right one. This comparison is strictly applicable to the journalists, who, being in the dark respecting the cause of certain events, flounder about in the wilds of conjecture, until some mischievous ignis fatuus leads them into the sloughs of error, and then sends them forth into the world inflated with falsehood and misrepresentation. It was neither indisposition nor the study of the English language which detained Prince Leopold from the drawing-room, but the arbitrary laws of etiquette, which up to that time had not been so fully adhered to as to authorize his introduction to her Majesty. The preparations for the approaching nuptials were now carried on with incessant activity, and the 18th of April was the day appointed for their consummation; it was, however, subsequently postponed. The domestics who were employed on the establishment at Warwick-House were sent for, and were all promoted on the new establishment of the Princess Charlotte. This was done at her own immediate desire, and gave rise to many comments at the time, and which assumed a complexion according to the party views of the individual who promulgated them: At all events, it exhibited a pleasing feature in the character of the Princess Charlotte, and must have been highly flattering to the individuals, who, by their conduct, had rendered themselves worthy of her distinguished choice. The applications to her Royal Highness, at this time, for the appointment of lady to the bedchamber amounted to 574, and for that of lady in waiting to 279. The jewellery destined for the nuptials was in a state of great forwardness, and the royal mantle was completed. It is the etiquette of the royal princesses to wear a superb mantle at their marriage, which is afterwards the perquisite of the lady in waiting; but, after the mantle was made, it was discovered that it is only a king's daughter who is entitled to the distinction of the mantle: the Princess Charlotte, however, being only the grand-daughter, could not, in strict conformity with etiquette, and without infringing on the privileges of the King's daughters, be married in the royal mantle. This is certainly a distinction not without a difference, but the latter is so slight, that as the expense of the mantle had been incurred, the etiquette might have been waved; and, especially, as the mantle was carefully laid by, there was at that time no immediate prospect of its being called into use by any of the King's daughters. On the 6th, Sir Benjamin Bloomfield carried the determination respecting the marriage to his Serene Highness at Brighton; and, on the 7th he left that place for the Stud House, in Hampton Park, which was fixed upon as his place of residence until the nuptials. The Prince Regent, at three o'clock on the same day, left town for Hampton-Court, to dine with his Serene Highness. One of the principal reasons for the short excursion of his Serene Highness to Hampton-Court, was to inspect the magnificent seat of Claremont, situated a short distance from Esher. His Highness was much delighted with the situation, as a country resi dence, and arrangements were immediately entered into to gratify his Highness and the Princess Charlotte; it being their decided wish, and originating wholly with themselves, to have a country residence, their pursuits leading them more to the tranquil joys of rural scenery, and to the enjoyments of domestic life, than to the more noisy and unsubstantial pleasures of a town residence. Claremont, the then reported residence of the Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, has been long a distinguished spot. The first modern house built there was by Sir John Vanbrugh; it was of brick and of considerable extent. The architect resided in it himself, till he sold it to the Duke of Newcastle, (the minister,) who erected a grand room for the reception of company, without regard to the proportions of the house. Lord Clive afterwards became the possessor, pulled the whole down, and built the present residence, which is rather elegant than noble, but which stands in the midst of grounds that would dignify as well as adorn any mansion. Lord and Lady Clive, however, never resided there; the house was afterwards tenanted by Lord and Lady Galway, and to them succeeded Lord Tyrconnel, who sold the whole property, timber included, to Mr. Ellis, (M. P. for Seaford) for 22,000/.* * A singular report having been raised of a fatality attending the ladies who have resided at Claremont, it became, after the lamented decease of the Princess Charlotte, an object of inquiry; and it was ascertained that there was no good foundation The arrangement for the purchase of this now celebrated mansion not having been at this particular period finally entered into, this introductory notice of its history will be considered in this instance as sufficient. On the 9th of April, a very long discussion took place in the House of Commons, relative to the establishment of the Princess Charlotte. At the commencement of the debate, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not in the House, and Mr. Lushington declared, that it would have been presumption in him to have proposed the business in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had he not conceived that there would be an entire unanimity on the subject. Thus it appears, from the admission of Mr. Lushington himself, that ministers had no idea of that opposition to their proposed establishment of the Princess Charlotte, which, on this evening displayed itself. The chief merits of the opposition, however, hinged upon the allowance which had been formerly granted to the Princess Charlotte of 30,000l. a-year coming from the civil list, and now the 60,000l. to be for the report. Lady Galway resided there several years, and left it in good health. Lady Tyrconnel, after a residence there of many years, returned to the north, where her ladyship died. Mrs. Ellis was brought to Claremont in the summer of 1801, in very suspicious health, so much so, indeed, as to oblige her to pass the following winter in an artificial temperature. After the birth of her daughter, the present Miss Ellis, the family went, on account of Mrs. E's health, to Nice, where she died, and was buried in the church at Esher. voted for her establishment, was to come from the consolidated fund, making a difference in favor of the civil list of 30,000l. a-year. This, as it ceased to be paid to her Royal Highness, ought to revert to the civil list; and Mr. Brougham principally contended, that a clause should be introduced in the present bill, providing how the 30,000l. was to be disposed of, whether it was to go to the civil list, or to cease altogether. In answer to which, Lord Castlereagh stated, that part of it would go to the consolidated fund, and part of it to the civil list. Mr. Tierney could only perceive by the estimates, that part of her Royal Highness's allowance was charged in the civil list, and part in the consolidated fund. The department of Lord Chamberlain and Lord Steward in her Royal Highness's establishment, was 12,000l. a-year, and he was not acquainted with all the other items, the estimates only went to the expenditure of 22,000l. He thought, that the ceasing of her Royal Highness's former establishment ought to reduce so much of the consolidated fund. But those were the notions of old times, and, like many other things of those periods, now forgotten. He considered, that the 6,000% or 6,500l. a-year, her settled establishment, ought to be charged to the civil list, and paid over to the consolidated fund. Another point he wished to be informed on was, whether the rent of the town-house, fixed on for her Royal Highness was to be paid out of the establishment of 60,000l. a-year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that it was. |