Chapter V: Perils, Progress, and Pastimes

The American War--Dr. Dodd--The Duchess of Queensberry
and the ‘Beggar’s Opera’--Royal Progress--Royal Visit to
Bulstrode--Mrs. Delany and Queen Charlotte--Birth of
Prince Octavius--Strange, the Engraver--The Riots of
London--Lady Sarah Lennox--The Prince and his Sire--The
Prince’s Preceptors--Errors committed in the education of
the Princes--The Prince’s favourite, Perdita Robinson--
Marie Antoinette’s present to her--Separate establishment
granted to the Prince--Lord North’s facetious remark--
Parliamentary provision for the Prince--The Prince’s
presence in the House of Commons not acceptable--His
pursuit of pleasure--The Duke of Clarence described by
Walpole--The Prince of Wales overwhelmed with debts--
Dissension in the Royal Family--Marriage proposed to him
to extricate him from his debts--The Prince’s connection
with Mrs. Fitzherbert--The Prince’s marriage disclaimed by
Mr. Fox--The Prince’s behaviour to Mrs. Fitzherbert--The
Prince acknowledges his marriage to the Queen 31

CHAPTER VI.

COURT FORMS AND COURT FREEDOMS.

Loss of the American Colonies--Political Struggle--The
King’s health unsatisfactory--Life of the Royal Family at
Windsor--Mrs. Delany--The Queen and the Widow--Early
service in the Chapel Royal at Windsor--Rev. Tom Twining
and Miss Burney--Miss Burney’s Reception by the Queen--
Promenade of the Royal Family on the terrace--The Queen’s
‘dressing’--The Queen’s partiality for Snuff--Country
life of the Royal Family at Kew--Princess Amelia; the
King’s great affection for her--Scene on the birthday of
the Princess--Margaret Nicholson’s attempt to assassinate
the King--The Queen’s dread--Her fondness for Diamonds
--Mrs. Warren Hastings--The present from the Nizam of
the Deccan--Unpopularity of the King and Queen--Their
affection for each other--The Queen’s tenderness to Mrs.
Delany--Reconciliation of the King and the Prince--A
pleasant scene--Another Court Incident 54

CHAPTER VII.

SHADOWS IN THE SUNSHINE.

The Princess Amelia--Her connection with the Duke of Grafton
--Beau Nash and the Princess--Her despotism as Ranger
of Richmond Park--Checked by Mr. Bird--A scene at her
Loo-table--Her fondness for stables--Her eccentric
Costume--Inordinate love of Snuff--Her Death--Conduct
of the Princes--The King’s Illness--Graphic picture
of the state of affairs--Lord Thurlow’s treachery--
Heartlessness of the Prince--Deplorable condition of the
Queen--The King delirious--Particulars of his Illness--
Dr. Warren--Melancholy scene--The King wheedled away to
Kew--Placed under Dr. Willis--The Prince and Lord Lothian
eavesdroppers--The King’s Recovery--The King unexpectedly
encounters Miss Burney 72

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ‘FIRST GENTLEMAN’ AND HIS PRINCIPLES.

Inconsistency of the Whigs--The Tories become radical
reformers--Party spirit--A restricted Regency scorned
by the Prince--Compelled to accept it--The King’s rapid
recovery--Incredulity of the Princes in regard to the
King’s recovery--A family scene at Kew--Ball at White’s
Club on the King’s recovery, and unbecoming conduct of the
Princes--Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s--Indecent conduct
of the Princes--Grief of the King--Expectations of the
Prince disappointed--Caricatures and satires 92