necessity on the people of England to declare their full conviction of her royal highness's innocence.

"Resolved, That courts and investigations unknown to the laws of England, courts and investigations which screen the guilty instead of protecting the innocent, are abhorrent to the people of England.

"Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the honorable Cochrane Johnstone, Samuel Whitbread, Esq. and sir Francis Burdett, Bart. for their exertions in the cause of the princess of Wales.

Resolved, That this address, and the answer of the princess of Wales, be published by the sheriff of Middlesex in the daily papers.

"Resolved, That William Mellish, Esq. by refusing to comply with the instructions of his constituents in presenting the address, has betrayed the trust reposed in him, and is thereby unworthy their future confidence.

"Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to George Byng, Esq. for complying with the wish of the County in presenting this address.

"Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to John Blades, Esq. and Michael Hoy, Esq. sheriffs of Middlesex, for their impartial conduct this day."

The freemen and burgesses of Bristol, and of

other populous places, also addressed her royal highness on this occasion; affording ample proofs of the general and decided sense of the public. In short, no acquittal could be more complete;-it was the proud triumph of truth and justice over one of the most foul and wicked conspiracies that malice could invent or falsehood propagate.

CHAPTER. XVI.

Intended Marriage of the Princess Charlotte with the Prince of Orange.-Visit of the Victorious Allies to London.-Exclusion of the Princess of Wales from the Drawing-room.-Correspondence between her Majesty and the Princess of Wales on the Subject.-Her Royal Highness's Letter to the Prince Regent.-Mr. Methuen's Motion in the House of Commons in consequence of the Correspondence.-Newspaper Scandal.The Princess of Wales's Letter to the Speaker. -Debate.-Rupture of the Matrimonial negotiation between the Prince of Orange and the Princess Charlotte.-Departure of the Princess of Wales for the Continent.

REPORTS having been spread respecting the intended marriage of the princess Charlotte with the prince of Orange on the 21st of April 1814, a member of the house of commons wished to know whether the chancellor of the exchequer had any communication to make to the house on this important business. Mr. Vansittart said that "it would be improper for him to say any thing on this delicate subject, as he had no command to make any communication respecting it. The com

munication would, of course, be made without delay as soon as such a step became proper."

This marriage was expected to be celebrated in the ensuing month of July.

The defeat of Bonaparte, and the restoration of monarchy to France, rendered London at this time the scene of gaiety and bustle, owing to a visit from our victorious allies, the sovereigns of Russia and Prussia. On this account two drawing rooms were advertised, one for the avowed purpose of introducing the princess Charlotte. How mortifying must it be to the princess of Wales to be prevented from seeing her daughter at such a critical juncture and the illustrious visitors! her exclusion from court was thus signified to her by the queen : "Windsor Castle, May 23, 1814.

"The queen considers it to be her duty to lose no time in acquainting the princess of Wales, that she had received a communication from her son, the prince regent, in which he states, that her majesty's intention of holding two drawing-rooms in the ensuing month having been notified to the public, he must declare, that he considers that his own presence at her court cannot be dispensed with; and that he desires it to be understood, for reasons of which he alone can be the judge, to be his fixed and unalterable determination, not to meet the princess of Wales upon any occasion, either in public or private.

"The queen is thus placed under the painful necessity of intimating to the princess of Wales, the impossibility of her majesty's receiving her royal highness at the drawing rooms.

"CHARLOTTE R."

The answer of the princess of Wales to her majesty was as follows:

"MADAM,

"I have received the letter which your majesty has done me the honor to address to me, prohibiting my appearance at the public drawing-rooms, which will be held by your majesty in the ensuing month, with great surprise and regret.

"I will not presume to discuss with your majesty, topics which must be as painful to your majesty, as to myself.

"Your majesty is well acquainted with the affectionate regard, with which the king was so kind as to honor me up to the period of his majesty's indisposition; which no one of his majesty's subjects has so much cause to lament as myself;—and that his majesty was graciously pleased to bestow upon me the most unequivocal and gratifying proof of his attachment and approbation, by his public reception of me at his court, at a season of severe and unmerited affliction, when his protection was most necessary to me. There 1 have since, uninterruptedly, paid my respects to your majesty. I