Chapter IX: Royalty Under Various Phases

Bishop Watson a partisan of the Prince--The bishop’s
reception by the Queen--The Prince’s patronage of the
bishop--Bishop Watson’s views on the Regency--Laid on the
shelf--The Prince and the bishop’s ‘Apology’--Ball given
on the King’s recovery by Brookes’s Club--Mrs. Siddons,
as Britannia--The Queen’s Drawing-room on the occasion--
Mrs. Siddons’s readings at Buckingham House--Gay life of
the Duke of York--Popularity of the Duke of Clarence--His
boundless hospitality at the Admiralty--Duel between the
Duke of York and Colonel Lennox--Littleness of spirit of
the Princes--Royal Visit to Lulworth Castle--Assault on
the King--Caricatures of the day--Marriage of the Duke
of York--Ceremonious royal visit to the young couple--
Caricatures of the Duchess of York--Unhappy in her marriage
--The Duchess and Monk Lewis--Alleged avarice of the King
and Queen--Dr. Johnson’s opinion of the King--Etiquette
at Court--The Sailor Prince ‘too far gone’ for a minuet--
The Royal Family at Cheltenham--The mayor and the master of
the ceremonies--Questionable taste of the Queen in regard
to the drama--Moral degradation of England during the reign
of the first two Georges--Mrs. Hannah More’s ideas on
morality; and Rev. Sydney Smith’s witty remark on it--A
delicate hint by the Queen to Lady Charlotte Campbell--The
Prince’s pecuniary difficulties--The Prince and affairs of
the heart--_Mésalliance_ of the Duke of Sussex 102