MEMOIRS OF CAROLINE. 729 Note from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. Windsor Castle, 30th of April, 1796. "MADAM, "As Lord Cholmondeley informs me that you wish I would define, in writing, the terms upon which we are to live, I shall endeavour "to explain myself on that head, with as much clearness, and with as much propriety, as the "nature of the subject will admit. Our incli"nations are not in our power, nor should either "of us be held answerable to the other, because "nature has not made us suitable to each other. "Tranquil and comfortable society is, however, "in our power; let our intercourse, therefore, "be restricted to that, and I will distinctly sub"scribe to the condition † which you required, * The substance of this letter had been previously conveyed in a message through Lord Cholmondeley, to Her Royal Highness. But it was thought by Her Royal Highness, to be infinitely too important to rest merely upon a verbal communication, and therefore she desired that His Royal Highness's pleasure upon it, should be communicated to her in writing. + Upon the receipt of the message alluded to, in the foregoing note, Her Royal Highness, though she had nothing to do, but to submit to the arrangement which His Royal Highness might 1 through Lady Cholmondeley, that even in the "event of any accident happening to to my daughter, which I trust Providence in its mercy will avert, I shall not infringe the terms "of the restriction, by proposing at any period, a connection of a more particular nature. I "shall now finally close this disagreeable cor"respondence, trusting that, as we have completely explained ourselves to each other, the "rest of our lives will be passed in uninterrupted tranquility. 66 (Signed) "I am, Madam, With great truth, 66 And to this letter the Princess of Wales sent the following answer: "L'aveu de votre conversation avec Lord "Cholmondely, ne m'étonne, ni ne m'offense. "C'étoit, me confirmer, ce que vous m'avez "tacitement insinué depuis une année. Mais il y auroit après cela, un manque de délicatesse, “ou, pour mieux dire, une bassesse indigne de determine upon, desired it might be understood, that she should insist that any such arrangement if once made, should be considered as final. And that His Royal Highness should not retain the right, from time to time, at his pleasure, or under any circumstances, to alter it. me plaindre des conditions, que vous vous "imposez a vous même. "Je ne vous aurois point fait de réponse, si "votre lettre n'étoit conçue de manière à faire "douter, si cet arrangement vient de vous, ou "de moi; et vous savez que vous en avez seul "l'honneur. La lettre que vous m'annoncez comme la dernière, m'oblige de communiquer au Roi, comme à mon Souverain, et à mon "Père, votre aveu et ma réponse. Vous trou verez ci-incluse la copie de celle que j'ecris au Roi. Je vous en préviens pour ne pas m'attirer "de votre part, la moindre, reproche de dupli "cité. Comme je n'ai dans ce moment, d'autre protecteur que Sa Majesté, je m'en rapporte uniquement à lui. Et si ma conduite mérite son approbation, je serai du moins en partie, "consolée. 66 66 Du reste, je conserve toute la reconnoissance possible de ce que je me trouve par votre moyen, comme Princesse de Galles, dans une "situation à pouvoir me livrer sans constrainte, " à une vertu chére à mon cœur, je vieux dire la bienfaisance. Ce sera pour moi un devoir d'agir de plus par un autre motif, savoir celui "de donner l'exemple de la patience, et de la résignation dans toutes sortes d'épreuves, "Rendez-moi la justice de me croire, que je ne cesserai jamais de faire des yeux pour votre "bonheur, et d'ètre votre bien dévouée,' દ 66 (Signed) "Ce 6 de Mai, 1796." "CAROLINE." TRANSLATION. "THE avowal of your conversation with Lord Cholmondeley, neither surprises, nor offends me. It merely confirms what you have tacitly insinuated for this twelvemonth. But after this, it would be a want of delicacy, or rather an unworthy meanness in me, were I to complain of those conditions which you impose upon yourself. "I should have returned no answer to your letter, if it had not been conceived in terms to make it doubtful, whether this arrangement proceeds from you, or from me, and you are aware that the credit of it belongs to you alone. "The letter which you announce to me as the last, obliges me to communicate to the King, as to my Sovereign and my Father, both your avowal and my answer. You will find enclosed the copy of my letter to the King. I apprize you of it, that I may not incur the slightest reproach of duplicity from you. As I have at this moment no protector but His Majesty, I refer myself solely to him upon this subject, and if my conduct meets his approbation, I shall be in some degree at least consoled. I retain every sentiment of gratitude for the situation in which I find myself, as Princess of Wales, enabled by your means, to indulge in the free exercise of a virtue dear to my heart, I mean charity. "It will be my duty likewise to act upon another motive, that of giving an example of patience and resignation, under every trial. Do me the justice to believe, that I shall never cease to pray for your happiness, and to be Your much devoted, 6th of May, 1796. "CAROLINE." *Letter from Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, to the King. SIRE, "I TRUST Your Majesty, who knows my constant affection, loyalty, and duty, and the sure confidence with which I readily repose, my honor, my character, my happiness, in Your Majesty's hands, will not think me guilty of any disrepectful or unduteous impatience, when I thus again address myself to your royal grace and justice. "It is, Sire, nine weeks to-day, since my counsel presented to the Lord High Chancellor my letter to Your Majesty, containing my observations in vindication of my honor and innocence, upon the Report presented to Your Majesty by the Commissioners, who had been appointed to examine into my conduct. The Lord Chancellor informed my Counsel, that the letter should be conveyed to Your Majesty on that very day; and further, was pleased, in about a week or ten days afterwards, to communicate to my Solicitor, that Your Majesty had read my letter, and that * This was written subsequently to the letter to be found at page 546, marked X, |