Maryland free press., 1866-07-19
A Royal Bigamist-Some Sketches of
.sa "a George Nv.

, George Prince of Wales, afterward King Geo
Nv, in 1885, at twenty-three, saw, and. seein,
loved, Mrs. Maria FitZherbert, a charming widow
: SIX years his senior In December of the sam,
year he secretly married her. The union was in
valid, in consequence Ofthe marriage act of 7S2
which prohibited the formation of any matrimo
mai alliance by member of the royal family
without the reigning monarch consent. Yet nc
human statute could morally nullify marriage
J 70 which there were no other obstacles. Mrs
Fitzherbert was a lady of excellent family high
moral principle and great refinement. She repell-
ed the Princes attentions until the proposed sem
timents OF his heart were accompanied by an offer
! OF his hand. In entering upon this connection
George ran risk tar greater than the danger OF
! angering his father. He had-as all the elder
sons of the House of Brunswick had done before
him--quarrelled with the Sovereigl, and was
Keeping up separate establishment. He could
hardly do anything to widen the breach in this
quarter. But there was an ugly statute which
declared that the marriage of the heir to the
throne with a Roman Catholic would operate as
a forfeiture Of his right TO the succession. Mrs.
FltZherbert was Catholic; hence the necessity
OF keeping the real condition of affairs from the
public. 1t is true that the lawyers might declare
that the wedding knot was improperly tied, but
popular opinion might differ from that of the gen
tlemen OF the long robe, ON this as on many 9TH
er matters. "
l. Time passed on, the Prince of Wales was pur-
suing career OF boundlcss extravaganza and
debts began to raise mountain high around him.
There is limit even to princcly credit and bills
were pouring in with far more rapidity than was
agreeable. The King was peaed to grief. This
he could afford only by asking Parliament for
an appropriation, and he refused to do so unless
the Prince would promise to marry and lead
reputable domestic life. The alternative was
bard one, but selfshnoss conquered principle, and
| the condition was complied with.
| had
ject of the Princes relations as well as his father
Ills debts We're enormous, and prudent legislators
| grumbled. 1t was good thing for the heir ap-
parent to marry if he had not already one wife,
and there was ugly rumors that such was his
situation. 1t was not wholly certain, however,
that such was the case, and so some bold repre-
sentative of the people raised the direct question
IN the House of Commons. The scene was an
exciting one, and all awaited lis answer with in
tense interest. We have said that the truth was
not entirely certain, but it was pretty generally
suspected. The Hon. Charles James Fox, the
Frnce schosen friend, was nevertheless ready
for the emergency. He arose in his seat and fat.
ly contradcted the rumor that his Royal IIighness
had wife. This was sufficient for the loyal
Commons; the appropriation was made and the
debts paid.
The Prince was again solvent, but his troubles
were just beginning. The bride selected for him
| was his cousin, Caroline of Brunswick, giddy,
awkward and indiscreet though wel-intenlioned
German girl. Her carelessness in dress, free and
boisterous manners and in short her whole char
acter totally untitled her for harmonizing with
the jaded and fastidious libertine who was to be-
come her husband.
Baron, afterward Earl Malmesbury, a paragon
OF stiffness and etiquette, was sent over to Bruins
| wick to escort the betrothed Princess to England
| the marriage ceremony not taking place until af-
ter her arrival. The envoy judging from the ac-
counts in his journals, appears to have done his
best to give Caroline good counsel, but his advice
/ was as prlmly offered as ii could have been by
any maiden lady of fifty. lie even suggested to
her that she should wear cleaner skirts His lee
lures were of very little benefit to their mercnria
subject. On reaching Windsor the ''happy bride
groom was found hboring under the effects of
too copious lbatons, and, after kissing his in
| tended, according to court fashion, with an ex-
preston of disgust, at called for glass of
brandy. There are not wanting stories that later
in the evening, when the nuptial ceremonies had
taken place, he was brutaliy intoxicated. How
ever this may have been, the i'll omen that accom-
panied the first meeting of the parties speedily de-
veloped into misery. IL is said that one of the
title demireps, by whom the Prince was surround
ed successfully plotted to increase dislike for his
wife, 1t is certain that the birth of Princess Char
lotto, their only child, i'll little less than year
after the wedding was soon followed by separa-
ton. George now returned to Mrs. FitZherbert,
who was advised by the Pope to live with him
!
union legitimate, and there was nothing but a
tyranical edict TO declare it otherwise. The in
crcasing eycesses of the Prince, however brought
their intercourse to an end before long. a num-
Der of ayortes divided the attention of the royal
voluntary.
Of his later years VIC need not say much.-
! They were far from happy. Plunging into all
kinds of irregularities, his health became impair
ed, and his temper soured. On assuming the du-
ties of Regent which devolved on him in conse-
quence of his fathers insanity, he deserted his
Wing friends and joined the Tories, losing the
regard OF the former, and failing to gain the res
! pect OF the latter Queen Caroline travelled on
the continent and injured her reputation by inn
prudence-we hope by nothing worse. His daugh-
ter, and only heir, married, but in few short
months was hurried to the tomb His father at
last died, but ere the cornation robes were ready
for the new monarch, the hated Caroline returned
to England, and demanded share in the honorf
of the throne.
In vain was she offered splendid annuity i
she would keep out of the country. The indig-
nant King, all leprous with iniquity as he was
procured her trial before the House of Lords as
an adulteress. Whatever her faults may hav'
been, the vieness of her prosecutor was too noto
rious. Indignant public sentiment brought n
bout an abandonment of the proceedings Short
ly alter, the coronation of George took place "a
Westminster Abbey. Caroline sought admittanc
. !. but was spurned from the doors. She returned
home brokeu-hearted and soon after died. Min
years latter in $780, the cause of her misery ais
iCeathed his last. Called by his flatterers th
, 'First Gentleman in Europe" he probably die
Il without leaving a friend behind.
His true wife, Mrs. Fitzherbert who had spen
!, her closing decade at her quiet residence i
Brighton, survived him seven years. She wi
always be regarded as the true wife of Georg
w., despotc regulation To the contrary no
=, withstanding. Had the Wild but not thorough
~ ly demoralized Prince of Wales possessed th
~ manlness to tell Parliament the truth, instead
I'll meanly concealing an honorable connection, h
future course might have been widely dfereI
a y from what it proved.
A SIBERIAN WoMAS.-A gentleman who is er
be gagged in the telegraphic expedition in Siberi
relates the following incident in letter to
= friend in Cincinnati:
1 LI mot with a KoraL Woman of fnhonf twent