whether I did not also ask, if the Prince had been down to MontagueHouse? I answered, that it had never entered my mind that her Royal Highness was in such a situation; and that, therefore, certainly I never made the remark to any one, nor had I asked whether his Royal Highness had visited the house. I said, that at that time a report of the nature alluded to was prevalent; but that I treated it as the infamous lie of the day. His Lordship adverted to the circumstance of her Royal Highness having taken a child into her house; and observed how dreadful mistakes about succession to the throne were, and what confusion might be caused by any claim of this child. I observed, that I was aware of it; but repeated the assertion, that I had never thought of such a thing as was suggested, and therefore considered it impossible, in a manner, that I could have given it utterance. I observed, that I believed, in the first instance, Mr Stikeman, the page, had mentioned this child to her Royal Highness, and that it came from Deptford, where I went when her Royal Highness first took it, to see if any illness prevailed in the family. Mr Conant observed, that he believed it was not an unusual thing for a medical man, when he imagined that a lady was pregnant, to mention his suspicion to some confidential domestic in the family. I admitted the bare possibility, if such had been my opinion; but remarked, that the if must have been removed before I could have committed myself in so absurd a manner. Lord Moira, in a very significant manner, with his hands behind him, his head over one shoulder, his eyes directed towards me, with a sort of smile, observed, that he could not help think ing there must be something in the servant's deposition,' as if he did not give perfect credit to what I had said; he observed, that the matter was then confined to the knowledge of a few;

and that he had hoped, if there had been any foundation for the affidavit, I might have acknowledged it, that the affair might have been hushed. With respect to the minor question, I observed, that it was not probable that I should condescend to ask any such question as that imputed to me, of a menial servant, and that I was not in the habit of conferring confidentially with servants. Mr Conant cautioned me to be on my guard; as if it ap peared, on further investigation, I had made such inquiry, it might be very unpleasant to me, should it come under the consideration of the Privy Council. I said, that I considered the report as a malicious one, and was ready to take oath, before any magistrate, that I had not at any time asserted, or even thought, that her Royal Highness had ever been in a state of pregnancy since I had the honour of attending the Household.

Mr Conant asked me, whether whilst I was bleeding her Royal Highness, or after I had performed the operation, I did not make some comment on the situation of her Royal Highness, from the state of the blood? and whether I recommended the operation? I answered in the negative to both questions; I said, that her Royal Highness sent for me to bleed her, and that I did not then recollect on what account. I said that I had bled her Royal Highness twice, but did not remember the dates. I asked Lord Moira, whether he intended to proceed in the business, or whether I might consider it as at rest, that I might have an opportunity, if I thought necessary, of consulting my friends relative to the mode of conduct I ought to adopt. He said, that if the subject was moved any farther, I should be apprized of it, and that at present it was in the hands of a few. I left them; and in about an hour, on further consideration, wrote the note of which the following is a copy, to which I never received any reply:

Mr

'Mr Edmeades presents his respectful compliments to Lord Moira, and on mature deliberation, after leaving his Lordship, upon the conversation which passed at Lord Moira's this morning, he feels it necessary to advise with some friend on the propriety of making the particulars of the conversation known to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, as Mr Edmeades would be very sorry that her Royal Highness should consider him capable of such infamous conduct as tha: imputed to him, on the deposition of a servant, by Lord Moira, this morning.

'London, May 20, 1805.'

“I have been enabled to state the substance of my interview with Lord Moira and Mr Conant with the more particularity, as I made memorandums of it within a day or two afterwards; and I do further depose, that the papers hereunto annexed, marked A. and B. are in the hand-writing of Samuel Gillam Mills, of Greenwich aforesaid, my partner; and that he is at present, as I verily believe, upon his road from Wales through Gloucester to Bath. "THOMAS EDMEADES.

"Sworn at the Public Office, Hatton Garden, this 26th day of September 1806.

"THOMAS LEACH."

ter, I waited on his Lordship exactly "In consequence of the above let

at nine o'clock. In less than five minutes I was admitted at his room. and by him received very politely, He began the conversation by stating, he wished to converse with me on a very delicate subject that I might rely on his honour, that what passed was to be in perfect confidence; it was his duty to his Prince, as his counsellor, to inquire into the subject, which he had known for some time, and the inquiry was due also to my character. He then stated, that a deposition had been made by a domestic of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, deposing, as a declaration made by me, that her Royal Highness was pregnant, and that I made inquiries when interviews might have taken place with the Prince. I answered, that I had never declared the Princess to be with child, nor ever made the inquiries stated-that the declaration was an infamous falsehood. This being expressed with some warmth, his Lordship observed, that I might have made the inquiries very innocently, conceiving that her

Royal

Royal Highness could not be in that situation but by the Prince.

"I repeated my assertion of the falsehood of the declaration, adding, that though the conversation was intended to be confidential, I felt my character strongly attacked by the declaration, therefore it was necessary the declaration should be investigated. I had no doubt but the character I had so many years maintained would make my assertion believed before the deposition of a domestic. I then requested to know what date the declaration bore? His Lordship said, he did not remember, but he had desired the solicitor to meet me, who would shew it me. I then observed, that I should in confidence communicate to his Lordship why I was desirous to know the date. I then stated to his Lordship, that soon after her Royal Highness came to Blackheath, I attended her in an illness, with Sir Francis Millman, in which I bled her twice. Soon after her recovery, she thought proper to form a regular medical appointment, and appointed myself and Mr Edmeades to be surgeons and apothecaries to her Royal Highness. On receiving my warrant for such appointment, I declined accepting the honour of being appointed apothecary, being inconsistent with my character, being educated as surgeon, and having had an honorary degree of physic conferred on me. Her Royal Highness condescended to appoint me her surgeon only. His Lordship rang to know if Mr Lowten was come; he was in the next room. His Lordship left me for a few minutes, returned and introduced me to Mr Lowten, with much politeness, as Dr Mills, repeating the assurance of what passed being confidential. I asked Mr Low ten the date of the declaration that had been asserted to be made by me. He said, in the year 1802. I then, with permission of his Lordship, gave the history of my appointment, add

ing, since then I had never seen the Princess as a patient. Once she sent for me to bleed her: I was from home. Mr Edmeades went ; nor had I visited any one in the house, except one Mary, and that was in a very bad case of surgery. I was not sure whether it was before or after my appointment. Mr Lowten asked me the date of it; I told him I did not recollect. He observed, from my warmth of expressing my contradiction of the deposition, that I saw it in a wrong light; that I might suppose, and very innocently, her Royal Highness to be pregnant, and then the inquiries were as innocently made. I answered, that the idea of pregnancy never entered my head; that I never attended her Royal Highness in any sexual complaint; whether she ever had any I never knew.-Mr Lowten said, I might think so from her increase of size, I answered, No-I never did think her pregnant, therefore never could say it, and that the deposition was an infamous falsehood. His Lordship then observed, that he perceived there must be a mistake, and that Mr Edmeades was the person meant, whom he wished to see. I said he was then at Oxford, and did not return before Saturday. His Lordship asked if he came through London. I said I could not tell.

"Finding nothing now arising from conversation, I asked to retire. His Lordship attended me out of the room with great politeness.

"When I came home, I sent his Lordship a letter, with the date of my warrant, April 10. 1801. He answered my letter, with thanks for my immediate attention, and wished to see Mr Edmeades on Sunday morning. This letter came on the Saturday; early on the Sunday I sent Timothy to let his Lordship know Mr Edmeades would not return till Monday. On Tuesday I promised he. should attend, which he did. "The preceding memorandum is

an