142 PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. [1811. 



while under age. It had been so solemnly decided by 

 a conference of all the twelve judges, one only differ- 

 ing, or rather expressing doubts. The Princess Char- 

 lotte asked to have my opinion rather than Perceval's 

 or Eldon's, whom she knew to be at that time her 

 mother's advisers, because they might be supposed to 

 take part against her father. 



Early in 1811 Lady Charlotte Lindsay received the 

 following letter from the Princess of Wales : 



"January 3, 1811. 



" MY DEAR LADY CHARLOTTE, I am like the Eo- 

 man Empire, in a state of ' decadence/ When you 

 meet me again in the month of March, the most 

 violent pain, which you must remember I had once in 

 my loins at the time you were with me at Kensington, 

 paid me again a visit on the eve of Xew- Year's Day, 

 and wished me joy (I suppose) on the season. This 

 visitor gave me the most insinuating pain imaginable; 

 and the spirit of turpentine, which I used most un- 

 mercifully upon my old carcass, has vanished the 

 phantom who destroyed my peace like Major Arvay " 

 (sic), " which deprived me from meeting you at dear 

 Lady Glenbervie's, if not a cold had oppressed you 

 also. I don't invite you for Monday, as I am not 

 sure whether you will at that time not already be at 

 the Priory ; besides, it will be very dull, as only duty 

 brings me to town, to make first a visit in Hanover 

 Square, and then an early dinner at five o'clock at 

 Kensington. I only sleep one night there, as they 

 tell me it is not proper to fly by night, ' pour la future 

 Reine,' though I trust and hope that I am safer now 

 than I have ever been that that misfortune will not 



