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This being agreed to, Mr. Whitbread dictated the words used by Lord Castlereagh, and the Noble Lord declined to make any alteration thereon.

Some further discussion took place, and at length Lord Castlereagh proceeded with his speech. The debate was then continued, in which Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. Bathurst, Mr. Stephen, Sir Samuel Romilly, Sir Thomas Plomer, and Mr. Tierney bore the principal share.

Mr. Tierney (at the conclusion of his speech) moved an amendment, to which Mr. Whitbread consented. This amendment, upon the original motion, was, "That the printer and publisher of the Morning Herald, and of the Morning Post, should be called to the bar of the House tomorrow, (the 19th inst.) to answer by whose authority they had published the depositions before the Privy Council, and from whom they had received them."

After some remarks from Mr. Ryder, Mr. C. Wynne, and Mr. Canning, Mr. Whitbread consented to withdraw his original motion, and Mr. Tierney's AMENDMENT was then put, and NEGATIVED, without a division.

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June 3rd, 1814.-The Speaker read a letter to the House of Commons from the Princess of Wales, stating the prohibition she had received from the Queen to go to Court, and asking their advice and protection. A copy of the royal correspondence was produced. Mr. Methuen commented on various passages, and remarked that the Minute of Council, April 10th, 1807, acquitted the Princess of Wales of all criminality, and recommended that she should be restored to the privileges of her rank and station. He next adverted to letters written by her Father, before the Battle of Jena, expressing his conviction of her innocence, and earnestly recommending her to the protection of His Majesty, &c. &c. ;— Mr. Methuen moved an humble address to the Regent, praying him to acquaint the House who were the advisers of this step.

Bragge Bathurst contended that there was no prohibition; only an intimation that the Regent would not meet her at the drawing-room. He also stated, that the Minute of Council made a

a distinction between criminality and minor charges. The acquittal, therefore, was not complete.

Mr. Whitbread said, the gentleman had used great dexterity in trying to persuade the House she had not been interdicted. It was true, the Queen, after long persecuting Her Royal Highness, had received the Princess of Wales at Court,-by the command of the King,* who was no longer able to protect her. He called upon the House to exert their dignity. The Prince delared he would not meet the Princess; yet, when he should be called to the throne, they must meet to be crowned together. This difficulty could not be overcome, unless some black designs were brooding against her.

Mr. S. Wortley, Mr. Wynne, and Mr. Elliot, with a full conviction of the injustice done to the Princess, opposed the motion as unparliamentary.

Mr. Ponsonby approved of the publication of the correspondence, but objected to the motion. Mr. Tierney maintained the right to exclude from a drawing-room might exist; he thought the House might shew their sense of the treatment of the Princess, by increasing her usual allowance, and giving her a separate establishment.

Mr. Methuen withdrew his motion.

June 23d.-Mr. Methuen lamented the necessity of addressing the House. The necessity

The late King.

of so doing he attributed to their not taking any steps to ameliorate her situation. What must the Sovereigns think of the generosity of the nation, when they were told that her allowance was so parsimonious, it did not permit the Princess to pay them the common attention of a formal visit. The Princess, on her marriage, was allowed 17000/. In addition to her own 5000l. It was afterwards reduced to 12000l. on account of the Prince's circumstances. She had been under the necessity of contracting debts, which, in 1809, the Prince paid, to the amount of 40,000l. She had then been obliged to live on a less income than when at Carlton House. She had reduced her establishment to seven domestics→→→ parted with many of her horses, and given up seeing company, till Mrs. St. Leger, Lady Caernarvon, Lady Glenbervie and others refused the usual allowances. By these sacrifices she had the satisfaction to know she did not now owe a shilling; he moved that Her Royal Highness's correspondence should be taken into consideration on Tuesday next.

Lord Castlereagh said if the advisers of the Princess had declared earlier that an increased provision was their object, something might have been done; his Lordship noticed that the marriage between the Princess Charlotte and the Prince of Orange was broken off, but denied that it was in consequence of her mother's exclusion from court;-as for the supposed right to appear at the drawing-room, if the subject could approach the

court at the will of parliament, or of a minister, it would be degrading the court. It was not perhaps known that a separation between the Prince and Princess had taken place which might be considered final. The King had been so convinced there never could be any reconciliation, he only thought how things could be managed to give the least pain to the parties. With this view a solemn deed of separation was drawn and signed by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1809, to which was added the signature of the King and most of his Cabinet Ministers. The Princess then declared herself satisfied ; but he was certain it was not the wish of the Regent she should feel any pecuniary embarrassments. Her Royal Highness had been made the vehicle of direct insult on the character and conduct of the Prince Regent. (&c.) He must resist the present motion, but on a future day would consent to such addition as might seem reasonable.

Mr. Methuen was glad of the disposition to increase her income, but would not give up her claim to appear at the drawing-room-he would consent to withdraw his motion.

Mr. Whitbread denied that the object of the motion was to obtain money;-he entered with energy and feeling into the situation of the Princess of Wales, and contrasted the insults heaped upon her with the virtue of her character. He considered her an injured woman, deserted by her natural protectors, and peculiarly entitled to the protection of that House.

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