proceeding manifests that I have enemies enough; I could not wish unnecessarily to increase their number, or their weight. I trust, however, I have done it, (I know it has been my purpose to do it,) in a manner as little offensive as the justice due to myself would allow of; but I have felt that I have been deeply injured; that I have had much to complain of: and that my silence now would not be taken for forbearance, but would be ascribed to me as a confession of guilt. The report itself announced to me, that these things, which had been spoken to by the witnesses, "great improprieties and indecencies of conduct," "necessarily occasioning most unfavourable interpretations, and deserving the most serious consideration," "must be credited till decidedly contradicted." The most satisfactory disproof of these circumstances (as the contradiction of the accused is always received with caution and distrust) rested in the proof of the foul malice and falsehood of my accusers and their witnesses. The report announced to your majesty that those witnesses, whom I felt to be foul confederates in a base conspiracy against me, were not to be suspected of unfavourable bias, and their veracity, in the judgment of the commissioners, not to be questioned.

"Under these circumstances, sire, what could I do? could I forbear, in justice to myself, to an, nounce to your majesty the existence of a conspiracy against my honour, and my station in this

country at least, if not against my life? Could I forbear to point out to your majesty how long this intended mischief had been meditated against me? could I forbear to point out my doubts, at least, of the legality of the commission under, whichi, the proceeding: had been ihad ?, or, to point out the errors and inaccuracies into which the great and able men who are named in this commission, under the hurry and pressure of their great official occu+ pations, had fallen, in the execution of this duty? could I forbear to state, and to urge, the great injustice and jury that had been done to my character and my honour, by opinions pronounced against me without hearing me? And if, in the execution of this great task, so essential to my honour, I have let drop any expressions which a colder and more cautious prudence 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 un fortunate, 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, having not known how, with exact propriety, to. limit my expres

sions.

"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 circumstances, I can confidently appeal. 99 vaged vat to ted add of yfiɔBU

"

"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

"I am,

"SIRE,

"With every sentiment of gratitude and loyalty,

"Your majesty's most affectionate 920

and dutiful daughter-in-law,:

subject and servant,

CHAPTER XIL

Depositions of Thomas Manby Esq., Thomas Lawrence, Portrait Painter, and Thomas Edmeades, Surgeon.-Samuel Gillam Mills's Statement of a Conversation with Lord Moira and Mr. Lowten.-Depositions of Jonathan Partridge, Philip Krackeler and Robert Eaglestone, disproving the evidence against the Princess of Wales.-Her Royal Highness's letter to the King-His Majesty's reply, transmitted by the Lord Chancellor.-Her Royal Highness's letter on the joyful occasion.-The King's answer.— Another letter from his Majesty suspending an interview.-Her Royal Highness's consequent letters on the unhappy occasion.

THOMAS MANBY Esq. deposed that having had read to him 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