JET. 36.] AND THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 213 



back of the Princess, and their sitting and inquiry not 

 being even communicated to her, they were desired to 

 decide on the propriety of the restrictions laid upon 

 the intercourse of the mother and daughter. They, of 

 course, made a report that the restriction should con- 

 tinue, and also that there was no ground for any charge 

 against the Prince Kegent respecting the proceedings 

 of 1806.* The publication of the letters was put for- 

 ward in the summons as the pretence for this proceed- 

 ing. But there existed no proof that the Princess had 

 caused the publication, and it was well known that 

 copies of the letter had been given by persons con- 

 nected with Carlton House ; for Lady Melbourne had 

 one, manifestly furnished from that quarter, and an- 

 other had found its way to a great broker on the Stock 

 Exchange. The whole proceeding excited but little 

 attention ; the country was wholly occupied with the 

 Prince's conduct, and this new secret inquiry only 

 added to his extreme unpopularity. The last pro- 

 ceeding was considered as a reassertion, by its result, of 

 the Princess's conduct being, and having been through- 

 out, unexceptionable. Addresses were presented to 

 her from the city of London, and various other towns 

 and some counties, congratulating her upon this new 

 defeat of her enemies ; and her mother's death (Duchess 

 of Brunswick, sister of George III.) having happened at 

 this time, many of the addresses were of condolence. 



The universal contempt into which the Eegent had 

 fallen was attended with great and general commisera- 

 tion for his wife and daughter I must say, for the 



* This report has been repeatedly published. It will be found in 

 Hansard, vol. xxiv. p. 1107, and in the Appendix to Miss Knight's Auto- 

 biography. 



