my arrival in this House, which I was requested to lay before it. On perusing it, I find that it is worded in a manner perfectly respectful, and I therefore told the individual who delivered it into my care, that I felt it my duty as a member of parliament, to present it. It is the petition of Major-General Sir John Douglas, on behalf of himself and Charlotte Lady Douglas, his wife. I remarked that the form of the signature was not perfectly regular; but I added, that I did conceive, that notwithstanding this informality, the House would receive it as the petition of Sir John Douglas, though not as the joint petition of himself and his wife. I therefore, move for leave to bring up this petition.

The question having been put, Mr. Whitbread brought up the petition, which was read by the clerk, nearly in the following words:

"To the Honorable the Commons of the United Kingdom, &c."

"The humble petition of Major-General Sir John Douglas, on behalf of himself and Charlotte Lady Douglas his wife..

Sheweth-That your petitioners are advised that the depositions they made on their oaths, before the Lords Commissioners appointed by His Majesty, for investigating the conduct of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, on or about the 1st of January, 1806, were not made on such judicial proceedings, on or before such a tribunal as could legally support a prosecution for perjury against them.

Feeling the fullest confidence in those depositions, and in the justice of their cause, they are ready and desirous, and hereby offer to re-swear to the truth of such depositions before any tribunal competent to administer an oath, that your petitioners may be subjected to the penalty of perjury, if it be proved that they are false.

"Your petitioners therefore pray that your honorable House will adopt such proceedings as in your wisdom may be thought proper to re-swear them to their depositions, before such tribunal as would legally subject them to a prosecution for such depositions, should they be proved to be false: it being their anxious desire not to deliver themselves through any want of legal forms. (Signed)

"JOHN DOUGLAS."

Mr. Whitbread moved that the petition be laid on the table, and it was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Whitbread again rose, and having taken a view of the whole affair relative to the conduct of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, he made some remarks upon the line of proceeding adopted by two daily papers, the Morning Herald and the Post.

In the course of this long speech Mr. Whitbread observed, "when upon a former night, in this House, the Princess was pronounced innocent by the Noble Lord (Castlereagh), he was proud of her triumph. A noble friend of Her Royal Highness had done him the honor of asking his advice, and he on that occasion

sketched out a letter of dignified submission from her, to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and sent it to the Princess. She did him the honor of taking a copy of it in her own hand, with the intention of sending it to the Prince; but this healing and desirable step was prevented, by her receiving information, that Sir John and Lady Douglas were again under examination, and that too with the sanction' of the Lord Chancellor. The letter he would read, if the House would indulge him." The following is a correct copy:

--

"Sir, I once more approach Your Royal Highness, and can venture to assure you, Sir, that if you will deign to read my letter, you will not be dissatisfied with its contents.

"The Report made by certain members of His Majesty's Privy Council, was communicated to me by Lord Sidmouth, and its contents appeared to those, upon whose advice I rely, to be such as to require, on my part, a public assertion of my innocence, and a demand of investigation. It cannot be unknown to Your Royal Highness, that I addressed a letter to the Lord Chancellor, and a duplicate of that letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons, for the purpose of its being communicated to the Houses of Parliament.

"The Lord Chancellor twice returned my letter, and did not communicate its contents to the House of Lords.

"The Speaker of the House of Commons thought it his duty to announce the receipt of

my letter, and it was read from the chair. To my inexpressible gratification I have been informed, that, although no proceeding was instituted according to my request, certain discussions which took place in that honorable House, have resulted in the complete, and unequivocal, and universal acknowledgment of my entire innocence, to the satisfaction of the world.

"Allow me, Sir, to say to Your Royal Highness, that I address you now, relieved from a load of distress which has pressed upon me for many years. I was always conscious that I was free from reproach. I am now known to be so, and worthy to bear the exalted title of Princess of Wales.

"On the subject of the confirmation of the Princess Charlotte, I bow, as becomes me, and with implicit deference to the opinion expressed by His Majesty, now that I have been made acquainted with it. His Majesty's decision I must always regard as sacred.

"To such restrictions as Your Royal Highness shall think fit to impose upon the intercourse between the Princess Charlotte and myself, as arising out of the acknowledged exercise of your parental and royal authority, I submit without observation, but I throw myself upon the compassion of Your Royal Highness, not to abridge more than may be necessary my greatest, indeed, my only pleasure.

"Your Royal Highness may be assured, that, if the selection of society for the Princess

Charlotte, when on her visits to me, were left to my discretion, it would be, as it always has been, unexceptionable for rank and character. If Your Royal Highness would condescend, Sir, to name the society yourself, your injunctions should be strictly adhered to.

"I will not detain Your Royal Highness-I throw myself again on your royal justice and compassion, and I subscribe myself, with perfect sincerity, and in the happy feelings of justified innocence, Your Royal Highness's &c. &c. &c."

"Mr. Whitbread concluded by putting in copies of the Morning Herald of Saturday and Monday last, the parts of which alluded to, were entered and read, and then moved an humble address to the Prince Regent, expressive of the deep concern and indignation which the House felt at publications of so gross and scandalous a nature, so painful to the feelings of His Royal Highness, and all the other branches of his Illustrious Family, and praying that His Royal Highness would be pleased to order measures to be taken for bringing to justice all the persons concerned in so scandalous a business, and particularly for preventing the continuance or repetition of so high an offence.

After some further observations from Lord Castlereagh, the Noble Lord charged Mr. Whitbread" with indulging in illiberal, unfair, and as he (Lord Castlereagh) thought unparliamentary observations on the conduct of the Prince of Wales himself." Mr. Whitbread then moved that the words of the Noble Lord be taken down.