MR. WORTLEY'S SPEECH. 337 used, and he would not have the Regent lay the flattering unction to his soul, and think his conduct would bear him harmless through all these transactions. This speech was received with much applause; but after some wrangling, and much bitterness on both sides, the subject was allowed to drop. The famous publication known as 'The Book,' which contained the whole statements of the Douglas investigation, copies of which had been bought up at vast prices, was now republished and openly sold; this added fresh strength to the popular indignation against the Regent and his friends. Every mark of public sympathy continued to be shown to the Princess; addresses were poured in on her from numerous public bodies, congratulating her on 'having escaped a conspiracy against her life and honour,' in which the city of London took the lead, the borough of Southwark, and the city of Westminster, the county of Middlesex, the towns of Bath, Bristol, Rochester, Sheffield, Berwick-on-Tweed, and Dublin following suit. When the address was carried by the Common Council, one of its members, Sir William Curtis, said publicly that the Princess 'had been grossly, infamously, and abominably treated-her innocence was undoubted, her persecution had been shameful;' not satisfied with this honest assertion, he, after the Princess's answer to the address, took that opportunity to state that he believed her Royal Highness 'had been traduced most wickedly and most abominably.' The mob, of course, took up the injured woman's cause, and demonstrated its feelings in its own way. This took the shape of an effigy dressed in white, supposed to represent Lady Douglas, which held in its hand a parasol, on which were written, in letters so large that those who ran might read, the words Conspiracy and Perjury, whilst on her back was the inscription, Diabolical Perjury. This effigy, attended by an indescribably vast concourse of people, was exhibited ** in front of Carlton House, that His Royal Highness might have the benefit of the sight, and after being carried through the town, preceded by a bell-ringer announcing the execution at the stake of a certain lady at eight o'clock in the evening at Blackheath, the effigy was burnt amidst tumultuous shouts and great signs of rejoicing. CHAPTER XV. The Reign of the Regent-A Levée at Carlton House-Difficulties of his Ministers-Visit of the Foreign Sovereigns to London-The Princess and the Emperor of Russia-At the Opera-The Prince of Orange and the Princess Charlotte-Anxiety of the Regent to get her out of the Kingdom -The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg's Opinion of the Regent-The Princess becomes Rebellious-She breaks off her Marriage-Wrath of the Regent-The Princess's Flight A Royal Captive. WHEN time confirmed the opinion of the physicians regarding His Majesty, and his recovery became utterly hopeless, the Regent, holding the full powers of State, was regarded as a King in all but name, whose favour was steadily courted, and whose displeasure was regarded as the greatest misfortune. In order, therefore, that the zealous courtiers might gain the one and avoid the other, they gradually fell off in their attendance on the Princess, who at last found herself reduced to the society of a few faithful friends. Meanwhile the Prince gave entertainments, famed for their costly magnificence and brilliancy, which were found far more acceptable than the dinners or suppers at Blackheath and Kensington Palace. Richard Bush, a minister of the United States, gives an account of a levée which somewhat astonished his Republican soul. His conveyance having slowly steered its way through an immense crush of coaches and vehicles, he at length gained the great hall of Carlton House, which was lined with the Yeomen of the Guard, having velvet hats adorned with wreaths upon their heads, halberds in their hands, and rosettes ornamenting their shoes; a great stream of courtiers, in handsome and many-coloured costumes, was pushing its way through the spacious apartments, whilst from beyond the open columns of the portico came the mellifluent music of bands. In one of the rooms, awaiting the royal presence, were the Cabinet Ministers, with bags and swords, the diplomatic corps, the Lord Steward with his badge of office; the Lord Chamberlain with his; the Lord Chancellor in his black silk gown and wig; the Bishops and Church dignitaries, with whom the tainted atmosphere of Carlton House by no means disagreed, likewise in wigs; the ambassadors in their national costumes, and many Knights of the Garter. When, presently, the Regent came from his closet, doors hitherto shut were thrown wide open, and revealed a vast assembly of brilliant courtiers, who had come to pay their homage at the shrine of royalty, all of whom were honoured by a word, look, or smile from the Prince. The Regent was never better pleased than when he was the observed of all observers, holding drawing-rooms, giving fêtes, or presiding at some gorgeous ceremonial; so far as the business of the State was concerned, he was utterly useless, as his conduct frequently perplexed and occasionally disgusted his Ministers. An example of this was given during the first year of his Regency. At a dance given at Oatlands Park, whilst skipping about in a Highland fling, the Prince wrenched his ankle. This took place,' says a correspondent of the Duke of Buckingham's, 'ten days ago, since which he has never been out of his bed. He complained of violent pain and spasmodic affection, for which he prescribed for himself, and took a hundred drops of laudanum every three hours. When Farquhar and the other medical men came down, they saw him under the influence of this laudanum, so enervated and hurt IMPOSSIBLE TO RECEIVE HER. 341 that they immediately prescribed the strongest dose of castoroil; but he still perseveres in his laudanum, which he says relieves him from pain, and lays constantly on his stomach in bed. He will sign nothing, and converse with no one on business, and you may imagine, therefore, the distress and difficulty in which the Ministers are placed. The Duke of Cumberland is going about saying it is all a sham, and that he could get up and would be perfectly well if he pleased.' In June, 1814, the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia, with his brother, his sons, and various minor Princes, visited London; when the Regent had another opportunity of giving some of those gorgeous fêtes which delighted his royal soul. On this occasion it had been announced that Her Majesty would hold two drawing-rooms in honour of her illustrious guests, at which the young Princess Charlotte would be presented; the reason for holding two drawing-rooms, it was freely whispered, was in order to allow the Princess to appear at one when her husband would not be present, he in turn attending the other when she would not be there. The Princess, accordingly, in great glee, prepared for the occasion, but her hopes and intentions were destined to meet with bitter disappointment once more, when she received a message from Her Gracious Majesty that it was impossible to receive her, as she had a communication from the Regent, in which he declared he considered his own presence at Court on both occasions indispensable, and 'his fixed and unalterable determination not to meet the Princess of Wales upon any occasion, either public or private.' To this cruel treatment, intended by her husband to not only humiliate her in the eyes of the nation, but in those of the illustrious sovereigns about to visit England, she was determined not to submit. She, therefore, decided on going boldly forward to claim the right of appearing at the drawing-room due to her station, but was unfortunately dissuaded |