her declaration, that not only herself and Sir John Douglas, but Sir Sydney Smith, would have no hesitation in swearing to be in my handwriting-What says Lord Cholmondeley?—— "That he is perfectly acquainted with my manner of writing. Letter A. is not of my hand-writing; that the two papers marked B. appear to be wrote in a disguised hand; that some of the letters in them, remarkably resemble mine, but, because of the disguise, he cannot say whether they are or not; as to the cover marked C., he did not see the same resemblance." Of these four papers, (all of which are stated by Lady Douglas to be so clearly and plainly mine, that there can be no hesitation upon the subject) two bear no resemblance to it; and although the other two, written in a disguised hand, have some letters remarkably resembling mine, yet, I trust I shall not, upon such evidence, be subjected to so base an imputation; and really, Sire, I know not how to account for the Commissioners examining and reporting upon this subject, in this manner. For I understand from Mrs. Fitzgerald, that these drawings were produced by the Commissioners to her; and that she was examined as to her knowledge of them, and as to the hand-writing upon them; that she was satisfied, and swore that they were not my hand writing, and that she knew nothing of them, and did not believe they could possibly come from any lady in my house. She was shewn the seal also, which Lady Douglas in her declaration says, was the "identical one with which I had sum

moned Sir John Douglas to luncheon. To this seal, though it so much resembled one that belonged to herself, as to make her hesitate till she had particularly observed it; she was at last as positive, as to the hand-writing; and having expressed herself with some feeling and indignation at the supposition, that either herself, or any of my ladies, could be guilty of so foul a transaction, the Commissioners tell her, they were satisfied, and believed her; and there is not oue word of all this related in her examination. Now, if their Lordships were satisfied from this, or any other circumstance, that these letters were not my writing, and did not come from me, I can account for their not preserving any trace of Mrs. Fitzgerald's evidence on this point, and leaving it out of their Inquiry altogether; but, if they thought proper to preserve any evidence upon it, to make it the subject of any examination, surely they should not have left it on Lord Cholmondeley's alone; but I ought to have had the benefit of Mrs. Fitzgerald's evidence also. But, as I said before, they take no notice of her evidence; nay, they finish their Report, they execute it according to the date it bears, upon the 14th of July, and it is not until two days afterwards, namely, on the 16th, that they examine Lord Cholmondeley to the hand-writing-with what view, and for what purpose, I cannot even surmise; but, with whatever view, and for whatever purpose, if these letters are at all to be alluded to in the Report, or the examinations accompanying it, surely I ought to have had the benefit of the

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other evidence, which disproved my connection with them.

"I have now, Sire, gone through all the matters contained in the examination, on which I think it in any degree necessary to trouble Your Majesty with any observations. For as to the examination of Mrs. Townley the washerwoman, if it applies at all, it must have been intended to have afforded evidence of my pregnancy and miscarriage. And whether the circumstance she speaks to, was occasioned by my having been bled with leeches, or whether an actual miscarriage did take place in my family, and by some means linen belonging to me, was procured and used upon the occasion; or, to whatever other circumstance it is to be ascribed, after the manner in which the Commissioners have expressed their opinion, on the part of the case respecting my supposed pregnancy, and after the evidence on which they formed their opinion, I do not conceive myself called upon to say any thing upon it; or that any thing I could say could be more satisfactory, than repeating the opinion of the Commissioners, as stated in their Report, viz. "That nothing had appeared to them, which would warrant the belief that I was pregnant in that year, (1802) or at any other period within the compass of their inquiries-that they would not be warranted in expressing any doubt respecting the alleged pregnancy of the Princess, as stated in the original declaration, a fact so fully contradicted, and by so many witnesses, to whom, if true, it must in various ways have been

known, that they cannot think it entitled to the smallest credit."

"There are, indeed, some other matters mentioned in the original declarations, which I might have found it necessary to observe upon; but as the Commissioners do not appear to have entered into any examination with respect to them, I content myself with thinking, that they had found the means of satisfying themselves of the utter falsehood of those particulars, and therefore that they can require no contradiction or observation from me.

"On the declarations, therefore, and the evidence, I have nothing further to remark. And, conscious of the length at which I have trespassed on Your Majesty's patience, I will forbear to waste your time by any endeavour to recapitulate what I have said. Some few observations, however, before I conclude, I must hope to be permitted to subjoin.

"In many of the observations which I have made, Your Majesty will observe that I have noticed what have appeared to me to be great omissions on the part of the Commissioners, in the manner of taking their examinations; in forbearing to put any questions to the witnesses, in the nature of a cross-examination of them to confront them with each other; and to call other witnesses, whose testimony must either have confirmed or falsified, in important particulars, the examinations as they have taken them. It may perhaps occur, in consequence of such observations, that I am desirous that this

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Inquiry should be opened again; that the Commissioners should recommence their labours, and that they should proceed to supply the defects in their previous examinations, by a fuller execution of their duty. I therefore think it necessary, most distinctly and emphatically to state, that I have no such meaning: and whatever may be the risk that I may incur of being charged with betraying a consciousness of guilt, by thus flying from an extension or repetition of this Inquiry, I must distinctly state, that so far from requesting the revival of it, I humbly request Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to understand me as remonstrating and protesting against it, in the strongest and most solemn manner in my power.

"I am yet to learn the legality of such a Commission to inquire, even in the case of High Treason, or any other crime known to the laws of the country. If it is lawful in the case of High Treason, supposed to be committed by me, surely it must be lawful also in the case of High Treason, supposed to be committed by other subjects of Your Majesty.

"That there is much objection to it, in reason and principle, my understanding assures me. That such inquiries, carried on upon ex parte examination, and a Report of the result by persons of high authority, may, nay must, have a tendency to prejudice the character of the parties who are exposed to them, and thereby influence the further proceedings in their case;— that are calculated to keep back from notice, and