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/ET. 36.] AND THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 235 



it was my duty, however painful, to inform the Princess 

 how the matter stood, and that it was in vain to deny 

 that the Prince had her wholly in his hands. I re- 

 minded her of all I had said and written on this two 

 years ago, and assured her in a very peremptory tone 

 that the only question was, whether she would go with 

 goodwill or be forced from hence by Ellenborough's 

 Habeas Corpus, which I knew he would grant. She 

 was affected beyond description. I have told many a 

 client he was going to be convicted, but I never saw 

 any thing like her stupefaction: for a quarter of an hour 

 she was lost. But I then made her write a letter to 

 the Prince, giving them a loophole, and offering to 

 return, but requesting assurances of seeing Miss Mer- 

 cer and keeping Miss Eawdon. I also sent for the 

 Duke of Sussex, whom they had named in their first 

 letter. He came, and offered to do anything he could 

 or I desired. Miss Knight was also sent to see the 

 Prince, and at least the ministers. She could only see 

 the latter, and came back ; nothing but war. 



" However, the Bishop gave assurance Miss Mercer 

 should see her, and that her maid (Lewis) should be 

 kept. 



" At length, at three, came in the Prince's coach, and 

 with his servants, the Duke of York. He was taken to 

 a room alone, and she and Miss Mercer went to him. I 

 made them tell him all that had passed, and claim his 

 assistance. He said his orders were only to bring her 

 back, and make no terms. She demanded access to 

 her friends ; he said he had no powers. She demanded 

 his promise to do what he could ; he gave it. But he 

 would neither take Miss Mercer nor Miss Knight with 

 him, and her maid (who had come with her things) 



