JET. 35.] AND THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 163 



solemnity. May I earnestly conjure you, Sir, to hear 

 my entreaties upon this serious matter, even if you 

 should listen to other advisers on things of less near 

 concernment to the welfare of our child. 



" The pain at which I have at length formed the 

 resolution of addressing myself to your Eoyal High- 

 ness, is such as I should in vain attempt to express. 

 If I could adequately describe it, you might be enabled, 

 Sir, to estimate the strength of the motives which have 

 made me submit to it; they are the most powerful 

 feelings of affection, and the deepest impressions of 

 duty towards your Eoyal Highness, my beloved child, 

 and the country, which I devoutly hope she may be 

 preserved to govern, and to show, by a new example, 

 the liberal affection of a true and generous people to a 

 virtuous and constitutional monarch. I am, Sir, with 

 profound respect, and an attachment which nothing 

 can alter, your Royal Highnesses most devoted and 

 most affectionate consort, cousin, and subject, 



" CAROLINE LOUISA. 



"MONTAGUE HOUSE, Jan. 14, 1813."* 



As the proposed step of writing to Queen Charlotte 

 was of great importance, I proposed going to Southhill 

 and considering the whole matter, especially the draft 

 of the letter, with Whitbread, to whom she had spoken 

 in general terms of her new grievance. It was agreed 

 that she should not be troubled with a letter till my 

 return from Southhill. t Whitbread's entire concur- 

 rence was the more essential as I was not then in 

 Parliament. At Southhill we fully discussed the whole 



* See Miss Knight's Autobiography, i. 323. 



f The copy of this letter to Queen Charlotte has, unfortunately, not 

 been found among Lord Brougham's papers. 



