was discovered, of having them all to say they | Douglas to be the same virtuous domestic wodined with her in perfect health so early in November, that it could not be. Sir John recollected all her whims, and went over her whole conduct, and he firmly believes her to be the mother of the reputed Deptford child. I then acquainted him of the pains she had taken to estrange my mind and affections from him, and he saw her pursuit of now changing sides, and endeavouring to estrange him from me, lest, if we lived in a happy state, I might make known her situation to him; and we agreed, that as we had no means of communicating at present with his Majesty, or the Heir Apparent, we must wait patiently until called upon to bring forward her conduct, as there seemed little doubt we should one day be. Finding that Sir John Douglas did not choose to visit where his wife was discarded and hurt in the estimation of her acquaintance, her fury became so unbounded, that she sought what she could do most atrocious, wicked, and inhuman, she reached her provided, when he came to her, he avoided all | Sir Sidney to dine with him at Kensington disagreeable discussions whatsoever. His Palace; but the Duke of Kent did not speak Royal Highness the Duke of Kent then sought to Sir John upon the subject, and the matter from Sir Sidney an explanation of the matter; rested there, and would have slept for a time, Sir Sidney Smith then gave the Duke of Kent had not the Princess of Wales re-commenced a a full detail of circumstances, and ended by fresh torrent of outrage against Sir John; saying, "We all could, and would, swear the and had he not discovered, that she was at. drawings and words contained in those covers, tempting to undermine his and Lady Dougwere written by the Princess of Wales; for, las's character. Sir John, therefore, was com as if she were fully to convict herself, she had pelled to communicate bis situation to his sealed one of the covers with the identical Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, in order seal she had used upon the cover when she that he might acquaint the Royal family of the summoned Sir John to luncheon at Montague manner the Princess of Wales was proceeding House." in, and to claim his Majesty's and the Heir Apparent's protection. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, with that goodness and consideration Sir John expected from him, bas informed his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who sent Sir John word that "He desired to have a full detail of all that passed during their acquaintance with her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and how they became known to her, it appearing to the Heir Apparent, from the representation of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, that his Majesty's dearest interests, and those of this country, were very deeply involved in the question; his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has commanded them to be very cir cumstantial in their detail respecting all they may know relative to the child the Princess of Wales affected to adopt. Sir John and Lady Douglas repeat, that, being so called upon, they feel it their duty to detail what they know, for the information of his Majesty and the Prince of Wales, and they have so done, as upon oath, after having very seriously con. sidered the matter, and are ready to authenti. cate whatever they have said, if it should be required, for his Majesty's further informa tion. I have drawn up this detail, in the best manner I could; and fear, from my never having before attempted a thing of the kind, it will be full of errors, and being much fatigued from writing of it from the original in eight-and-forty hours. Of the facts contained therein, I believe they are correct: I am ready to assert, in the most solemn manner, that I know them all to be true, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, find. ing what a scrape she had entangled herself in, exclaimed "Abominable! foolish! to be sure; but, Sir Sidney Smith, as this matter, if it makes a noise, may distress his Majesty, and be injurious to his health, I wish Sir John and Lady Douglas would (at least for the present) try to forget it; and if my making them a visit would be agreeable, and soothe their minds, I will go with all my heart, though I am not yet acquainted with them, and I will speak fully to the Princess of Wales, and point out to her the danger of doing such things; but, at all events, it would be very injurious to his Majesty's health, if it came to his ears just now." Sir Sidney Smith came from his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent to us, and delivered his Royal Highness's message. Sir John declined all negociation; but told Sir Sidney Smith, that he was empowered to say to the Duke of Kent from him, that of whatsoever extent he might* his injuries, and however anxious he might be to seek justice, yet when be received such an intimation from one of the Royal family, he would certainly pause before he took any of those measures he meant to take; and if that was the case, and his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent was desirous of his being quiet, lest his Majesty's health or peace might be disturbed by it, his duty, and his attachment to his Sovereign were so sincere, that he would bury (for the present) his private calamity, for the sake of his Majesty's repose and the public good; but he begged to be clearly under stood, that he did not mean to bind himself hereafter, but reserve to himself a full right of exposing the Princess of Wales, wheu he judged it might be done with greatest effect, and when it was not likely to disturb the repose of this country. Sir Sidney Smith told us that he had delivered Sir John's message, verbatim, to the Duke of Kent; and, a short time afterwards, his Royal Highness commanded Sir John and a So in the authenticated opy. CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS.. Copies of all the papers alluded to in this detail are in the hands of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. JOHN DOUGLAS. In the presence of AUGUSTUS FREDERICK. (No. 2.) would break off all further communication between her and that lady; that, however, contrary to her expectation, upon the return of Sir John and her from Plymouth to Loudon, Lady Douglas had called and left her name twice or three times, notwithstanding she must have seen that admission was refused her; that having been confirmed in the opinion she had before had occasion to form of her Ladyship, by an anonymous letter she had received, in which she was very strongly cautioned against renewing her acquaintance with her, both as being unworthy of her con NARRATIVE Of the duke OF KENT. To introduce the following relation, it is necessary for me to premise that, on entering the Prince of Wales's bed-room, where our interview took place, my brother, after dismissing his attendants, said to me, that some circumstances had come to his knowledge, with respect to a transaction with the Princess of Wales, in which he found that I had been a party concerned; that if he had not placed the most entire reliance on my attachment to him, and, he was pleased to add, on the well-fidence, from the liberties she had allowed herknown uprightness of my character and principles, he should certainly have felt himself in no small degree offended, at having learned the facts alluded to from others, and not, in the first instance, from me, which he conceived himself every way entitled to expect, but more especially from that footing of confidence on which he had ever treated me through life; but, that being fully satisfied my explanation of the matter would prove, that he was not wrong in the opinion he had formed of the honourable motives that had ́actuated me in observing a silence with regard to him upon the subject; he then was anxiously waiting for me to proceed with a narrative, his wish to hear which, he was sure be had only to express, to ensure my immediate acquiescence with it. The Prince then gave me his hand, assuring me he did not feel the smallest degree of displeasure towards me, and proceeded to introduce the subject upon which be required information; when, feeling it a duty I owed him, to withhold from his know. ledge no part of the circumstances connected with it that I could bring back to my recollection, I related the facts to him, as nearly as I can remember, in the following words : self to take with the Princess's name, and the lightness of her character, she had felt berself obliged, as Lady Douglas would not take the hint that her visits were not wished for, to order Miss Vernon to write her a note, specifically telling her, that they would in future be dispensed with; that the consequence of this bad been an application through one of her ladies, in the joint names of Sir Sidney Smith, Sir John and Lady Douglas, for an audience, to require an explanation of this, which they considered as an affront; and that being determined not to grant it, or to suffer any unpleasant discussion upon the subject, she entreated me to take whatever steps I might judge best to put an end to the matter, and rid her of all further trouble about it: I stated, in reply, that I had no knowledge of either Sir John or Lady Douglas, and therefore could not, in the first instance, address myself to them; but that I had some acquaintance with Sir Sidney Smith, and if the Princess was not averse to that channel, I would try what I could in that way effect.→ This being assented to by the Princess, I took my leave, and immediately on my return home, wrote a note to Sir Sidney, requesting "About a twelvemonth since, or there- bim to call upon me as soon as he convenientabouts, (for I cannot speak positively to the ly could, as I had some business to speak to exact date,) I received a note from the Princess him upon. Sir.Sidney, in consequence, called of Wales, by which she requested me to come on me (I think) the next day, when I related over to Blackheath, in order to assist her in to him the conversation, as above stated, that arranging a disagreeable matter between her, I had had with the Princess. After hearing Sir Sidney Smith, Sir John and Lady Douglas, all I had to say, he observed, that the Princess, the particulars of which she would relate to in stating to me that her prohibition to Lady me when I should call. I, in consequence, Douglas to repeat her visits at Blackheath, waited upon her, agreeable to her desire, a had led to the application for an audience of day or two after, when she commenced the ber Royal Highness, had kept from me the conversation by telling me, that she supposed real cause why he, as well as Sir John and I knew she had, at one time, lived with Lady Lady Douglas had made it, as it originated in Douglas on a footing of intimacy, but that a most scandalous anonymous letter, of a she had had reason afterwards to repent hav-nature calculated to set on Sir John and him ing made her acquaintance, and was therefore to cut each other's throats, which, from the rejoiced when she left Blackheath for Ply-hand-writing and style, they were both fully mouth, as she conceived that circumstance convinced, was the production of the Princess herself. I naturally expressed my sentiments | (Nov. 10, 1805), I never have heard the subject named again in any shape, until called upon by the Prince to make known to him the circumstances of this transaction, as far as I could bring them to my recollection." upon such conduct, on the part of the Princess, in terms of the strongest animadversion; but, nevertheless, anxious to avoid the shameful eclat which the publication of such a fact to the world must produce; the effect, which it coming to the King's knowledge would probably have on his health, from the delicate state of his nerves, and all the addi tional misunderstandings between his Majesty and the Prince, which, I foresaw, would inevitably follow, were this fact, which would give the Prince so powerful a handle to express his feelings upon the countenance shewn by the King to the Princess, at a time when I knew him to be severely wounded by his Majesty's visits to Blackheath, on the one hand, and the reports he had received of the Princess's con duct on the other, to be brought to light, I felt it my bounden duty, as an honest man, to urge all these arguments with Sir Sidney Smith in the most forcible manuer I was master of; adding also, as a further object, worthy of the most serious consideration, the danger of any appearance of ill-blood in the family at such an eventful crisis, and to press upon his mind the necessity of his using his best endeavours with Sir John Douglas, notwithstanding all the provocation that had been given them, to induce him to let the matter drop, and pur. sue it no further. Sir Sidney observed to me, that Sir John Douglas was a man, whom, when once he had taken a line, from a principle of honour, it was very difficult to persuade to depart from it; however, as be thought, that if any man could prevail upon him, he might flatter himself with being the most likely to persuade him, from the weight he had with him; he would immediately try how far he could gain upon him, by making use of those arguments I had brought forward to induce him to drop the matter altogether. About four or five days after this, Sir Sidney called upon me again, and informed me, that upon making use with Sir John of those reasons, which I had authorised his stating to be those by which I was actuated in making the request, that he would not press the business further, he had not been able to resist their force; but that the whole extent of promise he had been able to obtain of him, amounted to no more, than that he would, under existing circumstances, remain quiet, if left unmolested; for that he would not pledge himself not to bring the subject forward hereafter, when the same motive might no longer operate to keep him silent. This result I communicated, to the best of my recollection, the following day to the Princess, who seemed satisfied with it; and from that day to the present one And now, having fulfilled what the Prince wished me to do, to the best of my abilities, in case hereafter any one, by whom a narrative of all the circumstances, as related by Sir John and Lady Douglas, of whom I was informed by my brother, subsequent to our conversation, should imagine, that I knew more of them than I have herein stated, I hereby spontaneously declare, that what I have written, is the whole extent of what I was apprized of; and had the Princess thought proper to inform me of what, in the narrative of the information given by Sir John and Lady Douglas, is attended to, I should have felt myself obliged to decline all interference in the business; and to have, at the same time, stated to her, that it would be impossible for me to keep a matter of such importance from the knowledge of the Prince. December 27, 1805. A true copy-B. Bloomfield. A true copy-J. Becket. Whitehall, 29th August, 1806. (No. 3.) EDWARD. For the purpose of confirming the statement made by Lady Douglas, of the circumstances mentioned in her narrative, the following examinations have been taken, and which have been signed by the several persons who have been examined: SARAH LAMPERT. N. B. This witness was not examined by the Commissioners; at least, no copy of any examination of hers was transmitted with the other papers; and no observation is made in the report of the Commissioners, or in the answer of her Royal Highness upon her examinations. It has, therefore, been thought that there was no necessity for publishing them. There are two of them; one dated at Cheltenham, 8th January, 1806; the other with no date of place, but dated 29th March, 1806. MR. WM. LAMPERT. N. B.-The same observations apply to Mr. William Lampert's examination, as to those of his wife, with this additional circumstance, that the whole of his examination is mere hearsay. WILLIAM COLE Has been with the Prince for twenty-one years in this month; he went with the Princess on her marriage, and remained till April, 1802. In 1801, he says, he had reason to be dissatisfied with the Princess's conduct. During the latter part of that year he has seen Mr. Canning, several times, alone with the Princess, in a room adjoining to the drawing-room, for an hour or two, of which the company took notice. In January 1802, Sir Sidney frequently came to dine with the Princess, and their intimacy became familiar; he has frequently dined and supped at the house, and when the ladies have retired, about eleven o'clock, he has known Sir Sidney Smith remain alone with the Princess an hour or two afterwards; his suspicions increased very much; and one night, about twelve o'clock, he saw a person wrapped up in a great coat, go across the park, into the gate to the greenhouse, and he verily believes it was Sir Sidney. In 1804, the Princess was at Southend, where Fanny Lloyd also was; when Cole saw her after her return, he asked how they had gone on; she said, " delightful doings, always on ship. board, or the Captain at our house." She told him, that one evening, when all were supposed to be in bed, Mrs. Lisle met a man in the passage; but no alarm was made-this was Captain Manby; he was constantly in the house. Mr. Cole says, that Mrs. Sander knows every thing; that she has appeared in great distress on many occasions, and has said to him, the Princess is an altered woman; he believes Sander to be a very respectable woman. He says, that he believes Roberts to be an honest man; that Roberts has said to him-(As Roberts himself was examined by the Commissioners, and his deposition is given in Appendix A. No. 8, what Cole says he heard him say, is omitted here.) That Arthur, the gardener, is a decent man, but does not know if he is privy to any thing. That Bidgood is a deaf quiet man, but thinks he has not been confidentially trusted. That Mrs. Gosden was nurse to the child, and was always up stairs with it; she is a respectable woman; but, after some time, took upon herself much consequence, and refused to dine in the servants' hall. In the month of March, 1802, the Princess ordered some sandwiches, which Cole took into the drawing-room, where he found Sir Sidney talking to the Princess; he set down the sandwiches and retired. In a short time he went again into the room, when he found the gentle. man and lady sitting close together, in so familiar a posture as to alarm him very much, which he expressed by a start back, and a look at the gentleman. He dates his dismissal from this cirIn 1801, Lawrence, the painter, was at Moncumstance; for, about a fortnight afterwards, he tague House, for four or five days at a time, paintwas sent for by the Duke of Kent, who told him ing the Princess's picture; that he was frequenthe had seen the Princess at Court the day before;ly alone, late in the night, with the Princess, and that she had expressed the greatest regard for him, much suspicion was entertained of him. and that she intended to do something for him, 11th January, 1806. by employing him, as a confidential person, to do her little matters in town; and his attendance at Montague House would not be required. He received this intimation with much concern; but said, her Royal Highness's pleasure must govern him. WILLIAM COLE WM. COLE. Says, that the Princess was at Mr. Hood's, at Catherington, near Portsmouth, for near a month in the last summer, where she took her footman and servants. That the house in which Mr. Hood lived was given up to the Princess, and he and his family. went to reside in a small house adjoining. That the Princess and Mr. Hood very frequent He says, that the cordiality between the Princess and Lady D. was very soon brought about; and, he supposes, on Sir Sidney's account; that the Princess frequently went across the Heath to Lady D. where she has stayed till late in the evening, and that, sometimes, Lady D. and Sirly went out in the forenoon, and remained out for Sidney have come with the Princess to Montague four or five hours at a time. House, late in the evening, when they have supped. Some time after he had left Montague House, he went down, when he spoke to Fanny Lloyd, and asked her how things went on amongst them; she said, she wished he had remained amongst them; there was strange goings on ;that Sir Sidney was frequently there; and that one day, when Mary Wilson supposed the Princess to be gone into the library, she went into the bed-room, where she found a man at breakfast with the Princess; that there was a great to do about it; and that Mary Wilson was sworn to secrecy, and threatened to be turned away if she divulged what she had seen. He does not know much of what passed at Margate in 1803. That they rode in a gig, attended by a boy, (a country lad) servant to Mr. Hood, and took with them cold meat; that they used to get out of the gig, and walk into the wood, leaving the boy to attend the horse and gig till their return. This happened very frequently; that the Duke of Kent called one day, and seeing the Princess's attendants at the window, came into the house, and, after waiting some time, went away without seeing the Princess, who was out with Mr. Hood. This information Mr. Cole had from Fanny Lloyd. When Mr. Cole found the drawing-room, which led to the staircase to the Princess's apart ments, locked, he does not know whether any person was with her, but it appeared odd to him, as he had formed some suspicions. |