422 QUEEN CAROLINE. [1821. 



and on that wonderful day when she went to St 

 Paul's was very striking. But it must be added that 

 much of the difference and all the failure was owing 

 to herself. We had all told her that she ought not by 

 any means to attempt to enter the Abbey, and gave 

 her many good reasons against it among others, that 

 the public feeling would not go along with her. But we 

 distinctly said that if she made the attempt, she must 

 do it with her wonted firmness, and that she must 

 make her way into the Abbey if she chose to try it, 

 because, having an order, she could not be stopt when 

 she insisted upon it. Had I known whose order it 

 was, I certainly should have made it an additional 

 ground of refusing my consent to her proceeding. 

 But I only knew it was a valid order, and joined with 

 Denman and one or two of her ladies in saying she 

 must either not make the attempt at all, or must 

 make it so as to succeed. On the contrary, she 

 flinched I verily believe, for the first time in her life ; 

 and instead of insisting on admission at the great 

 gate, she drew back on the refusal, which was made 

 known to those at the other door, and she was entirely 

 defeated. There was some talk of allowing her to 

 enter Westminster Hall and see the banquet, but that 

 she of course refused. 



The consequence of this unfortunate day was a 

 severe illness, which she made worse by taking opiates 

 to relieve the great pain she suffered ; and it was soon 

 found that there was a most dangerous obstruction. 

 There were hopes, however, of it yielding to the treat- 

 ment employed, and when I left town for York the 

 prospect of her recovery was favourable. I saw her 

 the day on which I set out, and was with her half an 



