4l3 QUEEN CAROLINE. [1821. 



Address had a great effect in the Queen's favour; 

 and I can answer for constant resolutions of thanks 

 in various parts of the country, and applications to 

 attend meetings, which all her counsel of course 

 refused. It was with great difficulty that, happening 

 to be at Eaby on my way from Brougham at Christ- 

 mas, I escaped a concourse assembled to congratulate 

 upon the fate of the bill. Grey had the same recep- 

 tion among the Newcastle people. So had Denrnan 

 and Williams at different places. Carlton House now 

 took the course of filling the press with libels to de- 

 ter all ladies from visiting the Queen. Papers were 

 established with the avowed purpose of attacking 

 every woman of rank who accepted her invitations. 

 Carlton House was thrown open at the same time to 

 such as refused to visit the Queen ; and I hesitate not 

 to declare that this course was perfectly successful, 

 not merely with the women, but also with their male 

 relations, so as, to my certain knowledge, to influence 

 their votes in both Houses. They both were unwilling 

 to expose their wives and sisters to a slanderous press, 

 and averse to losing for them the balls at Carlton 

 House. The Queen bore it all with great patience, 

 and even good-humour. She used to say, " Oh, it is 

 all in the common course. People go to different 

 inns : one goes to the King's Head, another to the 

 Angel." It must be admitted, however, that she did 

 not act with discretion. Difficult as it would have 

 been to avoid all errors in her peculiarly hard position, 

 she was far too free of access, and invited persons to 

 her table who came there for no other purpose than to 

 gossip and laugh at her. Against this she was warned ; 

 but, indeed, the reports carefully circulated by her 



