JET. 36.] AND THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 2O/ 



Prince Eegent never named it to her, but brought the 

 Prince of Orange to her before he went abroad, and 

 then left the room. The latter popped the question, 

 and she said, Yes. This is the literal fact. These 

 details may furnish you with means of estimating how 

 things stand in that quarter. She is aware of all that 

 has been said against her, and suspected of her, and is 

 much hurt with it, though apparently not denying that 

 her necessities have made her give a colour to such 

 stories. How far she is to be relied on is another 

 matter. I only tell you what I know. 



" As for Miss Mercer, she has little or no influence 

 with her, but of this hereafter. You may believe me 

 when I say so. I have more to say, but have no time 

 to-night. Believe me ever most truly yours, 



" H. BROUGHAM. 



" Pray write by return/' 



TO EARL GREY. 



" TEMPLE, April 14, 1814. 



" DEAR LORD GREY, I enclose a few notes respect- 

 ing the heir apparent and presumptive. The books 

 are very meagre on the subject, and we are left almost 

 entirely to the general superintending powers of Par- 

 liament. However, these references clearly demon- 

 strate that Parliament has at all times taken the heir 

 or heiress presumptive into its consideration. Indeed 

 I do not know any instance of a difference made be- 

 tween heir apparent and presumptive except in the trea- 

 son law, and even there it seems to depend on the sex 

 as well as the apparency ; for though Lord Hale thinks 

 that the grandson comes within the protection of the 

 statute (25 Ed. III. c. 2), as falling under the words 



