368 DEFENCE OF QUEEN CAROLINE. [1820. 



attempt made by Wellington, Castlereagh, Denman, 

 and myself) had failed, represented to her Majesty the 

 inestimable importance of an amicable adjustment, 

 prayed her to yield to the earnest solicitude of the 

 House of Commons, and accede to certain of the King's 

 proposals, which, in the opinion of the House, she might 

 do without any sacrifice of her honour. This address 

 was agreed to by the House, and was carried up to the 

 Queen by Wilberforce the mover, Stuart-Wortley* the 

 seconder, Bankes, and Sir Thomas Ackland. 



The Queen, receiving the members with the greatest 

 courtesy, declined in the most decided terms to accede 

 to the request of the Commons, on the ground that 

 agreeing to it % would of necessity leave her conduct 

 open to the gravest suspicion. Thus it became un- 

 avoidable that the inquiry must proceed. The further 

 consideration of the King's message having been ad- 

 journed for a few days in the Commons, I made the 

 following communication to Lord Liverpool on Friday 

 the 9th of June : 



" The Queen commands Mr Brougham to inform Lord 

 Liverpool that she has directed her most serious atten- 

 tion to the declared sense of Parliament as to the 

 propriety of some amicable adjustment of existing dif- 

 ferences being attempted, and submitting to that high 

 authority with the gratitude due to the protection she 

 has always received from it. Her Majesty no longer 

 waits for a communication from the servants of the 

 Crown, but commands Mr Brougham to announce her 

 own readiness to consider any arrangement that can 

 be suggested consistent with her dignity and honour. 



"1 o'clock, Friday, June 9, 1820." 



* Afterwards Lord Wharncliffe. 



