360 DEFENCE OF QUEEN CAROLINE. [1820. 



she is not to reside in any part of the United Kingdom, 

 or even to visit England. The consequence of such a 

 visit will be an immediate message to Parliament, and 

 the entire end to all compromise and negotiation. I 

 believe that there is no other condition I am sure 

 none of any importance. I think it right to send to 

 you an extract of a letter from Lord Liverpool to me. 

 His words are: 'It is material that her Majesty 

 should know, confidentially, that if she shall be so 

 ill advised as to come over to this country, there must 

 then be an end to all negotiation and compromise. 

 The decision, I may say, is taken to proceed against 

 her as soon as she sets her foot on the British shores/ 

 I cannot conclude this letter without my humble, 

 though serious and sincere supplication, that her 

 Majesty will take these propositions into her most 

 calm consideration, and nob act with any hurry or 

 precipitation on so important a subject. I hope that 

 my advice will not be misinterpreted. I can have no 

 possible interest which would induce me to give fal- 

 lacious counsel to the Queen. But let the event be 

 what it may, I shall console myself with the reflection 

 that I have performed a painful duty imposed upon 

 me, to the best of my judgment and conscience, and in 

 a case in the decision of which the King, the Queen, 

 the Government, and the people of England are mate- 

 rially interested. Having done so, I fear neither 

 obloquy nor misrepresentation. I certainly should 

 not have wished to have brought matters to so pre- 

 cipitate a conclusion ; but it is her Majesty's decision, 

 and not mine. I am conscious that I have performed 

 my duty towards her with every possible degree of 

 feeling and delicacy. I have been obliged to make 



