GENERAL HISTORY. 



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public bodies, the livery of Lon- 

 don was the first to take up her 

 cause. At a common-hall con- 

 voked on the 2nd of April, an ad- 

 dress to the Princess was moved ; 

 and though it was opposed by 

 some who thought it would be an 

 unseasonable interference in a 

 matter which might probably be 

 tettled in an amicable way between 

 the parties concerned, yet the sense 

 of the meeting was general with 

 respect to the treatment she had 

 experienced, which was censured 

 in the warmest terms, even by 

 those members of the corporation 

 ^ho are regarded as most under 

 the influence of the court. The 

 address was carried almost unani- 

 mously. It stated " the indigna- 

 tion and abhorrence'' with which 

 the livery of London viewed " the 

 foul conspii-acy against the honour 

 and life'' of her Royal Highness, 

 and their " admiration at her mo- 

 deration, frankness, and magnani- 

 mity under her long persecution." 

 The address was presented in great 

 ceremony ; was followed by ano- 

 ther from the corporation of Lon- 

 don; and a number of other public 

 bodies imitated the example. At 

 length, however, a party began to 

 interfere. It was thought that 

 those who were disaffected to the 

 present order of things made use 

 of the occasion to render the per- 

 son and government of the Prince 

 Kegent unpopular ; as indeed that 

 effect was at first produced in no 

 inconsiderable degree. The friends 

 of thecourt and ministry, of course, 

 discouraged these addresses, which 

 were perhaps conceived in a style 

 of exaggeration and intemperance; 

 the topic grew stale, and was su- 

 perseded by others of more general 



interest ; the obnoxious proceed- 

 ings with respect to the Princess 

 were suspended, so that her situa- 

 tion afforded no longer any cause 

 for apprehension ; and before many 

 months were elapsed, the whole 

 matter appeared to be sunk in obli- 

 vion. It will, however, remain 

 upon record as an example, not 

 void of instruction, of the power 

 exerted by a manifestation of the 

 public feelings, when imprudently 

 called forth by measures which 

 place an individual in the light of 

 an injured and persecuted object. 

 With respect to the high person- 

 ages concerned, it is to be la- 

 mented that what has passed must 

 tend to render more irreparable 

 a breach which has been the 

 source of so much regret to the 

 nation. 



Another principal object of do- 

 mestic interest during this year was 

 the claim of the Roman Catholics 

 for admission to the full rights of 

 citizens. To the parliamentary 

 proceedings respecting this matter 

 we have already devoted a chap- 

 ter ; but it will be proper to sub- 

 join some notice of the more li- 

 mited exertions to which this im- 

 portant contest gave birth. It has 

 been mentioned that the opposition 

 to the Catholic claims by petitions 

 from the clergy and laity, which 

 commenced in the last year, was 

 carried in this to an extent appear- 

 ing to comprise the greater part of 

 the Protestant population. The 

 most observable circumstance in a 

 historical view with regard to this 

 interposition is, that although much 

 zeal and activity was displayed in 

 promoting these petitions, yet that 

 the whole was conducted with per- 

 fect order and quiet,/ unattended 

 [H2] 



