316 THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. [1816. 



THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE TO LADY 

 CHARLOTTE LINDSAY. 



" CRANBOURN LODGE, March 19, 1816. 



" MY DEAR LADY CHARLOTTE LINDSAY, I hasten, 

 with much pleasure, to thank you for the kind letter 

 you have written to me, dated the 16th, on the occa- 

 sion of my approaching marriage. You must allow me 

 to call you (and as such to put you upon the footing of) 

 an old friend. You may believe, therefore, that I was 

 glad to receive your letter, and pleased with its contents. 



" As you have known me long, you will believe me 

 when I assure you that this has been a long-wished- 

 for event by me, that it is really a union of inclina- 

 tion, and which makes me very happy. 



" In two points of view I am quite convinced that 

 it is the best possible thing for this country (a sub- 

 ject I am ever alive to) : first, in respect to its secur- 

 ing my private and domestic comfort; secondly, as 

 to the Prince of Coburg's relations and connections 

 abroad, and his situation of a younger brother. Pain- 

 ful as the fact has been, yet I confess the retrospect 

 does but enhance the value of the present good ob- 

 tained, and makes me the more grateful for it, and 

 thankful for the escape I made. I can with truth say 

 that not one hour of my life have I ever regretted the 

 line I took on a former occasion. 



" Nothing you can utter in the Prince of Coburg's 

 praise is too much ; . . . indeed, he deserves all pos- 

 sible praise and admiration; for his is not an easy 

 task, situation, or game to play. The more he is 

 known, the more, I am sure, this country will be in- 

 clined to confide much in him, as he has a head } a 



