and, if true, are justly entitled to the most serious consideration."

As regards the main issue the report was a complete vindication of Caroline, and at the same time a tremendous indictment of the Douglases, who, in the considered opinion of the Cabinet, should be indicted for perjury.

It is not to be denied that the Princess had, to some extent, brought this trouble upon herself-though this is no excuse for Lady Douglas, the prime mover, who acted throughout with the utmost malice-for she delighted, even as might an impish child, in mystification. For instance, she would say, "I have nine children," and, after having confused her hearers, would explain: "It is true, upon my honour. That is to say, I take care of eight boys and a girl "-meaning those protégés of the institution about which Campe

wrote.

Lady Charlotte Campbell, who knew her well, has told how Caroline loved to make people stare. She has recorded the following conversation: "Her Royal Highness said, 'Poor dear Willikin Austin, I am so sorry he is growing big, but I am determined to have another little boy; I must always have a child in the house. I lifted my eyes to her person; I really fancied I saw the full meaning of her words, but she met my glance with a steady composure which reassured me; for I thought no one could look so calm, so bold, were there anything to be ashamed of, and I replied, 'But, Madam, you have the same interest in Willikin that you ever had?' 'Oh, yes, to be sure; I love him dearly; but I must have a little child; he is growing too big, too much of a man!'

The best thing that Caroline, who was by no means

KL

devoid of wit, ever said was, when, at her invitation, one of her intimates told her about the gossip about William Austin: They do say he is your Royal Highness's child." "Prove it," said the Princess," and he shall be your King!"

The Princess, having been cleared of the charges, was in no mind to let the matter rest. She wrote to the King and told him that, while the punishment of Sir John and Lady Douglas would afford her no satisfaction, she thought it was her due that her innocence should be proclaimed in the most public manner possible. In December 1806 His Majesty wrote that he was advised that "it is no longer necessary to decline receiving the Princess into the Royal Presence." He added, however, that in the examinations, and even in the answers drawn in the name of the Princess by her legal advisers, "there have appeared circumstances of conduct on the part of the Princess which His Majesty sees with concern and disapprobation," but the King with his own hand struck out the word "disapprobation," and substituted "serious concern.'

The King named an early date when he would receive the Princess at Court. Then, when all seemed satisfactorily settled, the Prince of Wales announced his intention to re-open the matter-and the invitation to St. James's was temporarily cancelled. This was too much for Caroline, who at once declared indignantly that, "The publication of all these proceedings to the world then seems to me, under the present circumstances (whatever reluctance I feel against such a measure, and however I regret the hard necessity which drives me to it) to be almost the only remaining resource for the vindication of my honour and character.”

The threat to publish her case caused consternation

in her enemies' camp. THE Book, as it was called, was prepared by Spencer Perceval. It was actually printed and would undoubtedly have been issued; but at the last moment, in March, 1807, the Grenville Ministry retired, and was succeeded by the Portland Administration, in which were several of her friends, including Perceval, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The new Government at once advised the King to receive the Princess, and to assign her apartments in a royal residence.

Caroline went to Court on May 7, and was given Kensington Palace for her London home, where, and at Blackheath, the King again visited her.

CHAPTER IX

LADY HERTFORD (1760-1834)

The Marchioness of Hertford-The second Marquis of Hertford-Très grande dame-A very handsome woman-The infatuation of the Prince of Wales-A "liaison of vanity "-His visits to Hertford House Tom Moore's gibes Mrs. Fitzherbert distressed by this affaire-Her relations with Lady Hertford-Mary Seymour-A threat-Mrs. Fitzherbert insulted by the Prince-They separateLady Hertford and Lady Conyngham.

EXACTLY when the Prince of Wales discovered that he was infatuated with Lady Hertford cannot be said, but it was probably about 1808 when the affaire became common knowledge.

Lady Hertford was the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Charles Ingram, ninth and last Viscount Irvine, and at the age of sixteen she had become the second wife of Lord Yarmouth, who in 1794, succeeded his father as (second) Marquis of Hertford.

Lady Hertford was très grande dame, very wealthy, very much respected, and, although not clever, very charming. She had, according to one of her contemporaries, melting eyes, dimpled mouth, youthful mien, and (whatever it may mean) reposeful curves of figure. Having, apparently, everything that the world could offer, it is not easy to see why she should have compromised herself with the Prince at the age of forty. It certainly could not enhance her social prestige; in fact, it detracted from it. The probable explanation is that she had a lust for power, and it pleased her to be able to issue her commands to the Heir-Apparent, who, for some years, anyhow, obeyed her implicitly.

"The Prince," Creevey wrote in 1811, "looked much happier and more unembarrassed than I have seen him. for six years. This time five years ago, when he was first in love with Lady Hertford, I have seen the tears run down his cheeks at dinner, but now he has the weight of the Empire upon him, he is quite alive." As a matter of fact, historians of the Regency rather suggest that the weight of the Empire" was a burden he bore very lightly-and carelessly.

Whether the relations between the Marchioness and the Prince were or were not platonic cannot be said-it is more than probable that they were. "It is only a liaison of vanity on her part with my better half,” the Princess of Wales said to Lady Charlotte Campbell, laughing, "and it will not last long-she is too formal for him." However, as Wraxall put it, "that Lady Hertford does inspire passion, in some sense of the word, must be assumed from the empire which she maintains at this hour over the Regent, an empire depending, however, from the first moment of its origin, more on intellectual and moral endowments than on corporal qualities, and reposing principally on admiration or esteem." It may be assumed that the Marquis believed that the relations between his wife and the Prince were innocent. He held the office of Master of the Horse from 1804 until 1806, and in the following year was invested Knight of the Garter. In 1812 he accepted the post of Lord Chamberlain, which he held until the end of 1821, a few months before his death.

The world in general was, however, not unnaturally censorious, and food for scandal was given by the frequent visits of the Prince to Hertford House, Manchester Square, (where now is housed the famous Wallace