354 QUEEN CAROLINE. [1820. 



eyes of whatever court she came near, had made her 

 existence intolerable under this endless annoyance of 

 every kind, and that she would be most happy if any 

 arrangement could be made for her entire freedom 

 from all vexation. Her wish was to take some royal 

 title in the family, and, having her income secured, to 

 be recognised by our foreign ministers at whatever 

 court she might choose for a time to have her resi- 

 dence. Being on intimate terms with Lord Hutchin- 

 son, a political as well as a personal friend, I wrote 

 him a letter, which he was at liberty to communicate 

 to the Prince, with whom he was on intimate terms, 

 though not at all one of the Carl ton House set. 

 Though I well knew that the Princess would adopt 

 this plan, yet I purposely avoided any direct com- 

 munication with her, in order that I might not in any 

 way commit her, and might state distinctly that it 

 was only a proposition which I was disposed to make 

 to her, and advise her to consider it. 



The accounts which I had received from persons on 

 whom I could rely as to the people who had access 

 to her, and the confident statements put about of 

 the Milan inquiry, inclined me to join some of the 

 Princess's best and most judicious friends in advising 

 her to accept such terms as I had proposed in this 

 communication, and to agree with herself in thinking 

 her remaining abroad, at least for the present, advis- 

 able. I expected the proposal would be accepted ; 

 but in case it was not, she was not committed by it. 

 -K- I have little or no doubt that if the proposal had been 

 at once accepted by the Eegent and his advisers she 

 would have been glad to remain abroad. Things 

 were materially changed, however, in January 1820. 



