182 THE PRINCESS OF WALES [1814. 



twenty-one, when, in common with every person, her 

 Eoyal Highness becomes her own entire mistress. But 

 although, strictly speaking, the Prince Eegent has 

 this control over the Princess Charlotte until she 

 attains that age, yet it is a point which he will be 

 obliged to exercise with a due regard to the wisdom 

 of Parliament and the sense of the country. Provided 

 the Princess Charlotte only continues acting the same 

 amiable and wise part which has hitherto so eminently 

 distinguished her Koyal Highness, there can be no 

 doubt that in a very short time Parliament and the 

 country will render it impossible any longer to perse- 

 vere in the present most hurtful plan of secluding her 

 Eoyal Highness from the intercourse and state required 

 by her exalted station. Nothing could possibly pre- 

 vent Parliament and the country from taking part 

 with her Eoyal Highness, except some ill-advised 

 proceeding which might have the appearance of dis- 

 regarding the Prince Eegent's authority; and Mr 

 Brougham is confident her Eoyal Highness has too 

 excellent an understanding and too much fortitude to 

 adopt any such plan, and too tender a regard for your 

 Eoyal Highness, whose situation would inevitably be 

 injured by it. Her Eoyal Highness will naturally 

 regard the privations and hardships she now suffers as 

 trials to which she is exposed, as her illustrious pre- 

 decessor, Queen Elizabeth, formerly was, and will have 

 the greatness of mind to disregard them, however 

 painful at present, in the prospect of excelling even 

 that renowned Princess, by reigning where she never 

 did in the hearts of a free people. Her Eoyal High- 

 ness may rest assured that her friends are active and 

 zealous in everything relating to her interests. They 



