would have checked, I appeal to your Majesty's warm heart, and generous feelings, to suggest my excuse, and to afford my pardon. What I have said, I have said under the pressure of much misfortune, under the provocation of great and accumulated injustice. Oh! Sire, to be unfortunate, and scarce to feel at liberty to lament; to be cruelly used, and to feel it almost an offence and a duty to be silent, is a hard lot; but use had, in some degree, inured me to it.— But to find my misfortunes and my injuries imputed to me as faults; to be called to account upon a charge made against me by Lady Douglas, who was thought at first worthy of credit, although she had pledged her veracity to the fact of my having admitted that I was myself the aggressor in every thing, of which I had to complain, has subdued all power of patient bearing; and when I was called upon by the Commissioners, either to admit, by my silence, the guilt which they imputed to me, or to enter into my defence, in contradiction to it-no longer at liberty to remain silent, I, perhaps, have not known how, with exact propriety, to limit my expressions. In happier days of my life, before my spirit had been yet at all lowered by my misfortunes, I should have been disposed to have met such a charge with the contempt which, I trust, by this time, your Majesty thinks due to it; I should have been disposed to have defied my enemies to the utmost, and to have scorned to answer to any thing but a legal charge, before a competent tribunal; but, in my present misfortunes, such force of mind is gone. I ought, perhaps, so far to be thankful to them for their wholesome lessons of humility. I have, therefore, entered into this long detail, to endeavour to remove, at the first possible opportunity, any unfavourable impressions; to rescue myself from the dangers which the continuance of these suspicions might occasion, and to preserve to me your Majesty's good opinion, in whose kindness, hitherto, I have found infinite consolation, and to whose justice, under all circumstauces, I can confidently appeal. Under the impression of these sentiments I throw myself at your Majesty's feet. I know, that whatever sentiments of resentment, whatever wish for redress, by the punishment of my false accusers, I ought to feel, your Majesty, as the father of a stranger, smarting under false accusation, as the head of your illustrious house, dishonoured in me, and as the great guardian of the laws of your kingdom, thus foully attempted to have been applied to the purposes of injustice, will not fail to feel for me. At all events, I trust your Majesty will restore me to the blessing of your gracious presence, and confirm to me, by your own gracious words, your satisfactory conviction of my, innocence. I am, Sire, with every sentiment of gratitude and loyalty, your Majesty's most affectionate and dutiful Daughter-in-Law, Subject aud Servant, Montague-House, 2d October, 1806. C. P. SIRE,-In discharge of the duty I owe to myself, and the great duty I owe to your Majesty and your illustrious Family, I have herewith transmitted a statement which I confidently trust will appear to prove me not unworthy of the protection and favour with which your Majesty has been pleased to honour me. To be restored to that favour and protection, in consequence of a conviction in your Majesty's mind of my innocence, produced by the papers I now humbly lay before your Majesty, is the first wish of my heart. Grieved, Sire, deeply grieved, as I cannot but be, that your Majesty should be exposed to so much trouble, on so painful an occasion, and on my account, it is yet my humble trust that your Majesty will graciously forgive me, if extreme anxiety about my honour and your Majesty's favourable opinion, leads me humbly to solicit, as an act of justice, that scrupulous attention on your Majesty's part to these papers, which cannot fail, I think, to produce iu your Majesty's mind, a full conviction of my innocence, and a due sense of the injuries I have suffered. One other prayer I, with all possible humility and anxiety, address to your Majesty, that as 1 can hope for no happiness, nor expect to enjoy the benefit of that fair reputation to which I know I am entitled, till I am re-admitted into your Majesty's presence, and as I am in truth without guilt, suffering what to me is heavy punishment, whilst I am denied access to your Majesty, your Majesty will be graciously pleased to form an early determination whether my conduct and my sufferings do not authorise me to hope that the blessing of being restored to your Majesty's presence may be conferred upon, Sire, your Majesty's dutifully attached, affectionate, and afflicted daughter-in-law and subject, (Signed) CAROLINE. Blackheath, October 2, 1806. THE DEPOSITION OF THOMAS MANBY, ESQUIRE, A CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY. Having had read to me the following passage, from the Copy of a Deposition of Robert Bidgood, sworn the 6th of June last, before Lords Spencer and Grenville, viz-"I was waiting one day in the anti-room; Captain Manby had his hat in his hand, and appeared to be going away; he was a long time with the Princess, and, as I stood on the steps, waiting, I looked into the room in which they were, and, in the reflection on the looking glass, I saw them salute each other—I mean, that they kissed each other's lips. Captain Manby then went away. I then observed the Princess have her handkerchief in her hands, and wipe her eyes, as if she was crying, and went into the drawingroom. I do solemnly, and upon my oath, declare, that the said passage is a vile and wicked invention; that it is wholly and absolutely false; that it is impossible he ever could have seen, in the reflection of any glass, any such thing; as I never, upon any occasion, or in any situation, ever had the presumption to salute her Royal Highness in any such manner, or to take any such liberty, or offer any such insult to her person. And having had read to me another passage, from the same copy of the same Deposition, in which the said Robert Bidgood says→→ I suspected that Captain Manby slept frequently in the house; it was a subject of conversation in the house. Hints were given by the servants; and I believe that others suspected it as well as myself." I solemnly swear, that such suspicion is wholly unfounded, and that I never did, at Montague House, Southend, Ramsgate East Cliff, or any where else, ever sleep in any house occupied by, or belonging to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales; and that there never did any thing pass between her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and myself, that I should be in any degree unwilling that all the world should have seen, (Signed) THO. MANBY. THOMAS LEACH. Sworn at the Public Office, Hatton Garden, London, THE DEPOSITION OF THOMAS LAWRENCE, OF GREEK STREET, SOHO, IN THE COUNTY OF middlesex, PORTRAIT PAINTER. Having had read to me the following extract from a copy of a Deposition of William Cole, purporting to have been sworn before Lords Spencer and Grenville, the 10th day of June, 1806, viz. "Mr. Lawrence, the Painter, used to go to Montague House about the latter end of 1801, when he was painting the Princess, and he has slept in the house two or three nights together. I have often seen him alone with the Princess at eleven or twelve o'clock at night; he has been there as late as one or two o'clock in the morning. One night I saw him with the Princess in the blue room after the Ladies had retired; some time afterwards, when I supposed he was gone to his bed-room, I went to see that all was safe, and found the blue room door locked, and heard a whispering in it, and them zwent away." I do solemnly, and upon my oath, depose, that having received the commands of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales to paint her Royal Highness's Portrait, and that of the Princess Charlotte, I attended for that purpose at Montague House, Blackheath, several times about the beginning of the year 1801, and having been informed that Sir William Beechey, upon a similar occasion, had slept in the House, for the greater convenience of executing his painting; and it having been intimated to me that I might probably be allowed the same advantage, I signified my wish to avail myself of it; and accordingly I did sleep at Montague House several nights; that frequently, when employed upon this painting, and occasionally, between the close of a day's sitting and the time of her Royal Highness's dressing for dinner, I have been alone in her Royal Highness's presence; I have likewise been graciously admitted to her Royal Highness's presence in the evenings, and remained there till twelve, one, and two o'clock; but, I do solemnly swear, I was never alone in the presence of her Royal Highness in an evening, to the best of my recollection and belief, except in one single instance, and that for a short time, when I remained with her Royal Highness in the blue-room, or drawingroom, as I remember, to answer some question which had been put to me, at the moment I was about to retire together with the ladies in waiting, who had been previously present as well as myself; and, though I cannot recollect the particulars of the conversation which then took place, I do solemnly swear, that nothing passed between her Royal Highness and myself, which I could have had the least objection for all the world to have seen and heard. And I do further, upon my oath, solemnly declare, that I never was alone in the presence of her Royal Highness in any other place, or in any other way, than as above drescribed; and that neither, upon the occasion last mentioned, nor upon any other, was I eyer in the presence of her Royal Highness, in any room whatever, with the door locked, bolted or fastened, otherwise than iu the common and usual manner, which leaves it in the power of any person on the outside of the door to open it. (Signed) Sworn at the Public Office, Hatton Garden, this 24th day of September, 1806, before me, (Signed) THOMAS LAWRENCE. THOMAS LEACH. THE DEPOSITION OF THOMAS EDMEADES, OF GREENWICH, IN THE COUNTY, OF KENT, SURGEON. On Tuesday, May 20, 1806, I waited upon Earl Moira, by his appointment, who, having introduced me to Mr. Conant, a Magistrate for Westminster, proceeded to mention a charge preferred against me, by one of the female servants of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, of my having said, that her Royal Highness had been pregnant. His Lordship then asked me, if I had not bled her Royal Highness, and whether, at that time, I did not mention to a servant, that I thought her Royal Highness in the family way; and whether I did not also ask, at the same time, if the Prince had been down to Montague House. 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 circumstances of her Royal Highness's having taken a child into her house; and observed, how dreadful mistakes about the 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. Conaut 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, iƒ 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 thinking that 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 habits of conferring confidentially with servants. Mr. Conant cautioned me to be on my guard, as, that if it appeared, 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 make 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 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 had 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 further 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. 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 that 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 that imputed to him, on the deposition of a servant, by Lord Moira this morning." "London, May 20, 1806.” 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 de further depose, that the papers hereunto annexed, marked A. and B. are in the handwriting of Samuel Gillam ills, of Greenwich aforesaid, my partner; and that he is at present, as I verily believe, his road from Wales, through Gloucester, to Bath. (Signed) THOMAS EDMEADES. Sworn at the Public Office, Hatton Garden, this 26th day of September, 1806, before me, (Signed) THOMAS LEACH. (A.) MEMORANDUMS OF THE HEADS OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN LORD MOIRA, MR. LOWTEN, AND MYSELF. May 14, 1806. May 13, 1806, I received a letter from Lord Moira, of which the following is an exact copy:SIR, St. James's Place, May 13, 1806. A particular circumstance makes me desire to have the pleasure of seeing you, and, indeed, renders it indispensable that you should take the trouble of calling on me. As the trial in Westminster Hall occupies the latter hours of the day, I must beg you to be with me as early as nine o'clock, to-morrow morning; in the mean time, it will be better that you should not apprize any one of my having requested you to converse with me. I have the honour, Sir, to be To Mr. Mills. Your obedient servant, MOIRA. THOMAS LEACH. This is the Paper A. referred to by the Affidavit of Thomas Edmeades, sworn before me this 26th September, 1806, (B.) In consequence of the above letter I waited on his Lordship exactly at nine o'clock. In less than five minutes I was admitted into his room, and by him received very politely. He began the conversation by stating, he wished to converse with me on a very délicate 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 never had declared the > Frincess 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 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 that 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 mect 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 a 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; be 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. Lowten 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, adding, 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 the warmth of my expressing my contradiction to 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 sizes I answered uo, I never did think her pregnant, therefore could never say it, and that the deposition was an infamous falsehood. His Lordship then observed, that he perceived there mast be a mistake, and that Mr. Edmeades was the person meant, whom he wished to see; I |