GENERAL HISTORY 



[n 



motion to the House of Commons 

 relative to the proceedings ordered 

 by his majesty to be instituted on 

 the subject of the princess of 

 Wales. Nothing, however, had 

 been done in this matter, wlien, 

 on March 2nd, the Speaker rose, 

 and stated to the house thathe had 

 received on the preceding day, 

 when seated in the cliair of that 

 House, a letter purporting to come 

 from her royal highness the prin- 

 cess of Wales, which she desired 

 to have communicated to the 

 House. He did not, however, think 

 that it came in a sufficiently au- 

 thenticated form for such commu- 

 nication ; but having since receiv- 

 ed a letter from the princess, ac- 

 knowledging that yesterday's let- 

 ter was sent by her, he would, with 

 the permission of the House, now 

 read it. 



In the paper then read, her 

 royal highness informs the Speak- 

 er, that she has received from 

 Lord Sidmouth a copy of a report 

 made to the Prince Regent by cer- 

 tain members of the privy council, 

 to whom his royal highness had 

 referred the consideration of do- 

 cuments and evidence relative to 

 her character and conduct — that 

 the report is ofa nature to convey 

 aspersions upon her, under which, 

 from a regard to the illustrious 

 bouses with which she isconnected 

 by blood and marriage, she can- 

 not for a moment acquiesce — that 

 nothaving been permitted to know 

 upon what evidence these persons 

 proceeded, or whether they acted 

 as a body to whom she can appeal 

 for redress, or only in their indivi- 

 dual capacity, she is compelled to 

 throw herself upon the wisdom and 

 justice of parliament, and to desire 

 that the fullest iuvoBtiffation may 



Vol. LV. 



be instituted of her whole con- 

 duct during her residence in this 

 country. (See State Papers). 



Apauseensued after the Speaker 

 had read the letter, when, at length, 

 Mr. Whitbread rose, and said, that 

 he apprehended it was impossible 

 that such a communication from 

 so high a quarter could be passed 

 over in silence. He had therefore 

 waited till the noble lord opposite, 

 a cabinet minister (lord Castle- 

 reagh), had, by taking his place, 

 given an intimation that it was not 

 his intention to make any propo- 

 sition on the subject. And seeing 

 no other member disposed to pro- 

 ceed in the business, he wished 

 to ask the noble lord whether it 

 was his design to call the further 

 attention of the House to her 

 royal highness's letter. 



Lord Castlereagh replied, that 

 no person was more sensible than 

 himself of the importance and de- 

 licacy of the subject, but that ob- 

 serving a notice for a motion to be 

 made two days hence relative to 

 the princess of Wales, he did not 

 think it necessary at present to 

 enter on a consideration of the 

 transaction alluded to. 



Mr. Whitbread then inquired if 

 -the hon. member who had given 

 the notice was in the House ; «nd 

 finding that he was not, he ob- 

 served, that it might be expedient 

 when he came, to inquire of him 

 whether his motion was founded 

 on any understanding with her 

 royal highness. If it were not, it 

 would be for the house to decide 

 on the propriety of taking her 

 royal highness's communication 

 into their most serious considera- 

 tion. Here the conversation ended. 



On March ^th the avenues of 

 the House of Commons wers 



