44 KEW GARDENS 



had been about these princes from childhood, 

 "privately overlooked the domestic vices and 

 irregularities of their young charge," and that 

 they smuggled Mrs. Robinson through a back 

 gate to the Prince of Wales's apartments. 



The beautiful actress, who was a poetess, 

 too, a ses heures, might well be dazzled by those 

 shining personalities. The Prince vowed un- 

 alterable love till death; and the most con- 

 vincing of his billets-doux was a bond promising 

 to pay Perdita 20,000 at his majority. Perhaps 

 he was sincere for the moment; but we know 

 what such callow vows come to. When, at 

 eighteen, he became to some extent his own 

 master, this unhappily married woman was 

 taken into keeping, and for a time cut a 

 notorious dash before the footlights of society. 

 After Florizel grew tired of her, Perdita's 

 gushing sentimentality did not overlook business- 

 like considerations. She let the King buy up 

 the Prince's letters for 5000 ; and his bond 

 was commuted for a pension of 400. But, 

 these profits swallowed up by debts and extra- 

 vagant habits, the poor creature fell into bad 

 health and hasty authorship. Paralysed and 

 harassed, she died in 1800, buried by her own 



