Volume I Part 15 (2/2)
As soon as the Princess of Wales was known to have left Brunswick, and while proceeding to Geneva, persons were despatched from the British Court to watch all the movements and pursuits of her royal highness, and to report accordingly, through agents appointed for the mean purpose.
Our country's money was used upon this base business with no sparing hand. Mr. Whitbread, being perfectly aware that these secret contrivances were put into execution, felt more in fear of some evil result to the princess than if she had remained in England. He, as well as many others, knew that a.s.sa.s.sination was of very frequent occurrence in Italy, and more than once expressed himself anxious to see the princess safely landed again on our sh.o.r.es. But this was not permitted; for, on the 6th of July, this patriot committed suicide, while in a state of mental aberration. He fell a sacrifice to the intensity of his feelings upon several most important subjects.
As a man of firm principles, Mr. Whitbread was justly ent.i.tled to the praise of his countrymen. He never allowed himself to be bribed into dishonourable actions; and we cannot, therefore, attribute his unhappy end to the stings of conscience. The man whose life, or a princ.i.p.al portion of it, has been spent in furthering the wily schemes and treacherous plans of others may, very probably, in the midst of enjoying the reward of his villanous conduct, be struck by memory's faithful reflection, and, afraid of exposure, prefer instant death; but the patriot who loves his country, and has largely contributed to the defence of justice and liberty, finding his exertions of no available use, and sick at heart at the insults levied against the oppressed, may be driven by despair to rush into the presence of his Maker by his own act. This latter case, no doubt, applies to the patriot whose untimely end we are now lamenting. It was Mr. Whitbread's glory to be an Englishman,--it is his country's boast that he used his energies for her general benefit. He actively and fearlessly investigated the cause and nature of abuses, was the ready advocate of the oppressed, and the liberal friend of all mankind!
The amount required for the service of this year was one hundred and sixteen millions, which was obtained from the heavily-taxed people, earned by the sweat of their brow, and consequently by robbing their starving families of comforts!
From such oppressive exactions, the present _domineering_ TORY ARISTOCRACY has reared its unblus.h.i.+ng and hydra head. It was engendered in Deception, brought forth by Infamy, nursed by Indolence, educated by Sovereign Power, and has long lived the life of an Impostor--daring and hardy! We venture to predict, however, that its reign is drawing to a close; for the eyes of the whole nation are now fixed upon it, and its excrescences are discovered! Yes, the monster has outwitted itself, and from its seat will speedily shoot forth the TREE OF LIBERTY. May its fruits prove healing to nations! Merit will then be rewarded, Industry recompensed, Commerce revive, and Tranquillity reign in society. Kings will learn to do justice, sanguinary laws will be abolished; and thus the millennium of Peace and Joy will be established on a basis ill.u.s.trious and impregnable!
At the commencement of the year
1816,
the intended marriage of the Princess Charlotte of Wales with Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg was announced, which had received the sanction of the regent. This intended union appeared to us, for many reasons, highly improper, and too closely allied to the circ.u.mstances of George the Third. We knew, for a considerable period before this announcement, that Leopold had been paying the most devoted attentions to a lady of great merit and accomplishments; and, also, that marriage had been promised. We likewise did not believe the prince was a Protestant from conviction, if he professed so to be; and feared that, if finally the husband of the princess, he would only be a convert to our ”established religion” from _convenience_, but really and in truth, by inclination and education, a _Catholic_. We do not name the religious sentiments of the prince as any degradation or disqualification to his character as a man or as a prince, but simply to shew that his principles prohibited his entrance, by marriage, into the English royal family; for the royal marriage act expressly declares ”such marriages shall be null and void.”
While staying at the city of Augsburgh, in the early part of this year, we heard various reports upon the subject in question, and the paper of the day having met our eye, what were our feelings when we read the annexed paragraph!
”_Augsburgh, January 10th._
”The Gazette of this city contains the following article, from Vienna, of January 3rd: 'Yesterday was celebrated, in the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen, in the presence of the reigning Duke of Saxe Cobourg, the MARRIAGE of his brother, _Prince Leopold_, with the young and beautiful Countess of Cohaky, according to the rites of the _Catholic_ church.'”
In contemplating this circ.u.mstance, every honest man must view the conduct of Leopold with indignation. Example is generally considered preferable to precept, and Leopold embraced this opportunity of shewing himself a convert to such doctrine. George the Third committed BIGAMY; his son George did the same; and the remaining Hope of England was destined to be a victim to similar wickedness!
After some formal correspondence, the regent sent a message to both houses of parliament, on the 14th of March, to announce the marriage contract of his daughter, the Princess Charlotte, with his serene highness the Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg. Sixty thousand pounds were voted to the ill.u.s.trious couple, annually; and, in case of _her royal highness' demise_, FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS PER ANNUM were to be paid to the PRINCE _for his life_. Sixty thousand pounds were also granted for their outfit.
Well may foreigners exclaim, ”How generous are the great English people!” Alas! it was not the act of the _people_; but the absolute will of Imbecility, Ignorance, and Impudence, which we shall have further occasion to ill.u.s.trate.
We must now refer our readers to the former expectation of marriage between the Princess Charlotte and the Prince of Orange. That union was much desired by the regent, because the Prince of Orange had promised unrelenting opposition to the Princess of Wales. As soon as the Princess Charlotte, however, became aware of this, she determinately refused to see the prince again; and we well know that the d.u.c.h.ess of Oldenburgh took every possible opportunity to press Prince Leopold upon her notice.
Up to the moment of the marriage, the Princess Charlotte did not hear or know a single word about the _former_ serious engagement of her affianced husband, except the mean and paltry report, that ”he had been very voluptuous in his gratifications, and was then desirous of bidding an eternal adieu to those who had formerly led him _astray_!” On the other hand, Charlotte was tired of the overbearing and indiscriminate conduct of her grandmother, the queen; and therefore resolved to free herself from such restraint.
Previous to the marriage, Prince Leopold solemnly promised to fulfil every iota of the Princess Charlotte's wish, with respect to her abused and insulted mother; and further engaged, that he never would permit or allow himself to be made a party, directly or indirectly, to injure the Princess of Wales, or to prevent any correspondence between the daughter and mother, of which her royal highness the Princess Charlotte might approve. But of what signification were the promises of such a faithless man!
The former marriage of the prince was not considered by the queen a sufficient impediment to his union with her grand-daughter; and she used her utmost ability to suppress any representation contrary to the interest of his serene highness. ”The Augsburgh Gazettes” were, therefore, bought up at an immense expense, to save the character of this prince from public animadversion, and consequent contempt and hatred.
On the 21st of February, Prince Leopold arrived at the Clarendon Hotel.
Lord Castlereagh waited upon his serene highness, and, on the following day, Sir B. Bloomfield arrived from Brighton, with the regent's command to invite the prince to the Pavilion.
Early on the ensuing morning, the prince and Sir B. Bloomfield left town for Brighton; and his serene highness was received with as much warmth and friends.h.i.+p by the regent as if he had been an old acquaintance, or an especial friend in iniquity!
On the 27th, the queen, accompanied by the Princess Charlotte and two of the princesses, arrived at the Pavilion, from Windsor Castle; the interview was short between Leopold and his intended bride. The family resolved that the marriage should take place as soon as possible. The royal ladies returned to Windsor, and the prince remained at Brighton with the regent.
At the time such immense sums were voted for this intended marriage and outfit, large means were also required for the support of our expensive establishments at home, which ought to have prevented any squandering of money upon _foreigners_, for we could never consider Prince Leopold as one of the royal family of _England_.
Mr. Vansittart, however, was very eloquent, _in his way_, in setting forth ”the great, the incomparably great” station occupied by this country amongst the nations of the earth! In truth, we will tell the precise state of our _then greatness_. Our jails were crowded with farmers and the best of our tradesmen; our streets and roads swarmed with beggars, nearly dying from filth and want; agriculture languished, and commerce was paralyzed!
After some delay, caused by circ.u.mstances not very _honourable_ to Prince Leopold, the marriage took place on the 2nd of May; and a very general report obtained credit that Prince Leopold p.r.o.nounced his responses very tremulously, scarcely articulating his portion of the ceremony. This could hardly be wondered at, as he well knew the sacrifice of honour he was then making, and the inconstancy of his former sacred vows!
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