Volume I Part 7 (2/2)
1797,
the heavy burdens imposed on the people to supply the insatiate thirst for war, and keep a gorgeous appearance at court, reduced the middle cla.s.ses of people to want and distraction. While the prince and his fawning courtiers were revelling in every obscenity, and glutting themselves with the prospect which still continued, that to-morrow would be more abundant, thousands,--nay, millions,--in England and Ireland were peris.h.i.+ng for want of bread! During this unexampled period of sorrow, the conduct of the ministry proved them to be perfectly indifferent to the distresses of the people. Splendid entertainments, at an immense expense, were frequently given, and the lofty halls of palaces rang with the loud shouts of conviviality and profanity! Such recitals may, to some persons, appear incredible, or too highly coloured; but _we_ well know they did occur, though we do not wish to shock the feelings of our readers by entering into the minutiae of the infamous conduct practised by the Prince of Wales and his courtiers.
Well might the prince, in his memorable letter to the princess in the preceding year, say, ”Our inclinations are not suited to each other.” He was correct; they were not suited; neither did the Princess Caroline ever desire they should be, because General Lee could testify that the prince had _more propensities than propriety suggested_!
In this most pressing and trying case, when the mind of the Princess of Wales was wrought up to the greatest point of agony, she resolved upon an interview with the queen, when her royal highness told her, that Carlton House could no longer be inhabited by her, as the infamous scenes she was too often obliged to witness were of a description so notoriously abominable, that common decency was grossly outraged! Her majesty supported the right of the prince to choose his own a.s.sociates, and at the same time stated, as her opinion, that it was very disagreeable to the prince to have her in town at all, and it was proper the princess should remove to some distance agreeable to herself, where the prince might not be under the necessity of meeting her, when he had occasion to spend any time at the palace.
It will readily be presumed, the princess left the presence of the haughty queen with a heart full of disappointment and chagrin. Her royal highness found herself surrounded by persons on whose confidence she could not depend; because every one appeared in awe of the queen. She was also neglected and insulted by the prince, who ought to have been the first to protect her; but the smile of her infant still cheered her gloomy moments.
This was the most disastrous period of the war: the Bank of England stopped payment; mutinies broke out in the army and navy, which were attended by much bloodshed; Ireland was on the verge of rebellion; and the sum required for the year's service amounted to the abominable and increased sum of FORTY-TWO MILLIONS OF MONEY, of which thirty-four millions were raised by loans, and three millions by Exchequer Bills.
The premier also proposed to extort seven millions from the people by a new impost, under the name of ”the triple a.s.sessment!”
The year
1798
presented a continuation of grievances amongst most cla.s.ses in humble life. Revelry and uproarious riot, however, were ever to be found in the residences of the royal, yet unnatural, husband of the Princess of Wales; and each succeeding year seemed but to _improve_ him in all sorts of infamous engagements. He had at his command some of the most desperate and inhuman characters by which society was ever debased. One in particular, M'Mahon, who would at any time seduce a female from her home, under some specious pretence, in order to take her as a prize to his master, whose favour thereby might be secured!
The intrigues of the Duke of York were also of a most abandoned character; and the other brothers _merit_ some notice in the ”Annals of Infamy!” During Frederick's residence in Germany, he contracted habits and indulged in excesses abhorrent to human nature, and we should be spared much deep humiliation, as Englishmen, if we had not occasion to recur again to these sickening facts; but the recording angel of TRUTH forbids our silence, and we must not, therefore, disobey her mandate.
1799
will be remembered, and reference made to it, as long as humanity can reflect upon the desolations and calamities occasioned by war. The earth, in many quarters, was covered with ”killed and wounded,” while the money of the tax-payers paid the _legal a.s.sa.s.sins_!
In the mean time, the minister at home was racking his brains how new taxes might be levied, to supply the means for the continuation of carnage. Property, liberty,--nay, even life itself, were deemed toys in the hands of Mr. Pitt, whose pa.s.sions seemed to centre in rapine, enmity, and ambition. His heart was steeled against the cry of the widow and the plaintive sigh of the dest.i.tute orphan. The queen's account in the day of retribution must also be rather enormous, for the minister acted in concert with her in this complicated trickery. Mr. Pitt and the queen seemed to think their only part consisted in draining the resources of the people to their last ability, and in refusing all overtures of peace, whatever offers might be made.
This year, France made proposals of peace with these kingdoms, which were _refused_, and war, desolating war, with all its attendant and consequent horrors, still reared its ”gory banners” over the princ.i.p.al part of the world!
We will leave the contemplation of this heart-rending subject, and turn to another, scarcely less revolting to humanity,--the conduct of the Prince of Wales,--whose court was generally filled with a host of harlots. His royal highness was anxious to get rid of the princess (his wife) entirely, and most heartily did the queen concur in his wishes.
The difficult part of the task was, the consideration and organization of those measures most likely to promote the desired end. The Princess of Wales' letters, addressed to her family in Brunswick, had many times been opened, and, not unfrequently, even _suppressed_! So that her persecutions were now commenced.
The princess was too open and ingenuous in character to obtain the queen's approbation, and therefore, after the several repulses which she had received from her majesty, Caroline was justly incensed at her uncalled-for unprovoked haughtiness, and overbearing manners. The unsuspecting nature of the Princess of Wales, however, prevented her from being aware of the infamous snares laid for her destruction at this period. Her royal highness has many times been heard to say, ”Had I been suspicious, pray what should I not have feared? The queen, from the first time I saw her, frowned upon me, and very little I said or did pleased her; so I never thought I was an object of any consequence to her majesty.” These were the reasonings of native, unsophisticated feelings, and well would it have been for the queen if her heart had been equally open, and her language equally candid.
The year
1800
was a continuation of dissension and discord, both at home and abroad.
Twice in this year the king's life was attempted; once in Hyde Park, and again, on the same evening, at Drury-lane Theatre; the first being by a ball cartridge, and the latter by a pistol. In the court, the same lavish display as formerly was continued, and the royal means were not curtailed. It was _said_, that the king declined having more than one course served up, but this was merely _nominal_; indeed, if it were as stated, the country did not benefit much by the change, as the allowances to royalty were, in many instances, very much increased, instead of being decreased.
Such was the scarcity of provisions this year, that the generality of the population existed upon a scanty portion of potatoes during the twenty-four hours. Bread was not within the power of the poor to obtain, as the quartern loaf, mixed with all sorts of deleterious ingredients, sold for twenty-one pence!
This year was rendered of immortal memory by the union of Ireland with England, which was effected by a profuse distribution of _money_ and _t.i.tles_. Oh! disgrace to the Irish nation, ye servile few, who could sell your country for selfish ends! To yield up ”name and fame,” and all that is dear to honesty, for the sake of an ”empty sound!”
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