ceive the address of the city of London in its corporate capacity, which he represented as proceeding from spleen and ill-humour. There is no doubt but the prince acted from a just sense of decorum and etiquette, but many were, notwithstanding, dissatisfied. Her royal highness at this time was perfectly recovered, and became soon aquainted with the circumstance. It has been said that she expressed a regret that her royal consort had not dispensed with the rigid rules of ceremony, and it has been also suspected that her free observations were, with many aggravations, reported to the prince. Her sentiments arose from maternal feelings-the birth of a princess was joy to the mother, and on such a happy occasion, she was ready and willing to receive the congratulations of all. This "amiable woman," as she had been styled in the house of peers, by her royal brother-in-law, the duke of Clarence, was by no means averse to a reduction of expences and superfluities; for, being of a placid disposition, she could make herself happy in retirement consequently, the embarrassments of the prince never extorted a single complaint from the princess. It would therefore be unjust to think that any domestic cavils arose on this account. No-long before the birth of the royal infant the prince found, that the princess's disposition was dissimilar to his own, and though his royal highness had been so attentive to her during her

H

accouchement, and was even present at the birth of the princes: Charlotte, suddenly quitted Carlton house, and made Windsor his temporary residence. Indeed the affability of the royal subject of these impartial memoirs did not admit of delicate punctilios, being unaccustomed to those nice ceremonies at the court of Brunswick.

CHAPTER V.

Separation of their royal highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.-Correspondence on the occasion.-Remarks.-His Majesty's sympathy for his Daughter-in-law.-The Princess Charlotte confided to the care of her Mother during the first Eight Years of her Life-Her royal high

ness's retirement.

AT a time which promised so much bliss and harmony-at a time when the British nation fondly anticipated a numerous progeny from the heir apparent, these hopes were blasted three months after the birth of the princess Charlotte, when lady Cholmondeley suddenly informed the princess of Wales that the prince had resolved upon a separation. Her royal highness immediately observed that the message was infinitely too important to rest merely upon a verbal communication, and consequently desired that his royal highness's pleasure should be communicated to her in writing. She also observed, that any arrangement once made, with respect to separate dwellings, should be considered as final, and that his royal highness should not, under any plea, retain the right, under any circumstances whatever, of altering it. In conformity to these desires, his royal highness sent the following letter:

"Madam,

Windsor Castle, April 30, 1796.

"As lord Cholmondeley informs me that you wish I would define in writing the terms upon which we are to live, I shall endeavour to explain myself upon that head with as much clearness, and with as much propriety, as the nature of the subject will admit. Our inclinations are not in our power, nor should either of us be held answerable to the other, because nature has not made us suitable to each other. Tranquil and comfortable society is, however, in our power; let our intercourse, therefore, be restricted to that, and I will distinctly subscribe to the condition which you required through lady Cholmondeley, that, even in the event of any accident happening to my daughter, which, I trust Providence in his mercy will avert, I shall not infringe the terms of the restriction, by proposing, at any period, a connection of a more particular nature. I shall now finally close this disagreeable correspondence, trusting that, as we have completely explained ourselves to each other, the rest of our lives will be passed in uninterrupted tranquillity. '

"I am, Madam,

"With great truth,

D

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(Signed)

Very sincerely yours,
"GEORGE P"

To this her royal highness sent the following

dignified, but respectful answer::

"The avowal of your conversation with lord Cholmondeley, neither surprises nor offends me. It merely confirmed what you have tacitly insinuated for this twelvemonth. But after this, it would be a want of delicacy, or rather an unworthy meanness in me, were I to complain of those conditions which you impose upon yourself.

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"I should have returned no answer to your letter, if it had not been conceived in terms to make it doubtful whether this arrangement proceeds from you or from me, and you are aware that the credit of it belongs to you alone.

"The letter which you announce to me as the last, obliges me to communicate to the king, as to my sovereign and my father, both your avowal, and my answer. You will find enclosed the copy of my letter to the king. I apprise you of it, that I may not incur the slightest reproach of duplicity from you. As I have at this moment no protector but his majesty, I refer myself solely to him upon this subject, and if my conduct meets his approbation, I shall be in some degree at least consoled. I retain every sentiment of gratitude for the situation in which I find myself as princess of Wales, enabled, by your means, to indulge in the free exercise of a virtue dear to my heart, I mean charity. "It will be my duty likewise to act upon another motive, that of giving an example of patience and resignation under every trial.