The New York herald., 1874-10-06
PRINCELY EXpRAV iGANCE.
The Liabilities Of George Nv.
While Prince of Wales.
to Parliament to Pay
Debts Granted.
The Quarrel Between George III.
and Prince Frederick.

The story OF the immense debts contracted by
George Nv. while Prince OF Wales constitutes
strange chapter in the history OF England, and
brief consideration OF the facts In connection with
the alleged pecuniary difficulties OF the present
heir.apparent TO the English throne will be OF In
terest His intrigues with women were numerous.
Though styled the first gentleman in Europe, he
was deep drlnker, and from drinking turned to
gambling OF which, from his earliest youth, he was
great practitioner. He frequented the clubs,
where play was then almost universal, and where
he was muicted in vast sums; and, as It was
known his debts Of honor were sacred, while
he was gambling unprinclpled money lend
ers waited outside to purchase his notes Of
hand. His transactions on the turf were unlucky
as well as disCreditable he was patron OF the
prize ring 1t is stated OF him that he never re-
sisted any temptation, but pampered IL. II he
ever had any nerve he frtttered 1t away among
cooks, and taiors, and BARRIERS, and furniture
mongers, and opera dancers. His life, as an
alierative writer has styled it, was ali 1ddling
ana flowers and
FEAsTlNG, FLAlrEzY AND FOLLY.
Under such circumstances George, before he was
thirty years OF age, had incurred heavy hablitles
which Parliament paid, without much grumbllng
in 1889. He continued to live, however, far be-
yond his income which was large, and the i'm
portunties Of his creditors caused serious disirac-
ton In the royal family as well as public scandal.
To relieve himself In some way OF his fresh In
cumbrances he consented, in 1896, to enter into
matrimonial alliance (Which turned out most un-
happy with his cousin Caroline daughter of the
Duke OF Brunswick. Soon after the mar
riage MIR. Pitt presented to the House Of Commons
royal message on the subject OF an establish
ment. He stated, with the deepest regret that
the benefit OF such settlement could only pe ef-
fectualy secured by freeing the Prince from en-
cumbrances to large amount, winch it was pro-
posed to effect by setting apart for given term
the revenu 8 arising IRON the Duchy of Cornwall,
with q portion OF his other annual income;
and provision would be made Tor establishing
regularity and punctuality of payment in the
Princes expenditures and guarding against future
embarrassment Many harsh reflections were
the Application. 1t excited tue greatest dissats-
faction IN the House. as Parliament as stated, had
PAID THE PRINCES DEBTS,
when ne made solemn promise that he would
not again ask for relief MIR. Grey protested that
when the cries OF the starving Door we're assalling
them OH all sides. the House would not be dong
its duty by granting establishments to princes
with prOfuslOn unparalleled. He mad heard much
OF the dignity OF HIS Royal Hlghness, but thought
he would best MAINTAIN his dignity by showing a
feeling heart lor the poor and an unwllllngness
to add to their distresses. Otner representatives
spoke OF the pledge formerly given; and Mr.. Sum
ner required that the amount OF the deots should
ws 'sns esasis 1s% Carried at ,ss% s3:
ssss %ss Certainly between seae% and
The actual amount was afterwards ascertained to
be $s,2l4,5oo, OF which So 100000 were upon &C.
curIties bearing interest. Mr.. Pitt further OBJ
served that the annual income OF the Prince was
ECO 900, exclusive OF the Duchy OF Cornwall, which
was about ELS, 600; but on looking back he found
former princes had much larger incomes. He pro-
posed an increase to fl25,O0O ($625,00O per an
mum without the Duchy f52 600 additional for the
marriage and 1nlShlQg Carton House and
i0inture OF 100000 10000 per annum for the
Princess. There were some OF the debts, Ar. Pltt
GEORGE WAS SECURITY FOR HIS BROTHERS.
Mr.. Martin, In answer TO remark OF the Prime
Minister, said that the surest method ol maintain
ing the monarchy was TO prevent 1t becoming OPP
pressive 10 the nation; and MIR. Grey thought 1t q
duty to the Prince himself to teach hun, II re-
1ection had failed to do so thar as his family were
chosen to the throne for the good OF the people,
so his situation was created, not merely ior luxury
and indulgence, but IN subServlence to that
great end; and that, although they were bound IN
turn TO consult his comfort and enjoyment, the
obligation on their part ceased II these became
his sole objects. While 1t was proposed to apply
considerable part of his income TO the liquidation
Of his deGs, mad ID, anything, Mr. Grey asked, been
What, then, was the effect OF this conduct but to
hold out an encouragement or provide an excuse
for the incnrring oil new laDllitiesY They ought to
give the Prince whatever income they thought
suitable, ana to mark their disapprObation OF the
sion on them. II the Prince were to retire to
situation where he might qualify himself by rehec-
ton Tor
THE DUTIES OF HIS FUTURE STATION,
after making composition with his creditors, who,
no doubt, would be satisfied with easy terms,
there would still, out Of the income winch he pro-
pJsed f40,0OO) be left q sufficient provision for
the ease and comfort OF two persons VINO had
o
duct In contracting debts, and said that the coun-
try was unwilling to be charged with one penny
OF his liabilities; but by refusing to extrtcate him
the House would subject him to insults
that tended to lessen and disgrace loyalty and
produce dangerous mischief. Mr.. Curwen there
lore trusted that sinking lund would be formed
by which the debts in reasonable time, would
De llQuldated the Prince, he remarked, ought to
relinquish his court and retire for season into
privacy to regain the good opinion and regard OF
the people. Mr.. Curwen approved OF the commits
sion TO inquire into and settle the debts, wishing
veil to be thrown over them, and that the future
conduct or His Royal HiyhIess might justify an
oblivion OF the past, and he felt surprised that the
Minister mad given no lntlmatlon tnat 1t was the
intention OF
THE KING TO ASSUME SOME OF THE DEBT.
These were hard lectures for the heir apparent,
particularly on the eve or his marriage; but they
speak well for the independent spirit OF the House
caton wore yo he ol ene app
sycopnauts OF q court.n Mr. Fox entered into
minute investigation OF the circumstances attend
ing the establishment Of the Prince OF Wales since
the accession OF the Brunswick family. motive,
ne said. which ought to influence the House in
favor of the Prince was the generosity with which
Parliament had Increased the revenues OF the
crown since the Kings accession, ana that, too in
times OF great difficulty and expense. He advised
.AS "SihHB VI VIC DuCuy vi COTHWuli, tHe pro-
duct or which would enable the Prince, he said, TO
pay all his debts IN three or four years. Mr..
onerdan gave an explanation OF the manner in
which the embarrassments OF the Prince mad been
created since MS former application to ParIa-
ment In 1857 the sum paid for him was fI60O00
tSsoo o0ol Of this SEQ, 600 was for Carlton House,
and $50, 600 more was voted to complete the build.
Ing. In 1857 pledge was given to the House that
no more debts should be contracted, aud tue
Prince was bound by II as much as If he had given
~ knowingly and voluntarily. Ii was attempted
to raise loan Tor him In foreign countries, and he
was advised to avoid nOltjca an "A nott In
himself open to Suspicion. and that
THE ONLY HONORABLE COURSE
10r MIN TO pursue was to retire from public life
aud appropriate the greater part OF his income to
the liquidation OF his debts His past misconduct
was exnlDited IN the harshest point OF view; he
was SET IN gilded piliory, sent To do penance III
an embroidered sheet He WAS lelt too much in.