CAROLINE AMELIA ELIZABETH,
QUEEN of GREAT BRITAIN.
THIS illustrious lady, whose per-

TH

sonal character, owing to the persevering malignity of her enemies, has been brought so prominently before the world, was born May 17th, 1768, and was the daughter of the late Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel, by the prin cess Augusta, eldest sister of George III. king of Great Britain.

The prince of Wales had lived to the age of thirty-three in a state of avowed celibacy, and seemed rather averse to marriage, on the plan of those unions which are arranged by state policy instead of mutual affection. That an heir might not be wanting to the British throne, the prince's next brother, the duke of York, had, in 1791, espoused a Princess of Prussia, but they had been married four years, with no prospect of children; and as the Prince of Wales had contracted debts to a large amount he consented to marry, on condition, as is generally understood, that his debts, which amounted to nearly half a million, should be paid.

The lady whom the king and queen selected for his wife, was his first cousin, the princess Caroline of Brunswick, then twenty-five years of age. A negociation was immediately set on foot, the princess brought to England, and the marriage took place under circumstances of the highest promise and most flattering auspices, on the 8th of April, 1795.

On this occasion the prince's income was increased to £125,000 per annum. But the connection proved unhappy from the beginning; the prince had attachments of the heart, and the high spirit of the lady could not brook negleet. She had been bred at the little court of her father at Wolfenbuttel, and afterwards was long resident at Berlin, where the manners and customs are by no means analogous to those of England.

In a short time after the marriage, his highness wrote a letter to his royal consort, declaring frankly his dislike to her, and his fixed and firm resolution not to live as a husband with her. However, on the 7th of January, 1796, she was delivered of a daughter, the

much lamented princess Charlotte of Wales. For some time the princess remained at Carlton house, but a separation finally took place, and the priacess had apartments assigned to her in Kensington palace. She was also allowed an annual stipend, and her household continued as at her marriage. On this occasion the prince addressed to her the following memorable letter:

Windsor Castle, April 30th, 1796.

MADAM,

As Lord Cholmondeley informs me that you wish I would define, in writing, the endeavour to explain myself upon that terms upon which we are to live, I shall head with as much clearness, and with as much propriety, as the nature of the subject will admit. Our inclinations are not in our power, nor should either of us be held answerable to the other because nature has not made us suitable to each other. Tranquil and comfortable society is, however, in our power; let our intercourse, therefore, be restricted to that, and I will distinctly subscribe to the condition which you required through lady Cholmondeley, that, even in the event of any accident happening to my daughter, which I trust Providence in his mercy will avert, I should proposing, at any period, a connexion of a not infringe the terms of the restriction, by

more particular nature. I shall now finally close this disagreeable correspondence; trusting, that as we have completely explained ourselves to each other, the rest of our lives will be passed in uninterrupted tranquillity. I am, Madam, With great truth, very sincerely, yours, GEORGE P.`

(Signed)

The princess dowager of Brunswick, her mother, coming to England, his majesty purchased a house for her at Blackheath, and the princess had a house assigned her at the next door to that of her mother. From some cause, not yet ascertained, but said to have arisen from some intercepted letters, written by the princess to her mother, the female part of the royal family appear to have been on bad terms with the princess of Wales; but the king, her uncle, gave her his full confidence and friendship, and frequently visited and dined with her at Blackheath. She seems, however, to have been always beset with spies, who reported, according to their practice of pleasing their employers, not in the most favourable terms.

After

After residing some time at Blackheath, she took under her protection the child of a poor man in the neighbourhood, of the name of Austin, of which child she appears to have been very fond. Her enemies seized on this circumstance to attack her character, and even to assert that this boy was an illegitimate child of her own, This was a charge too serious to be passed over, but evidence was wanted to establish the princess's criminality. No effort was neglected to procure this evidence, and at last, a lady, the wife of a field-officer of marines, lady Douglas, who had been much favoured by the princess, and honoured with her confidence, made oath to certain points of the princess's conduct, and to certain confessions of hers, which, if to be credited, afforded proofs of her guilt. This happened about the year 1806, when lord Grenville and Mr. Fox were in administration, and his majesty was advised to issue a commission to certain lords of the council to inquire into the case. These were the lord chancellor, (Erskine,) lord Grenville, earl Spencer, and lord Ellenborough. They proceeded to a minute investigation of the documents laid before them, but in their final report declared they found nothing in the princess's conduct blameable, but levity of manners. The following is an extract of the document:

Your Majesty having been graciously pleased, by an instrument under your Majesty's Royal Sign Manual, a copy of which is annexed to this report, to 66 authorize, empower, and direct us to inquire into the truth of certain written declarations, touching the conduct of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales,"

We first examined on oath the principal informants, Sir John Douglas, and Charlotte, his wife: who both positively swore, the former to his having observed the fact of the pregnancy of her Royal Highness.

The most material of those allegations, into the truth of which we had been directed to enquire, being thus far supported by the oath of the parties from whom they had proceeded, we then felt it our duty to follow up the inquiry by the examination of such other persons as we judged best able to afford us information, as to the facts in question.

We thought it beyond all doubt that, in

this course of inquiry, many particulars

must be learned which would be necessarily conclusive on the truth or falsehood of these declarations. So many persons must have been witnesses to the appearances of an actually existing pregnancy; so many circumstances must have been attendant

upon a real delivery; and difficulties so numerous and insurmountable must have been involved in any attempt to account for the infant in question, as the child of another woman, if it had been in fact the child of the Princess; that we entertained a full and confident expectation of arriving at complete proof, either in the affirmative or negative, on this part of the subject. We are happy to declare to your Majesty This expectation was not disappointed.

our perfect conviction that there is no foundation whatever for believing that the child now with the Princess is the child of Her Royal Highness, or that she was delivered of any child in the year 1802; nor has any thing appeared to us which would warrant the belief that she was pregnant in that year, or at any other period within the compass of our inquiries.

That child was, beyond all doubt, born in the Brownlow-street Hospital, on the 11th day of July, 1802, of the body of Sophia Austin, and was first brought to the

Princess's house in the mouth of November following.

Neither should we be more ing the alleged pregnancy of the Princess, warranted in expressing any doubt respectas stated in the original declarations—a fact so fully contradicted, and by so many witnesses, to whom, if true, it must in various ways have been known, that we cannot think it entitled to the smallest credit.

ERSKINE, SPENCER, GRENVILLE,
ELLENBORough.

July 14th, 1806.

A change of administration soon took place, and, as this report was not deemed satisfactory, a second commission was appointed, and inquiry made; but that commission still reported that no charge of a criminal nature was made out.

After these successive acquittals, the public began to take an interest in her welfare, and addresses of congratulation came in from several places. As her enemies could not atchieve their object by these charges, the next plan was to get her to quit the kingdom, and an offer was made her, at the commencement of the Regency, of 50,0001. per annum to live abroad. She had now thrown herself into the arms of the opposition, and by their advice, and to avoid further annoyance, she accepted a stipend of 35,0001. a year, and withdrew to the continent. It is not extraordi

nary that she should wish to quit a country, where she was slighted and treated in a manner by no means suited to her rank. When the foreign sovereigns of Russia, Prussia, &c. came here on a visit, she was not introduced or visited; and her reception at the Queen's

Queen's drawing-room was not such as she had a right to expect.

She continued travelling in Greece, the Holy Land, &c. &c. till the demise of George the Third. It has since appeared, that from the moment of her departure till her return, all her actions were watched, and that spies were set on her conduct, introduced into her family, and encouraged to make such reports as were agreeable to the party that employed them. After her travels, she fixed on a most delightful spot on the lake of Como, where she purchased a villa and some land, and from thence made excursions to different places. The reception she met with at some of the courts she visited, was insulting, and the British envoys at many of them showed her every mark of disrespect.

During her absence she lost her mother, the Duchess of Brunswick, and her only child, the princess Charlotte of Wales, which last melancholy event was not even announced to her by the proper authorities.

In the meantime every inquiry was made into her conduct. It was even thought proper to send certain persons to Italy, to make inquiries and collect proofs of her supposed guilt, under the name of what is called the Milan commission, which ended so disgrace fully to all who were employed in

it.

The declining state of the king's health, and the prospect of his dissolution being made known to her, she journeyed towards England, and having heard of his death, assumed the title of queen of England.

Her vicinity to England, and the report generally circulated of her intention to come over, appeared to alarm both the king andhis ministers; and Lord Hutchinson was sent to St. Omer's to offer her 50,0001. per annum, on condition that she would abandon the title of queen of England and continue to live abroad. She had too much courage, energy, and vigour of mind to fall into this snare, and she instantly set off for England, to meet any charges which folly or malice might bring against her. If she had been guilty of adultery, as her enemies asserted, the ecclesiastical court was open to try the cause; but the ministry must have been sensible that their evidences were such as would not find credit in any court in the kingdom, and therefore had recourse to a bill of degradation, or pains and penalties. The production of the green bags, and the proceedings thereon, in both houses, are MONTHLY MAG. No. 358.

too recent and well known to require particular detail in this place, and we shall only remark, that when the abandoned and avaricious character of the evidences and the high rank of her accusers are considered, her escape by the solemn vote of the House of Lords, was almost miraculous.

She now became the idol of the natien. Never were addresses more numerous, eloquent, or heartfelt. The people seemed to live to sound her praises, and pour in congratulations, and her answers to their addresses responded to their feelings and principles. Her visit to St. Paul's was the proudest triumph ever partaken by a British sovereign. Yet while enjoying the devotion of millions, power continued its malign exertions. Her name was proscribed from the liturgy-the nobility forebore to visit her-and she found herself neglected by all who moved in her own sphere. The press was even corrupted to vilify every one who visited her. The professed object was to drive her out of the kingdom-but she was the firmest of her sex, and would not separate herself from a people so devoted to her person and cause.

In our last number we noticed her claims to be crowned with the king, and her attempt to be present at the ceremony. Her personal exertions on that occasion are believed to have shaken her frame. She kept up her spirits in public, but pined and wept in secret. Her stomach ceased to perform its functions, and she resorted to her medicine chest, instead of taking professional advice. The consequence was an obstruction of the bowels, which, accompanied by a weariness of life, led to a fatal result on the 7th of August, after four days serious illness. her death bed she exclaimed "they have destroyed me”—“ my disease is here," pointing to her heart-that she "hailed death as a friend"-and" forgave all her enemies."

On

Conceiving that it would not be permitted that her body should lie with her daughter, she directed it to be conveyed to Brunswick, and buried in the vault of her ancestors, with the inscription "Here lies Caroline, the injured Queen of England." This alternative being adopted by government, the removal of the body was on Monday announced for Tuesday, the 14th; but in spite of the shortness of the notice, the people prepared with alacrity to attend the corpse. The exact route,

was, however, still withheld, and not given till the moment when the body was removed to the hearse. It now appeared that the most retired ways had been selected, and particular injunctions were given that it should not proceed in the direct road through London. This arrangement the people were, however, anxious to frustrate, and the head of the cortege found all the avenues which led to the north, blockaded with overturned carts, waggons, &c. By a feint it passed Hyde Park down Piccadilly, but on a sudden the hearse was turned about, the advanced people and carriages left behind, and the body drawn into Hyde Park. It proceeded by a quick trot to 1each Tyburn gate, but the people fled before it, shut the gate, and began to barricade Edgware road. A party of horse guards in the mean time forced the gate, rode over and cut down the people, who returned vollies of stones. On this, a boy officer fired his pistol, and shot an inoffensive man, when the troops began a general firing, by which another innocent man was killed, and many wounded. The procession now passed by Edgeware and the New Roads to Tottenham Court Road, where a fresh blockade, and the want of a competent military force, obliged the conductors to pass down St. Giles's, while other barricadoes at the end of Holborn, and Great Queen-street, forced them to proceed along Drury Lane to Temple Bar. Here ended this disgraceful and never to be forgotten contest. The Corporation assembled suddenly, and led the procession peaceably through the city; but such was the perverse spirit of power, that although the procession was nine hours in moving from Hammersmith to Whitechapel, it was hurried on to Chelmsford, and was not allowed to rest till four in the morning! It was subsequently hurried on to Harwich, and with little or no ceremony, embarked in a frigate for Germany.

In conclusion we may observe that this Princess had endeared herself to the people of these realms by her unshaken virtue under the severest trials-by the urbanity of her character, combined with an amiable condescension of manners-by an habitual benevolence and goodness of heart which she never ceased to exert and by vigour of mind and extent of intelligence which qualified her to endure persecutions as unexampled as protracted; while as Queen consort, she inspired the best hopes of

the nation in the ardent affection which she cherished for the British people, and in the public testimonials which she repeatedly gave of her respect to the laws and constitution, and of her devotion to the principles of civil and religious liberty.

The sympathy of the people was peculiarly drawn forth at her death, by contrasting the flattering prospects and auspicious circumstances which attended her first landing in England, with the events of which she became the victim in being separated from conjugal ties, and from a court, of which she was qualified to be the brightest ornament,

in being the object of secret investigations, which though terminating in the disgrace of false accusers, wounded the delicate sense of female honour-in being deprived of the society of a beloved daughter, whose affections constituted her only solace, and whose premature death left her without hope-in having her father and brother successively cut off in the field of battle-in suffering the loss of a generous protector in the late king-in being driven into exile in the hope of finding repose in distant countries, yet every where followed by the same persevering malice, and beset by spies, whose interest led them to misinterpret every action of her lifeand when at length on becoming a partner in the throne of this great empire, she sought to enjoy her dignities, and presented herself to a greeting and sympathising people, by finding herself the object of renewed persecutions-yet though again triumphant, in being neither restored to her rights as queen consort, nor permitted to fill the public station in society to which she was entitled by rank and birth.

Under such accumulated wrongs and complicated sufferings, she displayed to the last day of her life, unshaken firmness and dauntless courage, accompanied by an equanimity of mind which enabled her to baffle, if not extinguish the malice of her enemies. At length female sensibility yielded to the various and combined arts by which she was incessantly assailed, and after a few days illness, she left to her friends and partisans only the painful duty of lamenting her misfortunes, and paying an unavailing tribute to her virtues, by attending her last obsequies, in which last hope they were nevertheless disappointed by a series of vexatious manœu

vres.

CORNUCOPIA

PRIVATE MARRIAGES.

MFleet, and of May Fair, were

ANY years ago the parsons of the

noted for the celebration of private marriages; and it appears that the village of Hampstead was not less remarkable for its conveniences of that kind to couples who wished to increase their happiness by a little air and exercise.

About the beginning of the last century there stood near the Wells, a place called Sion Chapel, which appears to have been the property of the keeper of an adjoining tavern. By the following advertisements from the papers of 1710 and 1716, it will be seen what temptations he held out to such parties as should keep their wedding-dinner in his gardens.

April 18, 1710.- As there are many weddings at Sion Chapel, Hampstead, five shillings only is required for all the church fees of any couple that are married there, provided they bring with them a licence or certificate, according to the act of parliament.-Two sermons are continued to be preached in the said chapel every Sunday; and the place will be given to any clergyman that is willing to accept of it, if he is approved of."

"Sept. 8, 1716.-Sion Chapel, at Hampstead, being a private and pleasure place, many persons of the best fashion have lately been maried there. Now, as a minister is obliged constantly to attend, this is to give notice, that all persons upon bringing a licence, and who shall have their wedding-dinner in the gardens, may be married in the said chapel without giving any fee or reward whatsoever: and such as do not keep their wedding-dinner at the gardens, only five shillings will be demanded of them for all fees."

A return to an order of the House of Commons in 1820, states the charge of a regiment of Life Guards, consisting of eight troops, of one farrier, 42 men per troop, and 274 troop-horses, for one day's pay, £65. 5s. 6d.; total charge, including clothing, &c. for the year, £32,000. 16s. 8d.

The charge of a regiment of Horse Guards, of eight troops, a farrier, 42 men per troop, and 274 troop-horses, for one day's pay, £81. 8s. Id; total charge, including clothing, &c. for the year, £30,188. 17s. 6d.

The charge of a regiment of Dragoon Guards, consisting of eight troops, of 46 rank and file per troop, and 273 troophorses, for one day's pay, £49 2s. 3d ; total charge, including clothing, &c. for the year, £24,835. 12s. 11d.

MODERN WITCHCRAFT.

The trial of an indictment, the King v. Betty Townshend, in 1816, developed some disgraceful circumstances of the credulity of the mass of the people. The prisoner was 77 years old, resided in the parish of Taunton, and by the superstitious and ignorant had long been considered as a witch. Her appearance was calculated to sanction the idea, and her levees were much frequented by those who chose to pay for a peep into futurity. The prosecutor, Jacob Pool, was a poor man, residing in the hamlet of Taunton, and was in the habit of sending his daughter, about twelve years old, with apples in a basket to Taunton market. In January of that year, the child met the old woman, who stopped her, and after examining her basket, asked "hast got any money?" on the child answering in the negative, she ordered her to get some and bring to her, threatening to kill her by inches" if she disobeyed. The terrified child borrowed two shillings of Mr. Bruford, druggist, in Taunton, which she gave to the prisoner; and afterwards, in consequence of similar threats, borrowed 11. 4s. 6d. of the same gentleman, at six different periods. At length Pool called on Mr. Bruford to pay him a bill, and was informed of the sums his daughter had borrowed "to go to market" with, and on questioning the child, the threats of the "witch" had made so strong an impression on her, that it was with great difficulty that she could be brought to disclose the truth. Pool's wife and a woman named Johnson then went to the house of the prisoner, and interrogated her as to the facts; she swore and raved in a violent manner, and vowed that, if they dared to accuse her, she would make them “die by inches." Mrs. Pool replied,

66

no, thee shalt not; I'll hinder that ;" and taking a pin from her clothes, she scratched the witch from the elbow to the wrist, that by drawing her blood she might dispel the power of her incantations! The prisoner being found guilty, the judge observed, that her extreme

old