CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. QUEEN CHARLOTTE (1744-1818)

"Plain Food and a Plain Wife "-Princess Charlotte Sophia of

Mecklenburg-Strelitz-Her appearance-Her letter to the King

of Prussia-It is much admired by George III-Her marriage

to George III-The Coronation-A moral proclamation-

Economies in the Royal Household-Lord Talbot and John

Wilkes-The strict etiquette of the Court-Lampoons-Mrs.

Siddons "Peter Pindar"-The Ladies of the Bedchamber-

The Queen's dull life-Her children-The Queen's day-Her

jealousy of the King's relations-The Duchess of Brunswick-

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York-The struggle

between the Queen and the Prince for the Regency-Her anger

with her eldest son-Her death

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CHAPTER II. LADY SARAH LENNOX (1745-1826)

A rival to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz-George II charmed

by Lady Sarah Lennox-Lady Sarah at Court attracts the

attention of the Prince of Wales-Her beauty and charm-The

Prince, on his accession to the throne, wishes to marry her-A

conversation-Lady Sarah's flirtation with Lord Newbattle-

The King expresses his wish to her-His engagement to Princess

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz announced-Lady Sarah

unconcerned-A bridesmaid at the royal wedding-She marries

William Bunbury-Her elopement with Lord William Gordon-

Divorce-She marries the Hon. George Napier-Her famous

sons-Death-Lady Sarah and the King

CHAPTER III. FRANCES BUrney, afterwards MadamE

D'ARBLAY (1752-1840)

"

Evelina published anonymously-Miss Burney's excitement at its

success-She becomes a lion "-Dr. Johnson's approval-Her

play, The Witlings, adversely criticised-Her second novel,

Cecilia, widely read-She makes the acquaintance of Mrs.

Delany-Presented to the King and Queen-Offered a post in

her Majesty's Household-Her desire to refuse She accepts

reluctantly She is unhappy at Court-The Schwellenberg-

Ill-health-Her resignation is accepted-A small pension granted

-M. d'Arblay-Miss Burney attracted by him-They become

engaged-Her father's opposition withdrawn-Marriage-The

birth of a son-Mme. d'Arblay's tragedy, Edwy and Elvine, a

failure-Her third novel, Camilla, financially successful-In

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22

Paris-Mme. d'Arblay returns to England-Death of Dr. Burney

-d'Arblay joins his wife-His death-Alexander d'Arblay-

Mme. d'Arblay in old age-Edits her father's Memoirs-Her

Diary

CHAPTER IV. MRS. FITZHERBERT (1756-1837)

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The Prince of Wales as amorist-His early love-affairs-Lady Sarah

Campbell-The beautiful Harriet Vernon-His intrigue with

Mary Robinson-Mrs. Robinson's early life-She plays Perdita

at Drury Lane-Attracts the attention of the Prince-He falls

in love with her-She becomes his mistress-He tires of her-A

final meeting-She threatens to publish the Prince's letters-The

King buys the correspondence-Mrs. Fitzherbert-Her two

marriages-The Prince fascinated by her-She falls in love with

him-But will not enter into a liaison-A conspiracy against

her honour fails-She goes abroad-The Prince in despair-He

marries her secretly-The marriage denied in Parliament-Her

indignation-A favourite with society-At Brighton-Maria

Anne Crouch-Mrs. Fitzherbert entertains in Pall Mall-The

Regency Bill-Lady Jersey a successful rival-Mrs. Fitzherbert

goes abroad

CHAPTER V. CAROLINE, PRINCESS OF WALES (1768–1821):

(I) WIFE

"Your Majesty's Greatest Enemy "-The Prince of Wales's marriage

-His heavy financial liabilities-He applies to Pitt for relief—

An execution at Carlton House-Carlton House closed-Mrs.

Fitzherbert-The Prince consents to marry-Princess Caroline

of Brunswick-The Court of Brunswick-Caroline as a child-

Her wit and waywardness-An attractive girl-Her love of

children-Sir James Harris demands her in marriage for the

Prince His accounts of Caroline-Lady Jersey-Caroline

comes to England-Her first meeting with the Prince-Marriage

-George takes a dislike to his bride-His ill-treatment of her—

The birth of Princess Charlotte of Wales-Separation agreed

upon

CHAPTER VI. MARY AND AGNES BERRY (1763-1852)

The early acquaintances of the sisters-Their father, Robert Berry-

The sisters meet Horace Walpole in 1787-His account of them—

He soon becomes devoted to them-The " twin-wives "-They

take up their residence at Little Strawberry Hill-Absurd

scandal-mongering-Mary Berry and Walpole-Talk of their

marrying-Mary Berry's love-affair-General Charles O'Hara

-Their correspondence-They become engaged-O'Hara leaves

England on duty-Further letters-The engagement is broken

off-Mary Berry's rebuke O'Hara's later life-Walpole's

legacies to the sisters-Mary Berry's publications-The sisters'

salon in London-Their deaths

CHAPTER VII. LADIES-IN-WAITING: LADY CHARLOTTE Campbell

(1775-1861); LADY ANNE HAMILTON (1776-1846); LADY

CHARLOTTE LINDSAY

Diary relative to the Times of George the Fourth-It is bitterly

attacked by Thackeray-Attributed to Lady Charlotte Campbell

-Lady Charlotte's beauty-Her first marriage She becomes

a Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess of Wales-Her second

marriage Her taste for letters-Her several novels-Her

friendship with Mary and Agnes Berry-Not responsible for

the publication of the Diary-The indignation of Charles

Kirkpatrick Sharpe-Lady Charlotte's liking for the Princess-

Her loyalty-Lady Anne Hamilton, another Lady-in-Waiting

of the Princess-She supports her Royal Highness at the trial

-Not very popular with the Princess-A Secret History of the

Court of England wrongfully attributed to her-Lady Charlotte

Lindsay a third Lady-in-Waiting-She gives favourable evidence

at the trial

CHAPTER VIII. CAROLINE, PRINCESS OF WALES:

(II) GRASS-WIDOW

The Prince of Wales, Caroline, and Lady Jersey-Caroline dismisses

Lady Jersey-Lady Jersey's insolent letter-The Prince returns

to Mrs. Fitzherbert-Public avowal of the reconciliation-

Caroline and Mrs. Fitzherbert-Caroline at Blackheath-She

rarely goes to Court-The Queen's attitude towards her-

Appointed Ranger of Greenwich Park-Her home for foundlings

-The King and his affection for Princess Charlotte-The

Prince's hostility to his Consort-" Monk " Lewis-An admirable

hostess-Life at Blackheath-The Sapios-Mary Berry-Sir

Walter Scott-John William Ward-Caroline's unguarded "

conduct-Sir John and Lady Douglas-Admiral Sir Sidney

Smith-William Austin-" The Delicate Investigation

Caroline declared innocent-Her indiscretions commented on-

The King's point of view-The Book suppressed-Caroline goes

to Court

"

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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 dis-

tressed by this affaire-Her relations with Lady Hertford-

Mary Seymour-A threat-Mrs. Fitzherbert insulted by the

Prince They separate-Lady Hertford and Lady Conyngham 148

CHAPTER X. PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES (1796-1817)

The Prince Regent's conduct towards Caroline-Princess Charlotte

as a young girl-The Prince restricts her intercourse with her

"

mother-Caroline protests vigorously-Colonel Desbrowe-

Brougham advises Caroline Her remonstrance to the Regent-

Her remonstrance appears in the Morning Chronicle-The

Regent's anger-A ministerial enquiry-Protest to Parliament

-The Douglases denounced as perjurers-A" foul company

-The Duchess of Brunswick-The French Royalties-Caroline

weary of the long struggle-A fête at Vauxhall-The Allied

Sovereigns in London-The Queen refuses to receive Caroline at

Court-A further protest to Parliament-Parliament votes

Caroline an income-Charlotte engaged to the Prince of Orange

-She refuses to live abroad-She runs away to her mother—

The engagement broken off-The Regent secludes Charlotte-

The Duke of Sussex raises the question in the House of Lords—

The rigour of Charlotte's confinement mitigated-Caroline goes

abroad-Charlotte marries Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-

She dies in childbirth

CHAPTER XI. MARIA FAGNIANI ("Mie-Mie ") (1771-1856)

The Earl of Yarmouth-The relation between his mother, Lady

Hertford, and the Prince -"Royal Stripes "-Thackeray's

Lord Steyne-Disraeli's Lord Monmouth-Maria Fagniani—

Her three fathers-The Marquis Fagniani, Lord March, and

George Selwyn-Selwyn's love for Mie-Mie "-Her childhood

-Marries Lord Yarmouth-Their son-Lady Yarmouth and

Marshal Androche-A second son-Death

CHAPTER XII. LADY CRAVEN, AFTERWARDS MARGRAVINE

OF ANSPACH (1750-1828)

Lady Elizabeth Berkeley marries Lord Craven-Her devotion to

letters-Her affaire with the Comte de Guines-Dr. Johnson—

She visits Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill-Her verses

and plays-Lady Craven's other intrigues-She goes to Paris—

Meets the Margrave of Anspach-Their appreciation of each

other-The Margravine-Scandal-Lady Craven corresponds

with the Margrave Her travels-She visits Anspach-Mdlle.

Clairon-Lady Craven becomes the social dictator at Anspach—

She travels with the Margrave-Death of the Margravine-The

Margrave and Lady Craven come to London together-Lady

Craven not received-They go to Lisbon-Death of Lord

Craven-Marriage-Return to England-Brandenburgh House

-Benham Valence, Newbury-The Margrave and Margravine

entertain lavishly-The Queen declines to receive the Margravine

-The Hon. Mrs. Hobart-Gambling-Almack's-The Mar-`

gravine and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu as letter-writers-

Later years-Death

CHAPTER XIII. HARRIETTE WILSON (1789-1846)

Her parentage Her appearance The fast life-Her sisters, Amy,

Fanny, Sophia-Lord Dewhurst-Another sister, Charlotte

Harriette Wilson, the mistress of Lord Craven-Other lovers-

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Her popularity-Her distinguished visitors-Her affected

demureness-Byron attracts her fancy-but declines the

acquaintance-She goes to Paris-The Marquess of Worcester

-Her Memoirs-Blackmail-Tom Raikes-Beau Brummell-

Harriette marries one Rochfort-Later years-Death

CHAPTER XIV. THE DUCHESS OF YORK (1767-1820)

Princess Frederica of Prussia marries the Duke of York-Separation

-The Duke the favourite son of George III-Description of the

Duchess-The Duchess not intimate with the English royal

family-The Duchess and Mrs. Fitzherbert—A charming woman

-She entertains at Oatlands Park, Weybridge-" Monk " Lewis

-Beau Brummell's devotion to the Duchess-Charles Greville-

The Duchess's love of dogs

CHAPTER XV. MARY ANNE CLARKE (1776-1852)

The Duke of York-His military career-Mary Anne Clarke-Her

early days She becomes the Duke's mistress-Her extrava-

gance-Her lovers-Lloyd Wardle-Her illicit sale of commis-

sions in the army-Discussion in the House of Commons-Peter

Pindar's "Epistle to Mrs. Clarke "—The Duke resigns the office

of Commander-in-Chief-The cynical attitude of Mrs. Clarke—

The Rival Princes-Mrs. Clarke settles at Paris-Death of the

Duchess of York-The Duke of York and the Duchess of Rutland

-Stafford House

CHAPTER XVI. MRS. JORDAN (1762-1816)

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236

Birth-Her mother and father-She goes on the stage Her début

-Comes to England-Appears at Drury Lane-Criticisms of

Hazlitt and Leigh Hunt-Richard Ford-Marriage of her

daughters-Becomes the mistress of the Duke of Clarence-

Her replies to attacks in the Press-Her large income-Monetary

difficulties-The Duke and Mrs. Jordan-The parting-The

reasons for this-Miss Tylney Long-Miss Elphinstone-Miss

Wykeham-Marriage of the Duke-His affection for the Fitz-

clarences-Mrs. Jordan in distress-She dies abroad

CHAPTER XVII. QUEEN CAROLINE (died 1821)

The Princess of Wales goes abroad-Her suite-Her travels-The

Order of St. Caroline-Italian members of her Household-

Bartolomeo Pergami-His appearance and manner-His family

-Caroline's indiscretions arouse comment at home-The Milan

Commission-Its report temporarily shelved-The accession of

George IV-Will the Queen return ?—The King insists on

divorce proceedings being instituted-The Queen's name

omitted from the Liturgy-Dr. Parr and the " Bidding Prayer "

-Caroline returns-A Bill of Pains and Penalties-The Italian

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