of such a negotiation as that which had been alluded to. No worse reason could possibly be brought forward to induce the House to interfere on such a delicate subject, than the stories which, according to the honorable gentleman, were hawked about the streets, with respect to it; except, indeed, it were that singular one described by the honorable baronet, as particularly operative on his mind, namely, the report that if the marriage were concluded, her Royal Highness would be induced to leave the country. Surely when it was asserted, that the negotiation for the marriage was broken off, this last reason for inquiring into the subject became extremely futile and absurd. There could be no necessity for any precipitation or warmth in the business; if the honorable gentleman thought, in the present stage of the proceeding (whatever it might be), that it was expedient for Parliament to interfere, at least, let them give the House time to cool, and ministers, who were responsible for their advice which they might give on the subject, opportunity to afford to it all the consideration which its importance demanded.

Sir M. W. Ridley explained. What he had said was, that he understood, in the event of the marriage having taken place, her Royal Highness would have quitted the country;-a circumstance of such importance, that the sooner it was brought forward in Parliament the better.

Mr. Horner agreed entirely with his honorable

friend, (Mr. Whitbread,) as to the extreme importance of the subject; both as 'affecting the illustrious character more immediately concerned, and as involving in it some of the great interests of the state. But, while he agreed with his honorable friend, as to the importance of the question, it was impossible for him to deny the truth of what had been said by others, as to the propriety of greater deliberation, and an extended notice of discussion. He was not presumptuous enough to suppose that his honorable friend stood in need of his advice to shape his parliamentary conduct; but he earnestly recommended to him to postpone his mótion, until the House should be better prepared, and in better temper, to discuss it; letting that which had passed stand for notice; not doubting that, whenever it might be brought forward, he, (Mr. Horner,) viewing the subject in the same light as that in which it was seen by his honorable friend, should most cordially concur in his proposition.

Mr. Whitbread declared that there was no one to whose advice he would sooner listen, than to his honorable and learned friend who had just spoken; and no one, to whose advice he was less disposed to attend than the honorable and learned gentleman opposite. As to the qualities of moderation, propriety, and discretion, he would go to the honorable gentleman opposite, (Mr. Robinson,) for them; he would go for them to his learned friend behind him,(Mr.Horner); but in his search he would

avoid and go out of the way of the honorable and learned gentleman opposite, (Mr. Stephen). He would abstain from noticing a word of what had fallen from that honorable and learned gentleman; he wished to forget it ;-but he could assure him that he did not care a straw about it. With respect to the suddenness of his motion, it should be recollected, that the occasion was as sudden. His honorable friend (without the slightest concert with him) had put a question to the right honorable gentleman opposite, on which that right honorable gentleman had thought proper to remain mute; upon this, he (Mr. W.) had availed himself of one of the most useful and important privileges of a member of that House-that of raising an immediate question-in order to enable him to make the observations, which appeared to him to be necessary on the subject. Having done this, he was perfectly ready to wave any farther proceedings; never having seriously meant to take the question out of his honorable friend's hands. With the leave of the House, therefore, he would. withdraw his motion.

The whole dispute, as to the rupture of the marriage of the Princess Charlotte, supposing that rupture to proceed from the dread which her Royal Highness entertained of leaving the country, may be justly classed under two heads :-The first, Whether her Royal Highness had a right to insist upon a permanent residence or domicile in England, with occasional temporary absence,

instead of a permanent residence in Holland, with occasional temporary visits to England; and, secondly, Whether she had reason to understand that the latter, rather than the former, was intended by her illustrious suitor?-With those who approve of a foreign residence for her Royal Highness, the second question need not be discussed; but a suggestion naturally presents itself, that, whatever their notions of constitutional policy and expediency may be on this subject, they must, in candour, admit that her Royal Highness possessed a right to judge differently; and also to withdraw her consent to a marriage, so essential a condition of which had not been, previously to that consent, made known to her. There are few individuals, to whatever party they may belong, who are not agreed that the presumptive, and, it may be almost said, the apparent, heiress of these realms ought not to be placed at a distance, for many years, from English manners and characters; or even, as a point of national dignity, be made to follow the fortunes of a less considerable family. In fact, it forms a part of her Royal Highness's letter to Lord Liverpool, wherein she states, "that she has not as yet enjoyed, in any competent degree, the means of seeing her own country, or of becoming acquainted with the people towards whom she may hereafter be called upon to discharge the most important duties." Her Royal Highness was arrived at a time of life, when the mind may be expected to expand towards the laws and institu

tions of her country; and, as she was hereafter destined to govern it, it was but proper that she should have opportunities afforded her of becoming acquainted with all that belong to it.

Where a question is involved in general doubt, it becomes an arduous undertaking to select any particular ramification which may lead to the solution of it. Every case assumes a complexion according to the party-spirit of the individual, and the semblance even of truth is lost in the counterfeit representations which are made. The actual cause of the rupture of the marriage of the Princess Charlotte with the Prince of Orange remains, to this day, a mystery; and the solution of it is carefully locked up in the breasts of those, whose interest, or whose character, prompts them to keep it there. Thus they, who have been the staunch opponents of the Princess of Wales, would not have it considered, on any account, that the rupture of the marriage was occasioned by the lamentable dissensions of the parents of the Princess Charlotte; as that would involve a point of the greatest national interest, namely, that of a matrimonial alliance, so favourable, so advantageous, to the country, in a political point of view, having been rejected, on account of the private and personal differences of the royal pair; in which one of the highest assemblies of the kingdom had but a short time before declared, that it could not interfere, as it was merely a quarrel between man and wife, and could not be considered as a