Volume I Part 5 (2/2)

The year

1791

was a period of continual debate and of hara.s.sing vexation, both at home and abroad. In the mean while, the prince was engrossed in his pursuits of pleasure, ever searching after variety in every possible shape. Such also were the pursuits of his royal brothers.

It now becomes our painful duty to speak of the FEMALES of this ”_ILl.u.s.tRIOUS FAMILY_.”

It is one of the unnatural distinctions of royalty, and which is often fatal to the happiness of society, that _their ways are not the ways of the other sons and daughters of humanity_. Though royal blood is not of itself considered a barrier against marriage, the very few persons that are eligible to marry a king's daughter, besides the unsurmountable difficulties which religion opposes to such unions, makes them almost amount to absolute exclusion.

It would argue a callous heart not to feel the force of the above reflection, while speaking of the royal daughters of Queen Charlotte.

They were at this period in the bloom of youth, in all the glowing exuberance of health, but from the real enjoyment of which the miserable etiquette of regal splendour, and the feigned prudery of their mother, debarred them. In the full meridian of their state, possessing every exterior advantage calculated to excite vulgar envy and admiration, these royal ladies were less blessed, in reality, than the daughters of peasants, who were free to marry the men of their choice. When this secluded state of royalty is considered, the reflecting mind will feel disposed to exercise charity and forbearance; but the subjects of our present notice partook of _rather more_ of female frailty than ought to have been allowed. We have heard, indeed, of the most desperate excesses committed by _royal_ ladies, and are ourselves acquainted with an _accoucheur_, who officiated under a circ.u.mstance of a lamentable kind,--INDEPENDENT OF THE BIRTH OF CAPTAIN GARTH! Alas! were the crimes of the court of Charlotte but painted in their true colours, how would Virtue blus.h.!.+--how would Honesty be abashed!--how would Credulity be staggered! The slightest deviation from honor in a tradesman's daughter is generally punished by eternal disgrace! For the present, we must leave these very painful reflections; though we fear _truth_ will compel us to renew the subject.

The revenue was, as usual, unequal to meet the extravagancies of the royal family, and so was added every succeeding year an increase to the already immense ”NATIONAL DEBT.”

The queen became now much disturbed by the dissatisfaction so generally expressed by all cla.s.ses of society, and she therefore resolved to give the minister her opinion upon the subject. Mr. Pitt accordingly presented himself, and was received with courteous attention. The queen expressed her fears of an ill _ultimatum_, unless some plan could be proposed to satisfy the desires of the people. After various propositions were made and rejected, it was deemed prudent to resist any and every motion which might be made in the Commons for reform in the state of the representation, and to rule over the people by _force_, if found needful.

The House met early in the year

1792,

and the king announced the marriage of his second son, Frederick, with a daughter of the King of Prussia. In March, Mr. Pitt proposed to settle thirty thousand pounds per annum upon their royal highnesses! The Opposition remonstrated, but the motion was finally carried.

Much interest was excited upon the subject of the slave trade; and Mr.

Wilberforce urged the abolition of it in very warm and generous language. Mr. Pitt was eloquent on this occasion, and pleaded, most animatedly, in favour of its entire abolition; but the minister _was not sincere_. A series of resolutions were ultimately agreed upon, and sent up to the Lords for their concurrence.

The Duke of Clarence now commenced his parliamentary career, by violently declaiming against the abolition of slavery and its advocates.

This caused it to be delayed, and the guilt of Britain increased.

The queen _appeared_ vexed at this circ.u.mstance, as she had imagined such a concession would have given great satisfaction, without decreasing her influence at home.

In a private conversation with an ill.u.s.trious person, some days after this defeat, Mr. Wilberforce said, ”He did not believe the queen or the minister were _truly desirous_ of the abolition of slavery; for, if it had been intended by them to be carried, they would have secured it in the Upper House.”

After thus trifling with the wishes of the people, it appeared probable that dissatisfaction might arise amongst the middle cla.s.ses of society; to provide against which, the establishment of a new police for Westminster was proposed and carried.

The year

1793

commenced with the usual aspects, and power appeared to have had a hardening influence upon the minds of statesmen. The crisis seemed near, that some salutary and healing measure of reform in the state of the representation must be adopted; for it was imprudent any longer to be silent on the subject. Mr. Grey, therefore, moved the question in the House, on the 30th of April, and was supported ably by Mr. Erskine and others; but the minister (Mr. Pitt) repelled the motion, and spoke as warmly for its withdrawal as he had formerly spoken in its defence, and of its necessity. The result was prejudicial to the rights and privileges of free-born men; the motion was dismissed, and a royal proclamation issued against all seditious writings and correspondences,--plainly proving that the crown needed the aid of _spies and informers_, in order to continue its baneful and injurious influence over a deluded and degraded people! Thus was an attempt to obtain justice defeated by a combination of overbearing tyranny and oppression; and thus was the ”state automaton” moved at pleasure by the secret springs of court intrigue and infamy, regulated by the queen! One extreme generally leads to another, and so by degrees the freedom of the const.i.tution was changed to tyrannical fetters, under the a.s.sumed t.i.tle of ”_improvements in our code of laws_,” whilst distress continued, and expostulation, as usual, proved fruitless.

Mr. Pitt, at this time, through a private channel, communicated his desire to see Mr. Canning, who of course promptly attended. The premier complimented Mr. Canning on his reputation as a scholar and a speaker, and stated, that, if he concurred in the policy which government was then pursuing, arrangements would be made to bring him into parliament.

These few words will briefly explain to future generations the manner of introducing members to parliament by this minister.

Previous to this _honourable_ offer, Mr. Canning belonged to what was then termed ”the opposition faction,” and among those who were the _most violent_ in their opinions, _he_ had been considered and spoken of as their _protege_. But a seat in parliament from the hands of a prime minister, who, however haughty and reserved in his general manners, had perhaps, for that very reason, a peculiar power in fixing himself in the minds of those whom he wished to please, was a tempting offer to a young man, conscious of superior talent, but rendered by his situation in life agreeably alive to such flattering and powerful notice. Our readers will hardly feel surprised, then, at his after vacillating conduct, which we shall have occasion frequently to notice.

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