understandings had occurred between his majesty and the prince, on account of these visits; but as no circumstance had taken place, to warrant his majesty in withdrawing his countenance from the princess, the prince yielded in filial obedience to the wishes of his parent, and forbore to express his chagrin upon the occasion." The separation of the royal pair, which originated from personal dislike, and not from any criminal act, became the foundation of the most virulent defamation, and every little courtsey was construed into guilt. In short, she was surrounded by domestic spies: yet her royal highness, though thus calumniated and abused, was not only visited by his late majesty, but by his majesty's late brother the duke of Gloucester, and others of the royal family. Unaccustomed to English formalities, her royal highness had frequently accompanied lord Hood in his one horse chaise, sometimes without any of her attendants. An anonymous letter, however, apprized her of the character of lady Douglas, and of the liberties which she allowed herself to take with the name of her royal highness. The princess of Wales was accordingly denied to lady Douglas, but as she still repeated her visits her royal highness directed Mrs. Vernon to write to lady Douglas, and inform her that her visits to Montague-house were no longer agreeable. Sir John and lady Douglas, highly incensed at this intended affront, persuaded

sir Sidney Smith that it was also extended to him; and in the joint names of sir Sidney Smith, sir John and lady Douglas, an application was made to her royal highness for an explanation, which the latter was resolved not to grant. To avoid, however, any disagreeable discussion on the subject, the mediation of the duke of Kent was solicited; and his royal highness, though unacquainted with the just provocation which the princess of Wales had received, obtained a qualified consent from all parties, that, if unmolested, they would remain quiet.

In the latter end of the year 1802, when the princess Charlotte had nearly attained the age when she was no longer to be under the care of her mother, the princess of Wales adopted a child of very obscure parents, of the name of Austen, which was suckled and brought up under her own immediate eye. It has been proved that her royal highness was equally kind to, and fond of, other children: how ridiculous then the assertion of those fastidious cavillers who have insisted that her own daughter -her only child, should have engrossed all her maternal feelings, when she was not aware of the hour when that child-that only daughter might have been taken away entirely from her care, especially as her having the royal child for the first eight years of her age, was deemed a GREAT FAVOR! The adoption of a child, under such cir

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cumstances, was neither extraordinary nor eccentric; but very natural in some mothers:-we read in the sacred scriptures of a woman, who having overlaid her own child, stole another to supply its place. Be it also observed that her royal highness's interviews with her own daughter were very confined, as intimated in the preceding chapter.

The adoption of this male child was foully and scandalously reported to be a mere pretence for keeping one of whom she had been secretly delivered; though it had been acknowledged that at the time of her supposed pregnancy, her royal highness received visits, and was continually with visitors. Such unpleasant reports not only affected the life of her royal highness, but actually involved the right of the princess Charlotte to the throne.. The prince of Wales having sent for his brother, the duke of Kent, their interview took place in the prince of Wales's bed-room, Nov. 10, 1805, when, after dismissing his servants, his royal highness said to his brother, that some circumstances had come to his knowledge, with respect to a transaction with the princess of Wales, in which he found that he had been a party concerned; that if he had not placed the most entire reliance on his attachment to him, and on the well-known uprightness of his character and principles, he should certainly have felt himself in no small degree offended, as having learnt the facts alluded to from others,