that
that they have been taken advantage of, to let down my i
mote gently ; audio deprive me of that full acquittal on ,
port of the lone Lords, which intioetece of all offence
justly entitled me to receive.
Whatever opinion, however, may ha formed upon any
my cutuluct, it must in justicelbe formed, with reference ,
situation in which was placed. If lam judged of as Prince!
Wales' with reference to the high rank of that station, I
judged as Princess of Wales banished from the Prince,
tested by the support and the countenance which belong
station ; and if I ant judged of in my private character, as
vied woman, I must be judged of Sc a wife banished tri
husband, and living in a widowed seclusion from hint, and
ment from the world. 1 his last consideration leads me to
to an txprtssion iu Mrs. Lisle's examination, which describes
conduct, ha the frequency and the simmer of my receiving P"
sits of Captain Manby, though always in the presence of my .
as unbecoming a married woman. Upon the t %mane OIL
of setting up the etioisn of one woman, as It were, its judgment
upon the conduct of another; as well as of estimating the con-
duct of a person in my unfortunate aituation, by reference to•
that, which might in general be expected from a married woman.
living happily with her .busband; 1 have before generally re-..
marked. But beyond these general remarks, in forming any cot-
mate of my conduct, your Majesty will u forget the very
peculiar circumstances and misfortunes of my situation. Your
Majesty will remember, that I had POI been much shove a year
la this country, when I aweivut the following letter from his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales*.
The date of his Royal Highness's letter is the 30th of Arr.!,
1796. The date of our marriage, your Majesty will recollect, i.
the eth thy of April, in the year 1705, and that of the bum at
our only child the 7th of January, 1796.
On the letter of his Royal Highness I offer no comment. I
only entreat your Majesty not to understand me to tutruduce it,
as attording any supposed justification or excuse, fur the least
departure from the strictest line of virtue, or Use slightest device
tlun front the most refined dettcacy. The crime, winch has been
insinuates against me, would be equally criminal and sleteetablsa
use indelicacy imputed to me would be equally odious and abo-
minable' whatever reimuciation of cociugal authority and Ore.
tion the above letterof his Royal Highnes• might in any construc-
tion of it be supposed to have co.aveyed. such climes, and faults,
derive not their guilt from the cousuleration of the cusijugal vir-
tues of the individual, who may be the most injured by
however much such virtues may aggravate their enormity. No
such letter, therefore,in any construction of it, no renueciatfolt of
conjugal affection or duties, could ever palliate them. But who.
thee conduct free from all crime, free from all indelicacy, (whica
I maintain to be the character of the conduct to which Mrs.
Lisle's observations apply) yet possibly not so measured, as a
meadow wife, careful to avoid the sligliest appearance of not pro.
faring her husband to 41 the world, might be studious to *be
serve. Whether conduct of such description, and possibly, in •
such sense, not becoming a married woman, could be justly
deemed, in my situation, an offence in use, I must leave to your
Majesty to determine.
In making that determination, however, it will not escapes
your Majesty to consider, that the conduct which dues or does nit(
become a married woman, materially depends upon what is or is
not known by her to be agreeable to her husband. His pleasure
and happiness ought, unquestionatAy, to be her law; and his ape
probation the most favourite object of her pursuit. Different
characters of men requtrs different modes of conduct in their
wive.; but when a wife can no longer be capable 4*mi:retie/Jig
irons thew to time what is agreeable or offensive to her husband,
when her conduct can no longer contribute to his happiness-00
longer hope tube rewarded by his approbation—surely, to exao
mine that conduct by.the standard of what ought in general to
he the conduct of a married woman, is altogether unreasonable
and unjust. What, then, Is my mac ? •
Your Majesty will do me the justice to remark, that in this
above letter of the Prince of Wales, there is out the must dim
tant suendse, that crime, that vice, that indelicacy of any descrip. '
tion, gave occasion to his determination ; and all the tales of in-
famy and discredit, which the inventive malice of my enemies
has brought forward op them charges, have their date years and
years after the period to which lam now alluding. Wuat then
let me repeat the question, is my case? After the receipt of the
above letter, and in about two years from my arrival in skis
country, 1 had the misfortune entirely to lose the support, the
coyote:ranee, the protection of my husband—l was banished, as
it were, into a eon to humble retirement, at a distance front
him, and almost estranged irons the whole of the Royal Family.
—I had nu means of having recourse. either for Society or advice,
to those, fiont whom my inexperience could have best received
the advantages of the one, and with whom I could, most becom-
ingly, bare enjoyed the comforts of the other; ant it in this re-
tired, unass seed, unprotected state, without the ch. ck of a hus-
band's authority, without the benefit of his advice, without the
comfort and support of the society of his family, a stranger to
the Lobito and millions of this cannery, 1 should in any instance,
under the influence of foreign habits, and foreign education, have
observed a conduct, in any degree deviating from the reserve and
seventy of British manners, and parcakiug of a condescension
and familiarity which that reserve and severity would perhaps
deem beneath the dignity of my exalted rook,l feel confident,
(since such deviation will be seen to have been ever consistent
with perfect innocence), that not only your Majesty 'e candour
and indulgence, but the candour and indulgence which, netwitho
standing the reserve and severity of British manners, always be-
long to the Briti.h public, will ~ever visit ft wick severity or
censure.
It remains for me now to make some remarks upon the fur-
ther contents of the paper, which was transmitted to one by the
Lord Chancellor on• the oath ult.; and I cannot an passing, phutto remark, that that paper has neither title, date, signature, nor
attestation and unless the Lord Chancellor had accompanied It
with a note, stating that it was coped hi billow° hand front chp
original, which hie Lordship bad received from your Majesty, I
should have been at a loss to have perceived any single mark of
authenticity belonging to it; and as it is, I am wholly unable to
discover what is toe true character which does belong to it.• It
contains, indeed, the advice which your Majesty's servants have
offered to your Majesty, and the message which, according that
advice your to Majesty directed to be delivered to me.
_

Considering it, therefore, wholly as their act, your Majesty
will excuse and pardon me, if, deeply injured as l ter.l myself to
have been by them, 1 express myself with freedom upon their
conduct. 1 may speak perhaps with warmth, because lam pro.
coked by a WOW of gross injustice —I shall speak cenainly with
firmness and with courage, because lam emboldened by a sense
of conscious innocence.

Your Majesty's confidential servants say, " they agree in the
" opinions ui the four Lords ;" anal they say this, " after the fel;
" lest consideration of my obeervations,*and of the affidavit*
" which were annexed to them." Sume of these opinions, your
Majesty will recollect, are, that Wiltian► Cole, nanny Lloyd,
Robert ISidgoud, acid Mts. Lisle, arc witnesses who cannot,"
in the judgment of tie four Lords, " be suspected of any un-
" favourable bias;" and " whose veracity in this respect they
" had seen no ground to question ;" and that the circumatafice to
" which they speas, particularly as relating to Captain Manby,
•t must be credited emit they sic decisively contradicted." Ate
I, then, to understand your Majeaty's confidential servants to
mean, that they agree wish the tour Noble Lords in these opl-
❑ions Am Ito understand, that, alter having read with the
fullest considera inn, the übservations whic2 I have offered te
your Majesty; after having seen Wiliam Cole there preyed to
have subnutted himsel; five times, at least, to pr►vate, unau-
thorised, voluntary examination, by. sir John Douglas's Solicitor,
for the express purpose of confirming the statement of Lady
Douglas, (01 that Lady Douglaa, who•r statement and deposition
they are convinced to be so ni..ticious and false, that they pro-
pose to institute sach prosecu ion against her, as your Majesty's
Law Officers may advise, upon a retrrer.ce, now at length, ante
six months from the detection tit that make and falsehood, ie.
tended to be iitadc) —Alva. having seen this William Cole sub-
muting to such red-catud voluntat y exammations for such a pur.
pose, and altbtiugt► he seas all that time a servant on my esta.
bosh:neat, and eating my bread, yet never once communicating
to me that such examinations were going on—am l to understand,
gnat your Majesty's confidential Servants agree with the tour
Lords in thiuking, that he cannot, trader such circumstances, 4:
reqsixied cf anfavearalk bias? that after having had pointed eat

• Sri Tip Sri Qf 11144 Y.

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was most
your Majt
from that
to ascribe
they, w
should be
fllle 91d, 'h,
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lad that y,
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say step oi
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riortificat
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nest, until
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it incunab
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me to entr
Your Maj
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can satisl y
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1 should
I did n,,t
and if I dit
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Into the cl
duly last, a
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We, by La
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Hughnet
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bey have
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ley SVCIIII
le charge
rinot but
than tca
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accusers
the Re-
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y part cf
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ag the Ti-
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injustice

- 4.

,-

•
to dieth tisane, tit era ankh As deli. *ism
Cole and Fanny Lloyds their neveetheirei agave b tank them
both (though in direct cbiitradlation to each other, pi log) wit-
nesses saws viral, Mg Isle as zrawairie iiiiitalwe • fikfter having
at en Fanny Loyd directly and Pkittvai ambondietbd in an as-
sertion most 'injurious to my honour, by Mr. Miffs end Mr. td-
measles, do they agree in opinion with the four Noble Lonis,„
tint they see es stool to reales their orreries t After hiving,
Brad the observations on Mr. Bidgond's evidence,—after hiving I
seen, that he bad the hardihood to swear, that be believed Capt.
Maniby slept in my house as Southend; and to In.dnuate that be
slept in nay bed-roons,--after having seen that he founded him-
self en this most false ,fact, and most foul and wicked inslnua-
titln.6pon the circumstance of observing a baton end some towels
where he thought they ought not to be phced,--after having seen
that this fact, and this insinuation, were disproved before the
foal- Noble Lords themselves, by two maid-sbrvants, who, at that
time, lived with me at Southend, and whose duties about my per:
son and my apartment!, must have made them acquainted with
this fact, as asserted, or is insinuated, if it had happened,—after
having observed, too, in confirmation of their testimony, that
one of them mentioned the name of another female servant (who
was not examined), who lied, front h!r situation, equal means
61 knowledge with them wivess—l ask whether, alter all this ded-
.l.,t). weight of contradiction to Robert Bidgood'e testimony,
tin to understand your Majesty's confidential Servants to agree
with the four Noble Lords in thinking, that Mr. 131dgood is a
witness, who um* he 4144 acted of uniavourable bias, and that there
is no ground to falsities his ism*" 1 lf, Sire, I were to go through
all the remarks of this description which °emir to me to make, I
should be obliged tit repeat nearly all my former observations, and
to make this letter as long as my original answer; but to that an-
owes.' 1 'confidently appeal, and I will venture to challenge your
Majesty's confidential servants to find a single impartial and ho.
&aerobic min, unconneded in feeling and interest with the par-
ties, and unconnected in Council with those who have already
pledged themsallee to an opinion on this subject, who will lay his
nand upon his hart. aid say, that these three witnesses, on whom
that Report so mainly relies, are not to be suspected of the
grossest partiality, and that. their verlicity is not most funda-
ineotaily impeached.
Was it, then; noble, seas it generous, was it manly, was it just,
in your Majesty's confidential servants, instead of fairly admitting
the injustice which had been, inadvertently, and unintentionally,
tto doubt, done to me, by the four Noble Lords in their Report,
upon the evidence of these witnesses, to state to your Majesty,
that they agree with these Noble Lords In their opinion, though,
Obey cannot, it seems, go the length of agreeing any longer to
withhold the advice which restores me to your Majesty's pre-
*nee ? And with respect to the particulars to my prejudice, re-
marked upon in the Report as those " which justly deserve the
most serious consideration, and which must be credited till deci-
lively contradicted," instead of fairly avowing, either that there
Was originally no pretence for such a remark, or that, if there
tae been originally, yet that my answer had given that debisive
contradiction winch was sufficient to discredit them—instead, I
hay, of acting this just, honest, and open part, to take no notice
Whatever of those cnntradictions, and Content themselves with
baying, that "none of the facts or allegations stet& in prelimi-
P► nary examinations, carried on in the absence of the parties
1 interested, could be considered as legally or lresdiaiVity este-
Wished r
They agree in the opinion that the facts or allegations, though
Rated in preliminary examination, carried on in the absence of the
parties interested, mat endited tad derisively contretelicte4 Jab.
tome the most serious cmideratien. They read, with the fullest con-
sidetation, the contradiction which I have tendered to them ,
they Must have known; that no ether sort of contradiction could,
by possibility, from the nature pf things, have been offered- upon '
such subjects—they do not question the truth, they do not point
Our the iasuliciency of the contradiction, buts in loose, general,
-lin'efinitle terms, referring to my answer, consisting, as it does,
of above 209 wtstten pages, asd coupling it with those examina-
tions (Which they admit establish nothing against an absent party)
tthee advise sour Majesty, that " there appear many eircum-
k stances Of Conduct which cotuld not be regarded by your Ma-
" jesty Without "serious concern," and that, as ter all the other
[acts and illagations, except those relative to my pregnancy and
delieirY, they are not to be considered at "legally asbd coashuiriely
kitailishel," because spoken to in preliminary examinations, not
carried on in the presence of the parties concerned. They do not
indeed, expressly assert, that my contradiction was not decisive
or satisfaCtory—theY d'o not expressly state, that they think the
facts and allegations want nothing towards their legal and conclu-
sive establisbnient, but a re-examination ih the presence of the
parties interested; but they go far to imply such opinions. That
those opinions are, utterly untenable, against the observations I
have made, Upon the credit art character of those witnesses, I
shall ever most confidently maintain, but that those observations
!save Orr credit wholly unaffected, and did not deserve the least
*mike from your Majesty's servants It is impossible that any
honourable man can assert, or any fair and unprejudiced mind

beikve.
now proceed, Sire, to obseite, very shortly, upon the advice
farther givea to your Majesty as contained in the remaining part
of the papers which has represented that, bath in the examina-
tions and even in my answer, there have appeared man circuits-
btaneet of conduct which could not be regarded bet with serious
concern, and whichlaire suggested the expression of a desire and
expectation, that such a conduct may in-future be observed by
toe, as may fully justify those marks of paternal regard and
affectibm which your Majesty wishes to shew to all your Royal
"avidly.
And bete, Slre, your Majesty will graciously permit me to'
notice the hardship of the advice; whith has suggetted to your
Majesty to Convey to me this repttof. I complain not so much
fof what it does, as for what it does not contain ; I mean the ab-
Fence of all particular mention of what it it that is the object of
then. blame. The circumstances bf conduct Which appear in these
examinations, and its my answer to which they allude as those
which may be supposed to justify the advice which has led to
this reproof, since your Majesty's servants have not paiticularly'
mentioned them, I cannot be certain that I know. Bnt I will
vectuiii confidently to repeat the assertion, Which I have al.
teedy made, that there are uo circumstances of conduct spoken
to by any witness (whose infamy and discredit are not unan-
swerably exposed and established), nor any where apparent In
my answer, which have the remotest approach either to crime
as to indelicacy:
For my future conduct, Sires impressed With every sense of
gratitude for all former kindness, I shill be bound unquestionably,
by sentiment as well as duty, to !Wily your Majesty's pleasure.
Any advice which your Majt sty May wish to give to me in re•
spect of any particular:4 in my conduct, I shall he bound, and he
niiious to obey as tny law. But I must trust that your Majesty
twill point out to me the partiettlars which may happen to dis-
please you, and which you may wish to have altered. I Shall be
as happy,in thus feeling myself sate from blame under the benefit
Of your Majesty's advice, is I am now, in finding myself secured
from danger, under the protection of your justices.
Your Majesty 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 by the depositions of the Witnesses who were exa-
mined in support of her statement. Your Majesty has seen how
many enemies I have, and how little their malice has been re.
strained by any regard to truth in the pursuit of my ruin. Few,
as it may be hoped, may be the instances of such determined
and unprovoked malignity yet, I cannot flatter myself, that the
world does not produce other persons, who may be swayed by
Similar motives to similar wickedness. Whether the statement
to be prepared by the Prince of Wales, is to be confined to the
old charges, or is intended to bring forward'new circumstances,
I cannot tell ; but if any fresh attempts of the same nature shall
be made by my accusers; instructed, as they will have been, by
their miscarriage in this instance, I can hardly hope that they
Veit' net rent* their charge, with an improved artifice, more
skilfully directed, and with a malice, inflamed rather than aba-
ted, by their previous disappointment.
I therefore can only appeal to your Majesty's.justice, in which
I confidently trust, that whether these charges are to be renewed
against me either on the old or on fresh evidence; or whether
new accusations, as well as new witnesses, are to be brought
leeward, your Majesty, after the experience of these proceedings,
will not suffer your Royal mind to be prejudiced by ex park so-
fret examinations, nor my character to be whispered away by
iniinuations, or suggestions which I have no opportunity of meet-
ing.
If any charge which the law will recognize, should be
brought against me in an open and legal manner, I should have
no tight to complain, nor Any apprehension to meet it. But,
till I may have a full opportanity of so meeting it, I trust your
Majesty will not suffer it to excite even a suspicion to my pre-
Indic& ji must claim the benefit of the presumption of Joao-
gelato, tiff I am proved to be guilty ; for, without that presump-
tion, against the effects of secret insinuation, mid ex parse exa-
minations, the purest innocence can snake no defence, and can
have no security.
Surrounded, a. k Lam Frond, tbat I base beep, far pus

,t,, aotisisile 11)61,4 Me*
_mut t ttiati to tlif4tlloB4t
that if I had been g , therealSeld net have bead wanting eVi•
&nee to hake prey y 0114 and thit this**. have befn
obliged I:0 have resort theiliCtern Invention, for support of
the chest., is the stythsgest deitionsoratitht, that the truth, undia-
golfed, aid eorrealj represehted, mold furnisti &Gni with. his
handle nigibbt me. A whent bonsider the nature Ind malignity
bf that conspiracy„ I feel confident, I have ciimpletelit wichde-
tected and exposed, r cannot but think of that detection, with
the liveliest gratitude, as the special blessing of peovinaiscs,
who, by confeunding the machinations of my etiolate, has ena-
blid me to find, in the very excess and ektravagance of their ma-'
lice, In the very weapons which they fabricated and shlypened
for my destruction, the sufficient guard to my innouffite; and the
effectual means of my justification and defence.
I trust, therefore, Site. that I may now close this tang Setter,
in confidence that many days will not elapse before I shall re-
ceive from your Majesty, that assurance that my juit vequests
snit be so completely granted, as may render it possible for me
twhith nothing else can) to avoid the painfal disclosure to
.the
world of all the circumstances of that injustice, and of those un-
merited sufferings; which these proedinp. in the main& in
which they have been conducted, bete brought upon me.
I remain, Site, with every Sentiment of gratitude„
Fehr Majestri htost dutiful, most submissive dauglher.in-lalP,
Subject and Servant,
Montague Rouse, Feb. 16,1807. (Signed) t. P.
As these observations apply not only to the official 'etihatnuni-
cation through the Lord Chancellor, of the 28th ult. bet also to
the private letter of your Majesty, of the 12th instant', I have
thought It most respectful to your Majesty, and youi Majesty's
servants, to send this letter in duplicate, one part thrOugh CaO-
nel Taylor, and the other, through the Lord Chanc'eller, to your
Majesty. (Signed) C. P.

The following is a correct Copy of the Draft of a Letter, submit-
ted by Mr.WlllTalltAla to her Royal Highness the PRINCass
of WALLS, to be sent by her to his Royal Highness the PRZNcx
StICIENT; but prevented from being forwarded, by the new
examinations of Sir loge and Lady DOUGLAS, &c.s
" SIR Otta more approach your Royal Highness, and can
"venture to assure yeti, Sir, that if you will deign vd read my letter,
you will not be dissatisfied with its contents.
" The Report made by certain Members of his Majesty's Privy
Council, was communicated to me by Lord Sldmouth ; and its
coutents appeared to those, upon whose advice I rely, to be such as
to require on my part a public assertion of my innocence, and a
demand of investigation. It cannot be unknown to your Royal
Highness, that I addressed a letter to the Lord Chancellor, and a
duplicate of that letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons,
for the purpose of its being communicated to the twe Houies of
Parliament.
" The Lord Chancellor twice returned my letter, and did not

communicate its contehis to the House of Lords. -
" The Speaker or the House of Commons thotight it his duty
t 6 announce the receipt of my letter, and it was read from the
chair. To my inexpressible gratification, I have been infornied,
that although n? proceeding *as instituted according to my re-
quest, certain discussions, which took place in that Honourable
House, have resulted In the complete and unequivocal, and uni-
versal acknowledgment of my entire inuocente to the satisfaction
of the world.
" Allow me, Sir, to say to your Royal Highness, that I address
you novr relieved from a load of distress which has prated upon
me for many years.
" I Was always conscious that I was free from reproach. I am
now known to tie so, and *orthy to beat the exalted title of
?mites& of Wales.
4' On the subject of the confirmation of the Princess Char.
lone, I bow, as becomei me, and with implicit deferente CO the
opinion expressed by his Majesty, now that I have been made
acquainted with it. Hilt Majesty's decision I must always regard
as sacreil.
a TO such restrictions II your Royal Highness shall think pro-
per to impose Upon the intercourse.between the Princess Char
lone and myself, as arising out of the acknowledged exercise of
your Parental and Royal Authority, I submit without observa-
tion ; but I throw myself upon the compassion of your Royal
Highnest, not to abridge more than may be necessary MY greatest,
indeed, my only pleasure.
" Your Royal Highneis may be assured; that, if the selection
of society for the Printeis Charlotte, while on her viets to me,
were left to my discretion, it would be, al it alwayl has bees,
unexceptionable for rank and character. It your Royal Highnelis
would condescend. sir, tb twam• fibs soeivey yourself, your In-
junctions should be strictly adhered to.
" I will not detain your Royal Highness-4 throw myself again
on your Royal justice and sompassion ; and I subscribe myself,
with perfect sincerisy, and in the happy feelings of justified inno-
cence, your Royal Highness's, &c. &c. &c."