STATE PAPERS. 



347 



that it can have been so intended), 

 to have reference to some part of 

 the conduct of your royal high- 

 ness ; we feel it our bounden duty 

 not to omit this opportunity of de- 

 claring, that the documents laid 

 before us, aflPord the most ample 

 proof that there is not the lightest 

 foundation for such an aspersion. 

 (Signed) 



C. Cantuar, 



Eldon, 



E Ebor, 



W. Armagh, 



Harrowey, p. C. 



"Westmoreland, C. P. S. 



Buckinghamshire, 



Bathurst, 



Liverpool, 



mulgrave, 



Melville, 



SiDMOUTH, 



J. London, 

 Ellenborough, 

 Charles Abbott, 

 N. Vansittart, 

 C. Bathurst, 

 W. Grant, 

 A. Macdonald, 

 W. Scott, 

 J. NicnoLL. 

 (A true copy.) Sidmouth. 



Letter from the Princess of JVales 

 to the Speaker of' the House of 

 Commons. 



" Montague-house, March 1. 

 <' The Princess of Wales informs 

 Mr. Speaker, that she has received 

 from lord viscount Sidmouth a 

 copy of a Report, made to his 

 foyal highness the Prince Regent 

 by certain members of his majes- 

 ty's privy council, to whom it ap- 

 pears that his royal highness was 

 advised to refer certain documents, 

 and evidence, regarding the cha- 



racter and conduct of the princess 

 of Wales. This Report is of such 

 a nature, that her royal highness 

 is persuaded, that no person can 

 read it without considering it to 

 contain aspersions on her charac- 

 ter, though its vagueness renders 

 it impossible to be precisely under- 

 stood, or to know exactly with 

 what she is charged. The prin- 

 cess of Wales feels conscious of 

 her innocence ; and considers 

 it due to herself, to the two il- 

 lustrious Houses with which she 

 is connected by blood and mar- 

 riage, and to the people of this 

 country, in which she holds such 

 a distinguished rank, not to ac- 

 quiesce for a moment in the re- 

 flections which have been cast 

 upon her honour. The princess of 

 Wales has not been permitted tp 

 know on what evidence this Report 

 has been founded, nor has she had 

 any opportunity of being heard in 

 her own defence. What she knew 

 on the subject was only from com- 

 mon rumour, until she received the 

 Report ; nor does she know whether 

 it proceeded from persons acting 

 together as a body, to whom she 

 could make her appeal, or only as 

 individuals. Her royal highness 

 throws herself upon the wisdom 

 and justice of parliament, and de- 

 sires the fullest investigation of her 

 conduct during the time that she 

 has resided in this country. She 

 fears no scrutiny, provided she be 

 tried by impartial judges, in a fair 

 and open manner, consistent with 

 the laws of the land. Her royal 

 highness wishes to be treated as 

 innocent, or to be proved guilty. 

 She desires Mr. Speaker to com- 

 municate this letter to the hon. 

 the House of Commons." 



