Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1) From the Original Family Documents , livre ebook

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A little before the decease of George III., the heir apparent was in a state of health that made his chance of succession problematical - of long possession of the crown more doubtful still. He was attended by Sir William Knighton, who was in his chamber when intelligence arrived from Windsor of his venerable parent's demise; and we are assured that The fatal tidings were received by the Prince with a burst of grief that was very affecting. He was quite unable to be present at the funeral, and the Duke of York acted as chief mourner. Knighton's Memoirs, p. 88. Edited by his Widow. Alison's History of Europe, from the Fall of Napoleon, vol. ii. p. 421.

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	23 octobre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819902621
Langue	English

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CHAPTER I.
A little before the decease of George III., the heirapparent was in a state of health that made his chance ofsuccession problematical – of long possession of the crown moredoubtful still. He was attended by Sir William Knighton, who was inhis chamber when intelligence arrived from Windsor of his venerableparent's demise; and we are assured that "The fatal tidings werereceived by the Prince with a burst of grief that was veryaffecting." He was quite unable to be present at the funeral, andthe Duke of York acted as chief mourner. Knighton's "Memoirs," p.88. Edited by his Widow. Alison's "History of Europe, from the Fallof Napoleon," vol. ii. p. 421.
The skill and solicitude of George IV.'sconfidential physician were rewarded, and the new Sovereignrecovered sufficiently to apply himself to the business ofgovernment with his customary attention; but from that time SirWilliam so completely fixed himself in the affections of hispatron, that the latter was uneasy if he remained away from thePalace, and was sure to send pressing messages for his return. Aletter has been preserved, which indicates that services wererendered by him that were not strictly professional. Indeed, he wasoften employed as an adviser in affairs of peculiar delicacy andimportance, and his judgment and tact in their arrangement wereinvariably acknowledged and appreciated. Knighton's "Memoirs," p.86.
This conclusion of the Regency, though for some timeanticipated as a mere matter of course, was accompanied by eventsof so startling a nature as to cause considerable disquietude inthe minds of many good citizens and earnest politicians. A feverishexcitement existed among the lower classes, that continuallythreatened to break out in violent manifestations against theGovernment; but though the Ministers of the Crown were theprincipal objects of this ill feeling, it was directed with equalanimosity against all wealth and influence; and there can be nodoubt that, had the designs of their more enterprizing leaders beenrealized, a complete revolution little less violent than that whichhad swept over France more than thirty years before, would haveoverturned law, property, and order through the length and breadthof the land. "The expectation and the fear of change" kept thepublic mind in a state of violent agitation; and a great politicalparty was on the alert to take advantage of any popular movementthis effervescence might create. It was well known to variousinfluential partizans that events of unusual gravity were "loomingin the distance," by which they hoped to be able to raisethemselves to power. Rumours of a sinister import were in constantcirculation; the more alarmed looked hourly for some mischievousdemonstration, and the more reckless displayed increasingconfidence and audacity. That reports should be circulated of animmediate change of Government, must have been only natural undersuch circumstances; the wide-spread discontent of the masses of thepopulation, swelling and surging like a storm-driven sea, hadnothing else sufficiently prominent to direct itself against, butthe authorities who appeared to them responsible for the evilsunder which they laboured; and those persons who feared, orpretended to fear, the threatened storm, caught at the idea ofremoving the unpopular Ministers as affording the only chance ofre-establishing the public tranquillity. Such, however, had longbefore been the tactics of opposition, and such, we are afraid,they are likely to remain. "The Government," writes a CabinetMinister to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, "is in a very strangeand, I must acknowledge, in a precarious state." – Lord Sidmouth toEarl Talbot, Pellew's "Life of Lord Sidmouth," vol. iii. p. 310.DR. PHILLIMORE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Whitehall, Feb. 15,1820. MY DEAR LORD, As your Lordship desired me to write if therewas any news of any description in circulation, I take up my penmerely to inform you that there is a report most generallydisseminated both throughout the West-end of the town and the City,that the Ministers have resigned. Sir W. Scott [LordStowell] yesterday, in expressing his apprehension (to anacquaintance of mine) that such an event was in contemplation, saidit would not be a partial change, "but a general sweep." Excusehaste. Ever your obliged and faithful servant, JOSEPH PHILLIMORE.P.S. – The Cabinet sat thirteen hours on Sunday.
The sweeping change so confidently anticipated didnot take place; and probably when it became evident to some of themost daring of the political speculators of the time, that this wasnot so imminent as they desired, they resolved to expedite it in afashion that should leave no necessity for a second experiment ofthe kind.
On the 23rd of February, the loyal citizens of themetropolis were startled by the intelligence of the timelydiscovery of a plot to assassinate his Majesty's Ministers whilethey were at dinner in the house of the Earl of Harrowby, GrosvenorSquare, and of a sanguinary conflict of the police and militarywith the conspirators, when attempting to seize the latter at theirplace of rendezvous, in an obscure thoroughfare near Paddington,called Cato Street. The history of the Thistlewood Conspiracy, asrelated in the criminal annals of the period, illustrates in aremarkable manner the diseased state of political feeling thenexisting in England. It was a small copy of the Irish rebellion, –marked by the same cut-throat policy, – having in view a similaroverwhelming revolution, with the same absurdly inadequate means.Fortunately for the United Kingdom, the chief actors in bothsucceeded only in bringing upon themselves the destruction withwhich they had menaced a powerful Government. A good account of itmay be found in Pellew's "Life of Lord Sidmouth," vol. iii. p.312.
Thistlewood proposed to slaughter the entire Cabinetat once, when assembled at Lord Harrowby's, which was assented to;"for," said he, "as there has not been a dinner for so long, therewill no doubt be fourteen or sixteen there; and it will be a rarehaul to murder them all together." Thistlewood's Trial, p. 37.Alison's "Europe," vol. ii. p. 425.
The next communication refers to the same incident,as well as to the various rumours then in circulation: – MARQUISWELLESLEY TO MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM. Richmond, Tuesday, Feb. 29,1820. MY DEAR LORD, Not having received any commands from you, andhaving nothing to communicate beyond the rumours of the day,without any authentic information, I have not lately troubled yourLordship with any letter. It was unnecessary to state that thestories of my being summoned to the King, and c. and c., were allabsolutely false. If I had received any such summons, your Lordshipwould have been fully acquainted with the whole transaction byexpress from me at the earliest moment. I believe an attempt wasmade to confirm the rumours by the circumstance of his Majesty'sgracious kindness in answering my inquiries at the moment of hisgreatest danger, by expresses from Carlton House. My carriage alsowas in town one day in the highest paroxysm of the supposedsquabble; but I happened not to be in it, being confined at home bya cold. I have not been in town, except to collect some account ofthe late horrible plot, on the day after the discovery (when I wasin the House of Lords about half an hour), for a considerable time,the weather and a cold having concurred to keep me at home. I knownothing authentic of the quarrel, so much the subject of rumour andnoise, nor do I know more of the present designs or future plans. Iam at all times at your Lordship's orders, to wait on you wheneveryou please; the weather is now so much improved, that I can attendyou in London any morning that may suit you; but I really havenothing yet to state beyond the contents of my former letters.Always, my dear Lord, Yours most sincerely, WELLESLEY.
In the spring of the year 1821, their RoyalHighnesses the Duke and Duchess of Clarence lost their only child,the infant Princess Elizabeth. Of this long-forgotten branch of theRoyal Family, one who was present at her birth says: – "She ischristened by the name of Elizabeth Georgiana. I hope the bairnwill live. It came a little too early, and is a very small one atpresent, but the doctors seem to think it will thrive; and to theears of your humble servant it appears to be noisy enough to showit has great strength." Her loss affected the King, between whomand the Duke the most lively affection existed; and he wrote to hisconfidential attendant in the following terms: – Twiss's "Life ofLord Eldon," vol. ii. p. 37. THE KING TO SIR WILLIAM KNIGHTON.Brighton, March 4, 1821. MY DEAR FRIEND, For God's sake come downto me to-morrow morning. The melancholy tidings of the almostsudden death of my poor little niece have just reached me, and haveoverset me beyond all I can express to you. Poor William's letter,which is all affection, and especially towards you, refers me toyou for all the particulars; therefore pray come to me with aslittle delay as possible. I have not time to add a word more aboutmyself. You will be a great consolation to me. Ever your mostaffectionate friend, G. R. The Duke of Clarence. Knighton's"Memoirs," p. 88.
The first report of the intention of Queen Caroline,as the Princess of Wales was now styled, to return to England,appears to have taken both the King and the Government by surprise;but the latter, in the conviction that they had an overwhelmingcase against her, would not believe that she was serious, and tookno steps towards putting the result of the Milan investigationsinto shape. "Every one," the Duke of Wellington acknowledged, "hadhis secret persuasion and his wish, that with such a case againsther she would never come here." – R. Plumer Ward's "Diary," vol.ii. p. 65.
That everything did not run smoothly between hisMajesty and his Ministers, may be inferred from a memorandum made(April 26, 1820) by one of the most influential of them: – "OurRoyal master se