The whole construction of both these epistles, from be ginning to end, are evidently that of a foreigner, and a very ignorant one, and the vulgarity of it is altogether quite shocking. In one part she exclaims that she did not think I should have had the impudence to come on her door again, and tells me 'tis for my being indiscreet, and not having allowed her to call me a liar, that she treats me thus, and that I would do well to remember the story of Henry the Eighth's Queen, and Lady Douglas. I was instantly satisfied it was from her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and that Mrs. Fitzgerald had shewn her my letter, and this was her answer to it. I immediately carried it to Sir John Douglas, who said he was sure it came from the Princess, and he shewed it to Sir Sidney Smith, who said, every word and expression in it were those which the Princess of Wales constantly used. Sir John desired me now to give him a full explanation of what her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales had confided to me, and whether I had ever mentioned it. I gave him my solemn word of honour it had never passed my lips, and I was only now going to utter it at his positive desire. That her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales told me she was with child, and that it came to life at Lady Willoughby's, that if she was discovered," she would give the Prince of Wales the credit, for she slept at Carlton House twice the year she was pregnant; that she often spoke of her situation, compared herself and me to Mary and Elizabeth, and told me when she shewed me the child, that it was the little boy she had two days after I last saw her, that was the 30th of October; therefore her son was born upon the 1st of November, and I take a retrospect view of things after I knew the day of his birth, and found her Royal Highness must have gone down stairs and dined with all the Chancellors about the fourth day after she was delivered, with the intention, if discovered, of having them all to say they dined with her flagrant things, I wrote the under-written note, and put it into the Post Office, directed to herself. "MADAM, "I received your former anonymous letter safe; also your two last, with drawings. "I am, Madam, "Your obedient servant, (Signed) "CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS." It appears evident that her Royal Highness received this safe, and felt how she had committed herself, for, instead of returning it in the old style, she sent for his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and requested him to send for Sir Sidney, and by the post Sir Sidney received an anonymous letter, saying, the writer of that wished for no civil dissentions, and that there seldom was a difference, where, if the parties wished it, they could not arrange matters. Sir Sidney Smith brought this curious letter to shew Sir John, and we were all satisfied it was from Her Royal Highness, who, thinking Sir Sidney and Sir John might, by this time, be cutting each other's throats, sent very graciously to stop them; in short, she called them civil dissentions. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, being employed to negotiate, sent for Sidney Smith, and acquainted him, that he was desired by her Royal Highness to say, that she would see Sir Sidney Smith in the course of a few days, provided, when he came to her, he avoided all disagreeable discussions whatsoever. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent then sought from Sir Sidney an explanation of the matter; Sir Sidney Smith then gave the Duke of Kent a full detail of circumstances, and ended by saying, "We all could, and would, swear the drawings and words contained in those covers, were written by the Princess of Wales; for, as if she were fully to convict herself, she had sealed one of the covers with the identical seal she had used upon the cover, when she summoned Sir John to luncheon at Montague House. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, finding what a scrape she had entangled herself in, exclaimed "Abominable! foolish! to be sure; but Sir Sidney Smith, as this matter, if it makes a noise, may distress His Majesty, and be injurious to his health, I wish Sir John and Lady Douglas would (at least for the present) try to forget it; and if my making them a visit would be agreeable, and soothe their minds, I will go with all my heart, though I am not yet acquainted with them, and I will speak fully to the Princess of Wales, and point out to her the danger of doing such things; but, at all events, it would be very injurious to His Majesty's health, if it came to his ears just now." Sir Sidney Smith came from His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent to us, and delivered His Royal Highness's message. Sir John declined all negociation; but told Sir Sidney Smith, that he was empowered to say to the Duke of Kent from him, that of whatsoever extent he might* his injuries, and however anxious he might be to seek justice, yet when he received such an intimation from one of the Royal Family, he would certainly pause before he took any of those measures he meant to take; and if that was the case, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent was desirous of his being quiet, lest His Majesty's health or peace might be disturbed by it, his duty, and his attachment to his Sovereign were so sincere, that he would bury (for the present) his private calamity, for the sake of His Majesty's repose and the public good; but he begged to be clearly understood, that he did not mean to bind himself hereafter, but reserve to himself a full right of exposing the Princess of Wales, when he judged it might be done with greatest effect, and when it was not likely to disturb the repose of this country. * So in the authenticated copy.. Sir Sidney Smith told us that he had delivered Sir John's message, verbatim, to the Duke of Kent; and, a short time afterwards, His Royal Highness commanded Sir John and Sir Sidney to dine with him at Kensington Palace; but the Duke of Kent did not speak to Sir John upon the subject, and the matter rested there, and would have slept for a time, had not the Princess of Wales recommenced a fresh torrent of outrage against Sir John; and had he not discovered, that she was attempting to undermine his and Lady Douglas's character. Sir John, therefore, was compelled to communicate his situation to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, in order that he might acquaint the Royal Family of the manner the Princess of Wales was proceeding in, and to claim His Majesty's and the Heir Apparent's protection. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, with that goodness and consideration Sir John expected from him, has informed his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who sent Sir John word that "He desired to have a full detail of all that passed during their acquaintance with her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and how they became known to her, it appearing to the Heir Apparent, from the representation of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, that his Majesty's dearest interests, and those of this country, were very deeply involved in the question; His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has commanded them to be vey circumstantial in their detail respecting all they may know relative to the child the Princess of Wales affected to adopt. Sir John and Lady Douglas repeat, that, being so called upon, they feel it their duty to detail what they know, for the information of His Majesty and the Prince of Wales, and they have so done, as upon oath, after having very seriously considered the matter, and are ready to authenticate whatever they have said, if it should be required, for His Majesty's further information. I have drawn up this detail in the best man ner I could; and fear, from my never having before attempted a thing of the kind, it will be full of errors, and being much fatigued from writing of it, from the original, in eight and forty hours, of the facts contained therein, I believe they are correct: I am ready to assert, in the most solemn manner, that I know them all to be true. (Signed) In the presence of CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS. AUGUSTUS FREDERICK. Greenwich Park, Dec. 3, 1805. Copies of all the Papers alluded to in this detail are in the hands of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. |
