220 THE PRINCESS OF WALES [1814. 



" Your Majesty will, I am sure, not be displeased 

 that I should relieve myself from a suspicion of dis- 

 respect towards your Majesty, by making public the 

 cause of my absence from Court at a time when the 

 duties of my station would otherwise peculiarly de- 

 mand my attendance. I have the honour to be your 

 Majesty's most obedient daughter-in-law and servant, 



" CAROLINE, P.* 



"CONNAUGHT HOUSE, May 24, 1814." 



The Queen, though at "Windsor, returned imme- 

 diately this answer : 



" WINDSOR CASTLE, May 25, 1814. 



" The Queen has received this afternoon the Princess 

 of Wales's letter of yesterday, in reply to the commu- 

 nication whioh she was desired by the Prince Eegent 

 to make to her ; and she is sensible of the disposition 

 expressed by her Eoyal Highness not to discuss with 

 her topics which must be painful to both. 



" The Queen considers it incumbent upon her to 

 send a copy of the Princess of Wales's letter to the 

 Prince Kegent ; and her Majesty could have felt no 

 hesitation in communicating to the illustrious strangers 

 who may possibly be present at her Court the cir- 

 cumstances which will prevent the Princess of Wales 

 from appearing there, if her Eoyal Highness had not 

 rendered a compliance with her wish to this effect 

 unnecessary, by intimating her intention of making 

 public the cause of her absence. 



" CHARLOTTE, B." 



* This correspondence was transmitted to the Speaker, and read by 

 him in the House of Commons on the 3d June. The reading was fol- 

 lowed by an excited debate. See Hansard for June 1814, p. 1047. 



