23. Letter from Lord Gwydir to Earl Spencer, dated the 3rd of July, 1806... $7 6 A NARRATIVE OF THE Recent Events That have led to the Publication of the Original Docu ments relative to Her Royal Highness THE PRINCESS OF WALES. FOR the last three months, so many hints, advertisements, and notices appeared in the daily papers, and in various other ways, that the public mind, was, in some measure, prepared to expect a full disclosure of the proceedings relative to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. The following occurrence was the first that strengthened the conviction of every observer on this subject, On the 14th of January last, a sealed letter was transmitted to Lord Liverpool and Lord Eldon, by Lady Charlotte Camp, bell, as lady in waiting for the month, expressing her Royal Highness's pleasure that it should be presented to the Prince Regent; and there was an open copy for their perusal. On the 15th, the Earl of Liverpool presented his compliments to Lady Charlotte Campbell, and returned the letter unopened. On the 16th, it was returned by Lady Charlotte, intimating, that as it contained matter of importance to the State, she relied on their laying it before his Royal Highness. It was again returned unopened, with the Earl of Liverpool's com pliments to Lady Charlotte, saying, that the Prince saw no reason to depart from his determination. On the 17th, it was returned, in the same way, by command of her Royal Highness, expressing her confidence, that the two noble lords would not take upon themselves the responsibility of not communicating the letter to his Royal Highness, and that she should not be the only subject in the empire, whose petition was not to be permitted to reach the throne. To this an answer was given, that the contents of it had been made known to the Prince. On the 19th, her Royal Highness directed a letter to be addressed to the two noble lords, desiring to know whether it had been made known to his Royal Highness, by being read to him, and to know his pleasure thereon. No answer was given to this letter, and therefore on the 26th, she directed a letter to be written, expressing her surprize, that no answer had been given to her application for a whole week. To this, an answer was received, addressed to the Princess, stating, that in consequence of her Royal Highness's demand.. her letter had been read to the Prince Regent on the 23rd, but that he had not been pleased to express his pleasure, thereon. The following is a copy of this important document: "Sir, "It is with great reluctance that I presume to obtrude myself upon your Royal Highness, and to solicit your attention to matters which may, at first, appear rather of a personal than a public nature. If I could think them so-if they related merely to myself—I should abstain from a proceeding which might give uneasiness, or interrupt the more weighty occupations of your Royal Highness's time. I should continue, in silence and retirement, to lead the life which has been prescribed to me, and console myself for the loss of that society and those domestic comforts to which I have so long been a stranger, by the reflection that it has been deemed proper I should be afflicted without any fault of my own-and that your Royal Highness knows. "But, Sir, there are considerations of a higher nature than any regard to my own happiness, which render this address a duty both to myself and my daughter. May I venture to say. -a duty also to my husband, and the people committed to his care? There is a point beyond which a guiltless woman |