her friends and adherents; and those who defended her whilst living, or who have vindicated her since dead, have become the objects of ministerial aversion, and will be exposed to all the evils of a misdirected and improper inveteracy.

By some, indeed, the cause of the Queen was only made an instrument of political discontent, and entirely a party question; but such feelings are gradually subsiding; the questions are beginning to be calmly and properly discussed, and it is now apparent to many, that her imperfections were magnified into vices, by slander and malice; and that her excellencies were absurdly extolled, by friends whose attachment was too ardent, and whose opinion was therefore not sufficiently impartial.

CHAPTER III.

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

THE page of biography has thus closed; and as

the historian retires, it is the business of the moralist to advance. These volumes of individual history will be perused with pain and regret, by every one whose mind is rightly constituted, and whose heart is not incapable of noble and generous sympathy. They develop actual positive misery, and one continued narrative of sorrow and suffering. Whatever might have been the cause of such evils, their existence cannot be disputed, and that reality must therefore excite pity and regret. But what were the causes of such occurrences? The preceding pages have practically answered the question, and they are as much to be deplored as the effects.

That the Heir-Apparent to the Throne of a free country, should be compelled, against his inclinations, to unite his destiny with an individual whom he did not love, is a circumstance which the statesman, the moralist, and the philanthropist must deplore. And that the daughter of the brave, and virtuous, and noble Duke of Brunswick, should also be induced to consent to an union, to which she was averse, is equally lamentable.

Against such arrangements of national policy many objections to their theory might be urged; but the history of this marriage is so replete with proofs of their baneful operation, that theory is superseded by fact, and supposition by demonstration. To all nations, and to all governments it must read a lesson which should never be forgotten, and which should not only be deplored, but should induce an universal determination to repeal or discontinue all laws or customs, however sanctioned by experience, or venerable for antiquity, which are the real causes of evils so dire, and which unhappily are as frequent as they are distressing.

But the marriage took place. What should have been the conduct of each of the distinguished personages under such circumstances? As a woman and a wife, the Princess should have been courteous, kind, respectful, attentive, and submissive. She should not have expected that ardour of affection, and that care and assiduous attention which she would have had a right to expect, if the Prince had professed to love her, and if she had loved the Prince. Her rank, her character, her accomplishments, her family, her relationship to the reigning Monrach, and to the HeirApparent; ought, however, to have obtained for her, the public and private respect, confidence, and society of the Prince. These she did not obtain. Others, far less deserving, studied to supplant her, and they succeeded. Under such circumstances,

M 2

she should have been retired in her habits-avoided subjects which excited painful feelings or recollections, and submitted to what was unavoidable. Here, however, she must necessarily stop, and her conduct respecting Lady Jersey, was dignified, judicious, and commendable. If she had not so acted, she would not have deserved the respect which she claimed; and because her demands were proper, George III. insisted on the dismissal of that Lady from the establishment of the Prince, and she was accordingly removed.

As to the Prince, his situation was even more peculiar. He consummated a marriage without sufficiently reflecting on its consequences. He forgot that Lady Jersey, and Mrs. Fitzherbert must be wholly relinquished, and so relinquished for a Princess, whom he did not love, though he had made her his bride. But he speedily discovered his error, and that was the moment of difficulty. His determinations have been related, and the consequences which followed, have been also unfolded. Of the conduct of the Princess he did not, however, complain. The path in which it was proper for her to proceed she generally persevered in, but her occasional variations, perhaps, increased the evils which embittered her future life, and rendered her case the most unparalleled for misfortune and unhappiness, that is recorded in the pages of ancient or modern history. Those variations must, however, be partly attributed to her natural disposition, which was eminently opposed

to concealment or secresy.

Her dislikes she

never attempted to hide, and her friendships were as ardent as they were durable.

But they were separated. That act was originally that of the Prince. His celebrated letter tacitly admitted it. Yet it was afterwards approved by the Princess, and was then wise and necessary. Thus living apart, they should each have avoided acts which each were confident were disapproved by the other; to say nothing of those which might be fairly left to their mutual discretion. The inventions of Lady Douglas should not, therefore, have been so readily accredited; and when subsequently demonstrated to be as false as they were malicious, the Princess should have received from her illustrious husband, a public as well as a private recognition of her innocence. But the reverse of this acknowledgment was the conduct pursued; and when the reigning Monarch was about to receive her Royal Highness into his presence and favour, he was requested to delay such proofs of his satisfaction of her innocence. Thus were the measures of Lady Douglas unreprobated by the Prince, when she should have become the object of his most cordial detestation. That, however, the Prince was in no way concerned in the invention of her plot, or in its development, cannot be too clearly stated; and at first he was unquestionably imposed on by the positivity of her allegations. They demanded enquiry; but when proved to be false, they should have been so considered. By the nation they