324 L O N 
polluted by the name of Napoleon, but which, for the 
moft part, contains only the ancient ordinances and cuf- 
toms of the realm, fhall remain in force, with the excep¬ 
tion of enactments contrary to the doftrines of religion, 
which, as well as the ‘liberty of the people, has long been 
lubjefted to the caprice of the tyrant. The fenate, in 
which are feated fotne men fo juftly diftinguiflied for their 
talents, and whom fo many fervices may render illuftrious 
in the eyes of France and of pofteritv—that corps, whofe 
utility and importance can never be duly appreciated till 
after the reftoration—can it fail to perceive the glorious 
deftiny which fummons it to become the firft inftrument 
of that great benefaction which will prove the moll folid 
as well as the moft honourable guarantee of its exiftence 
and its prerogatives ? On the fubjeft of property, the 
king, who has already announced his intention to employ 
the moft proper means for conciliating the interefts of all, 
perceives, in the numerous fettlements which have taken 
place between the old and the new land-holders, the means 
of rendering thofe cares almoft fuperfluous. He engages, 
however, to interdict all proceedings by the tribunals, 
contrary to fuch l'ettlements ; to encourage voluntary ar¬ 
rangements ; and, on the part of himfelf and his family, to 
fet the example of all thofe facrifices which may contri¬ 
bute to the repofe of France, and the lincere union of all 
Frenchmen. The king has guaranteed to the army the 
maintenance of the ranks, employments, pay, and appoint¬ 
ments, which it at prefent enjoys. He promifes alfo to 
the generals, officers, and foldiers, w'ho fhall lignalife 
themfelves in fupportof his caufe, rewards more fubftan- 
tial, diltinftions more honourable, than any they can re¬ 
ceive from an ufurper—always ready to difown, or even 
to dread, their fervices. The king binds himfelf anew to 
aboliffi that pernicious confcription, which deftroys the 
happinefs of families and the hope of the country. Such 
always have been, fuch Hill are, the intentions of the king. 
His re-eftablifhment on the throne of his anceftors will 
be for France the happy tranftion from the calami¬ 
ties of a war which tyranny perpetuates, to the bleffings 
of a folid peace, for which foreign powers can never find 
any fecurity but in the word of the legitimate fovereign. 
Louis.” 
This proclamation did not appear to have any effect 
at the time ; but at the prefent moment it will be read 
with intereil. When mentioned in the Britilh parlia¬ 
ment, it was declared not to be a tneafure concerted with 
or encouraged by the government of this country. The 
time was not yet come, for us openly to elpoufe the caufe 
of the Bourbons. 
Sir Francis Burdett, on the 23d of February, after ex- 
pofing feveral encroachments made upon the conftitution in 
confequence of the unfortunate indifpofition under which 
his majefty is fuffering, moved for leave to bring in a bill 
to provide againft any interruption of the exercife of the 
royal authority, in the event of the death of the prince- 
regent in his father’s life-time. He was defirous it fhould 
be underftood, that he intended the preemptive heir to 
the throne, the princefs Charlotte of Wales, fhould in 
fuch cafe exercife the royal authority. This would pre¬ 
vent both minifters and parliament from rendering the 
royal authority fubfervient to their will.—The motion, 
after a ffiort debate, was negatived by 238 to 73. 
It is with painful feelings that we find ourfelves called 
upon, by our duty of annalifts, to record tranfaftions 
which had better been buried in oblivion than to appear 
before the public; but as, at the times now under our 
ccnfideration, they caufed a great deal of intereft and 
concern in the nation at large, and efpecially in the me¬ 
tropolis, we cannot refufe prefenting the principal fea¬ 
tures of the fafts to our readers. 
So far back as the year 1796, the prince of Wales 
thought proper to fend the following-letter to his illuf¬ 
trious confort.—It is dated Windfor Caltle, April 30, 
“ Madam ; As lord Cholmondeley informs me that you 
wiffi I would define in writing,* the terms upon which 
D O N. 
we are to live, I fhall endeavour to explain myfelf upon 
that head with as much clearnefs and as much propriety 
as the nature of the fubjeft will admit. Our inclinations 
are not in our power ; nor fhould either of us be held 
anfwerable to the other, becaufe Nature has not made as 
fnilable to each other. Tranquil and comfortable fociety is, 
however, in our power.—Let our intercourfe, therefore, 
be reftrifted to that ; and I will diltinclly fubfcribe to the 
condition which you rtquired through lady Cholmondeley,-J- 
that, even in the event of any accident happening to my 
daughter, which 1 truft Providence will in its mercy 
avert, I fhall not infringe the terms of the reftriftion, by 
propofing at any period a connection of a more particular 
nature. I fhall now finally clofe this difagreeable corre- 
fpondence, trufting that, as we have completely explained 
ourfelves to each other, the reft of our lives will be paffed 
in uninterrupted tranquillity.—With great truth and fm- 
cerity, your’s, George P.” 
* The fubftance of this letter had been previoufly con¬ 
veyed in a meffage through lady Cholmondeley to her 
royal highnefs; but it was thought by her royal highnefs 
to be infinitely too important to reft merely upon a ver¬ 
bal communication, and therefore file defired that his royal 
liighnefs’s pleafure upon it fhould be communicated to her 
in writing. 
f Upon the receipt of the meffage alluded to, her royal 
highnefs, though file had nothing to do hut to fubmit to 
the arrangement which his royal highnefs fhould deter* 
mine upon, defired it might be underltood, that fne fhould 
infill that any fuch arrangement, if once made, fhould he 
confidered as final ; and that his royal highnefs fhould 
not retain the right, from time to time, at his pleafure, 
or under any circumftances, to alter it. 
The anlvver to the foregoing letter conveys the moft af- 
flifting demonftration of the fa ft, that differences and dif- 
gufts had arifen between the royal pair very foon after their 
nuptials. 
“ The avowal of your converfation with lord Chol¬ 
mondeley neither furprifes nor offends me : it merely con¬ 
firmed what you have tacitly infinuated for this twelvemonth. 
But, after this, it would be a want oft delicac)', or rather 
an unworthy meannefs in me, were I to complain of thofe 
conditions which you impofe upon yourfelf.—I fhould 
have returned noanfwer to your letter, if it had not been 
conceived in terms to make it doubtful whether this ar¬ 
rangement proceeds from you or from me 5 and you are 
aware that the credit of it belongs to you alone. —The letter 
which you announce to me as the 1 a ft, obliges me to com¬ 
municate to the king, as to my fovereign and my father, 
both your avowal and my anfwer. You will find enclofed 
the copy of my letter to the king. [Not publifhed.] I ap- 
prife you of it, that I may not incur the flighted reproach 
of duplicity from you. As I have at this moment no 
proteftor hut his majefty, I refer myfelf l'olely to him 
upon this fubjeft ; and, if my conduft meets his appro¬ 
bation, I fhall be, in fome degree at lead, confoled. I re¬ 
tain every fentiment of gratitude for the fitualion in 
which I find myfelf, as princefs of Wales, enabled by 
your means to indulge in the free exercife of a virtue 
dear to my heart—I mean charity.—It will be my duty 
likewife to aft upon another motive—that of giving an 
example of patience and refignation under every trial.— 
Do me the juflice to believe that I fhall never ceafe to 
pray for your happinefs, and to be your much-devoted 
Caroline.” 
Her royal highnefs therefore lived in retirement at 
Blackheatli. In the year 1802, in " the exercife of that 
virtue fo dear to her heart, charity,” Hie took into her 
houfe an infant, the fon of a poor woman, and brought 
it up with great care and tendernefs. Her enemies infi¬ 
nuated that the child was her own ; and, in 1806, certain 
written declarations were laid before the prince of Wales, 
who referred them to his majefty ; and his majefty was 
pleafed to order a commiffion, confiding of lord-chancel¬ 
lor Erlkine, and the lords Grenville, Spencer, and Ellen- 
3 borough. 
