with her other claims to love and gratitude. She was represented at the time, and with truth, I believe, as a person of great beauty, but not greater than her sweetness of manners, her acquired accomplishments, and her strength and greatness of mind. She was received in England with transports of joy; addresses of admiration and gratitude poured in upon her from all quarters, and her husband was congratulated as the happiest of men. A similar torrent of addresses came in upon the birth of the Princess Charlotte of Wales. In short, no events seem ever to have caused such unmixed joy in this country as the marriage of this illustrious Lady and the birth of her child.

What a contrast, alas! is presented in the occurrences of the present day! What short-sighted mortals we are! Who, though the most far-seeing of men, could, in 1796, while addresses of congratulation were succeeding each other to the Prince and Princess upon the birth of their child; who, at that day, could have anticipated, that the time was to come, when the mother would have to complain, aye, and to make public her complaints, of being debarred a free communication with that

child!

This leads us to a consideration of the Princess's Letter; but, I ought, in the first place, to remind you, that it was not, as was stated at the time in print, many months after the Princess Charlotte was born before her royal Mother had a place of residence separate from that of the Prince. Now, this might happen without ground of blame on either side. There are so many ways in which misunderstandings in families are created; there are so many causes from which the society of man and wife become disagreeable; and these causes may be founded in so many incidents having nothing of crime or blame belonging to them, that, when separations of this sort take place, it is a harsh judgment that will insist upon affixing blame to one party or the other. Therefore, I, for my part, have always been willing to content myself with expressing merely regret upon this subject, in which respect, I am satisfied, that I did no more than follow the example of the great mass of the community, Had things continued in this state; had the parties, though living at a distance from each other, suffered the world to hear nothing from them in the way of complaint against each other, all would yet have been well. Un happily this has not been the case; accusa

Copy of a Leller from Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent :

I presume to obtrude myself upon your "SIR,It is with great reluctance that Royal Highness, and to solicit your attention to matters which may, at first, appear rather of a personal than a public nature. related merely to myself—I should abstain If I could think them so-if they from a proceeding which might give uncasiness, or interrupt the more weighty occupations of your Royal Highness's time. ment, to lead the life which has been preI should continue, in silence and retire-' scribed to me, and console myself for the loss of that society and those domestic comforts to which I have so long been a stranger, by the reflection that it has been deemed proper I should be afflicted without any fault of my own-and that your Royal Highness knows it.

a higher nature than any regard to my-own "But, Sir, there are considerations of happiness, which render this address a duty both to Myself and my Daughter. May I venture to say-a duty also to my care? Husband, and the people committed to his guiltless woman cannot with safety carry' There is a point beyond which a her forbearance. If her honour is invaded, the defence of her reputation is no longer a matter of choice; and it signifies not whether the attack be made openly, manfully, and directly-or by secret insinuation, and by holding such conduct towards her as countenances all the suspicions that malice can suggest. If these ought to be the feelings of every woman in England who is conscious that she deserves no reproach, your Royal Highness has too sound a judgment, and too nice a sense of honour, not to perceive, how much more justly they belong to the Mother of your Daughter

12

-the Mother of her who is destined, I trust, at a very distant period, to reign over the British Empire.

--

dence of my innocence, and disregard the sentence of complete acquittal which it produced, or is wicked and false enough still to whisper suspicions in your ear,-betrays his duty to you, Sir, to your Daughter, and to your People, if he counsels you to permit a day to pass without a further investigation of my conduct. I know that no such calumniator will venture to recommend a measure which must speedily end in his utter confusion. Then let me implore you to reflect on the situation in which I am placed; without the shadow of a charge against me-without even an accuser-after an Inquiry that led to my ample vindication-yet treated as if I were still more culpable than the perjuries of my suborned traducers represented me, and

"It may be known to your Royal Highness, that during the continuance of the restrictions upon your royal authority, I purposely refrained from making any representations which might then augment the painful difficulties of your exalted station. At the expiration of the restrictions I still was inclined to delay taking this step, in the hope that I might owe the redress I sought to your gracious and unsolicited condescension. I have waited, in the fond indulgence of this expectation, until, to my inexpressible mortification, I find that my unwillingness to complain, has only produced fresh grounds of complaint; and I am at length compelled, either to aban-held up to the world as a Mother who may don all regard for the two dearest objects not enjoy the society of her only Child. which I possess on earth,-mine own honour, and my beloved Child; or to throw myself at the feet of your Royal Highness, the natural protector of both.

"I presume, Sir, to represent to your Royal Highness, that the separation, which every succeeding month is making wider, of the Mother and the Daughter, is equally injurious to my character, and to her education. I say nothing of the deep wounds which so cruel an arrangement inflicts upon my feelings, although I would fain hope that few persons will be found of a disposition to think lightly of these. To see myself cut off from one of the very few domestic enjoyments left me-certainly the only one upon which I set any value, the society of my Child-involves me in such misery, as I well know your Royal Highness could never inflict upon me, if you were aware of its bitterness. Our intercourse has been gradually diminished. A single interview weekly seemed sufficiently hard allowance for a Mother's affections. That, however, was reduced to our meeting once a fortnight; and I now learn, that even this most rigorous interdiction is to be still more rigidly enforced.

"The feelings, Sir, which are natural to my unexampled situation, might justify me in the gracious judgment of your Royal Highness, had I no other motives for addressing you but such as relate to myself : but I will not disguise from your Royal Highness what I cannot for a moment conceal from myself,-that the serious, and it soon may be, the irreparable injury which my Daughter sustains from the plan at present pursued, has done more in overcoming my reluctance to intrude upon your Royal Highness, than any sufferings of my own could accomplish: and if, for her sake, I presume to call away your Royal Highness's attention from the other cares of your exalted station, I feel confident I am not claiming it for a matter of inferior importance either to yourself or your people.

"The powers with which the Constitution of these realms vests your Royal Highness in the regulation of the Royal Family, I know, because I am so advised, are am ple and unquestionable. My appeal, Sir, is made to your excellent sense and liberality of mind in the exercise of those powers; and I willingly hope, that your own parental feelings will lead you to excuse the anxiety of mine, for impelling me to represent the unhappy consequences which the present system must entail upon our beloved Child.

"But while I do not venture to intrude my feelings as a Mother upon your Royal Highness's notice, I must be allowed to say, that in the eyes of an observing and jealous world, this separation of a Daugh- "Is it possible, Sir, that any one can ter from her Mother will only admit of one have attempted to persuade your Royal construction, a construction fatal to the Highness, that her character will not be Mother's reputation. Your Royal High- injured by the perpetual violence offered to High-injured ness will also pardon me for adding, that her strongest affections-the studied care there is no less inconsistency than injustice taken to estrange her froin my society, and in this treatment. He who dares advise even to interrupt all communication beyour Royal Highness to overlook the evi-tween us? That her love for me, with

whom, by His Majesty's wise and gracious arrangements, she passed the years of her infancy and childhood, never can be extinguished, I well know; and the knowledge of it forms the greatest blessing of my existence. But let me implore your Royal Highness to reflect, how inevitably all attempts to abate this attachment, by forcibly separating us, if they sueceed, must injure my Child's principles-if they fail, must destroy her happiness.

"The plan of excluding my Daughter from all intercourse with the worid, ap pears to my humble judgment peculiarly unfortunate. She who is destined to be the Sovereign of this great country, enjoys none of those advantages of society which are deemed necessary for imparting a knowledge of mankind to persons who have infinitely less occasion to learn that important lesson; and it may so happen, by a chance which I trust is very remote, that she should be called upon to exercise the powers of the Crown, with an experience

of the world more confined than that of the most private individual. To the extraordinary talents with which she is blessed, and which accompany a disposition as singularly amiable, frank, and decided, I willingly trust much: but beyond a certain point the greatest natural endowments cannot struggle against the disadvantages of circumstances and situation. It is my earnest prayer, for her own sake, as well as her country's, that your Royal Highness may be induced to pause before this point be reached.

Those who have advised you, Sir, to delay so long the period of my Daughter's commencing her intercourse with the world, and for that purpose to make Windsor her residence, appear not to have regarded the interruptions to her education which this arrangement occasions; both by the impossibility of obtaining the attendance of proper teachers, and the time unavoidably consumed in the frequent journeys to town which she must make, unless she is to be secluded from all intercourse, even with your Royal Highness and the rest of the Royal Family. To the same unfortunate counsels I ascribe a circumstance in every way so distressing both to my parental and religious feelings, that my Daughter has never yet enjoyed the benefit of Confirmation, although above a year older than the age at which all the other branches of the Royal Family have partaken of that solemnity. May I earnestly conjure you, Sir, to hear my entreaties upon this serious

matter, even if you should listen to other advisers on things of less near concernment to the welfare of our Child?

"The pain with which I have at length formed the resolution of addressing myself to your Royal Highness is such as I should in vain attempt to express. If I could adequately describe it, you might be enabled, Sir, to estimate the strength of the motives which have made me submit to it: they are the most powerful feelings of affection, and the deepest impressions of duty towards your Royal Highness, my beloved Child, and the country, which I devoutly hope she may be preserved to govern, and to shew by a new example the liberal affection of a free and generous people to a virtuous and Constitutional Monarch.

"I am, Sir, with profound respect, and an attachment which nothing can alter, your Royal Highness's most devoted and most affectionate Consort, Cousin, and Subject,

(Signed) CAROLINE LOUISA. Montague-house, 14th of Jan. 1813.”

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

FRENCH PAPERS.

[Continued from page 256.)

bestowed on France by virtue of the general laws, one only was granted by Charles the 5th, but which was neither executed nor even acted on afterwards.The suffrages of the people, the vows of the Nobility, the resolutions of the Council, the testaments of Monarchs, the arret of the Parliaments, have successively and almost always fell under the public influence, where secret passions, intrigue, seduction, corruption, or force bestowed the Regency of the State.

-But in the midst of these various examples, it is the Regencies of Queen Mothers that most frequently appear in our annals, and which have always been most conformable to the wishes of the nation, and the interest of the State. Hap. pily, Gentlemen, for social order, it is in the strongest feeling of nature that we find the greatest security for the political opinion and conduct, and this guarantee given by maternal tenderness becomes still more efficacious, as we have before our eyes the happy example in the reciprocal affections which are born, and strengthened incessantly between a people sensible and good, and the August Sovereign, to whom they owe a successor to the Throne.It is on

TITLE III.

Regency.

is necessary to fix its power. It emAfter having instituted the Regency, it braces in its extent and in the terms of the 1st Art. of Title 3, the whole plenitude of the Imperial authority. It commences at the moment of the Emperor's decease, suffer weakness, nor the interruption of its to the intent that the empire shall neither government.With regard to its duration, the power remains in the hands of the Empress, in case of one of her minor sons being called to the throne. It passes into the hands of a Regent, if at the death of the Emperor as a minor, the Crown belongs to a Prince of another branch. Separated from the title of Empress, that of mother has not appeared sufficient to call to the Regency the mother of the new Emperor.

this happy principle that the first dispositions of the Senatus Consultum are founded, Extent and Duration of the Power of the which grants the rights of Regency to the Empress Mother, who is consecrated to fill the void, by interest, the love of her Son and of her people. -It is not sufficient to have established this first rule, it is still requisite that in failure of the Empress, this disposition of the Emperor by establishing a gradual order, fixed and invariable for the exercise of the Regency, shall provide against all incertitudes, and in general against all interruption in the movements of Government. It is there provided that in being called to the Regency, the French Princes shall have obtained the age of 21 years, according to the hereditary order, and in default of them, the Princes Grand Dignitaries fixed by the Senatus Consultum.The Vice Grand Dignitaries shall in this respect, exercise the rights of those titularies whom they represent. To possess not a simple sovereignty, but a throne, a crown, to be in consequence subject to the duties, influenced by the affections, animated by foreign interests, opposite perhaps to the duties, the affections, the interests which ought to direct the Government of France, is in the eyes reason and policy a motive of exclusion from the Regency, and two articles of the 1st Title, pronounce this exclusion.

TITLE II.

of

Of the Regency by the Emperor. That, Gentlemen, which is established by Title I. as a general rule for the exercise of the Regency, may nevertheless be modified by the will of the Emperor, solemnly manifested. It is without doubt that the interest of the State demands that a

stated order should give a Regency to France, at the moment when she becomes the widow of her Monarch, without any change being made in this order, established by foresight and wisdom. But the interest of the State likewise requires, that the Emperor, under such circumstances as the general views of the laws can neither foresee nor define, may, after so much experience of events, the situation of affairs, the knowledge of persons, bring into the common rule modifications dictated by his wisdom, and inspired by the interests of his successors, and of his people.This wise restriction is sacred, and the manner of making known its object and extent is determined in Titles 1 and 2, and finally in Art. 23 of Title 4, touching the Council of Re

gency

Consultum, Gentlemen, is drawn up as -This part of the Senatus principle generally acknowledged, the exsurplus, to shew, that according to this ercise of power should not change hands, unless when absolute necessity or great interests require it.

TITLE IV.
Council of Regency.

History teaches us, that in epochas of minorities the Councils of Regency associated in the exercise of the administration, or of the Government, have been dispersed at the will of the Regents, embarrassing if they wished to become independent, inutile if they become seduced or subjected, dangerous if they wished to possess themselves of the public opinion.

It is not such a Council of Regency which is appointed by title 4th, but a Council necessary in a fixed number of cases, useful in all, dangerous in none. SECT. 1.-This Council shall be composed of the first Prince of the Blood, the uncles, and two of the nearest relatives of the Emperor, according to order of birth, together with the Princes, Grand Dignitaries, at which the Empress or Regent shall preside, and to which the Emperor may add such number of members as he may judge convenient.

· Deliberations of the Council. SECTION 2.-To chuse a consort for the Emperor, declare war, sign treaties of peace, of alliance or commerce, such are the determinations on which the Councilof Regency necessarily have to deliberate.The projected dispositions of the extraor-:

dinary domains, and the necessity of placing the Princes Grand Dignitaries previous to the majority of the Emperor, in case of there being a Regent, is likewise submitted to them.Being solely consulted in all other affairs, the Council of Regency will always give light into matters, and will never present obstacles to the authority charged with the government of the empire.

TITLE V.

Of the Guard of the minor Emperor. The Royal Infant which belongs to a great nation, like the child belonging only te a private family, can never repose with greater security than in the arms of its mother. It is therefore to the mother of the Emperor, that the superintendence of his house, the charge of his education, and in short the guard of his person is confided.The Emperor has not even imagined that any one could suppose a necessity of ever derogating from this sacred rule, and that it must only be in default of mother, that the person of the minor Emperor is confided by the Emperor, previous to his decease, or after his death, by the Council of Regency, to one of the Princes Grand Dignitaries of the empire.

TITLE VI.

Of the Oath to be taken for exercising the

Regency.

makes no alteration in it, the rules established are to be observed concerning the revenues, the funds allotted to the crown are to follow its destination, and besides supply the housekeeping of the Empress Regent, or of the Regent.The private Domains, on the contrary, may be a depot for the future, a treasure of power, a guarantee of peace, and it will be wise to take care of their preservation.The dispositions of the 2d Section of this Title have been provided for, referring at the same time to the forms prescribed by the family statute of the 30th March, and to the dispositions of the Act of Constitution of the 30th January, concerning the Emperor's Domains.The extraordinary domains remain entirely reserved for exigencies of the state, and the funds existing in its office are like those of the private domain, to be thrown into the Imperial Treasury.

The 44th Article of Section 3d does not even leave the disposition of the vacant benefices, in so far as they do not exceed 50,000 franks in revenue.

TITLE VIH.

Absence of the Emperor or Regent.

I have said at the commencement, Gentlemen, that His Majesty would extend his foresight to all events, and take all the chances of security in favour of maintaining public order and the guarantee of GovernThe Constitution has determined that the ment.This sentiment has led him to Emperor at his accession should take an provide for the case of absence, of the Emoath, which should be equally exacted for peror called to the throne, or of the Prince the exercise of the Regency, and contain called to the Regency.- -The 1st and 2d special regulations relative to the tempo- Sections of Title 8, provides for it by prorary power attributed to the Regency.- rogation of the Ministers powers, by formThe expression of those obligations should ing a Council, presided over by the first not be entirely the same for the Empress in rank of the Grand Dignitaries.-FiRegent, as for the Regent. The difference nally, to omit nothing, Section 3d gives is established in 1st and 2d sections of the means of resolving in a Privy Council, Title 6th, in the first part of the oath.- by the drawing up and proposing a Senatus The 2d, which is in common both to the Consultum, all the unforeseen difficulties Empress and to the Regent, is nothing which may attend extraordinary conjuncmore than the same oath which the Em-tures, and to the variety of which thought peror himself takes on his ascending the has not been able to extend itself. throne. finishes, Gentlemen, what relates to the Regency, and presents an order of ideas relating to, without being entirely depen dent on it.

TITLE VII.

TITLE IX.

Here

Of the Administrations of Domains. The titles of the Senatus Consultum which have just been analyzed, relates to the Government of the Empire, and the Called henceforth to the Government of charge of the Minor Emperor. The 7th the Empire, in case of minority, the Emrelates to the Administration of the three presses will find themselves attached to species of Domains possessed by the Em-France by a kind of new alliance, which is peror, and to the manner in which their formed the moment that the Emperor owes revenues are to be employed.With to them a son, the throne an heir, and the regard to the Administration, the minority nation an object of their love and hope,