A History of the Four Georges, Volume IIMcCarthy, Justin
History
A History of the Four Georges, Volume II
McCarthy, Justin
Great Britain -- History -- 1714-1837; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1714-1837
The Queen kept rallying and sinking, and rallying again; and the King's
moods went up and down with each passing change in his wife's
condition. Now she sank, and he buried his face in the bedclothes and
cried; now she recovered a little, and he rated at her and made rough
jokes at her. At one moment he appeared to be all {118} tenderness to
her, at another moment he went on as if the whole illness were a mere
sham to worry him, and she might get up and be well if she would only
act like a sensible woman. The Prince of Wales made an attempt to see
the Queen. The King spoke of him as a puppy and a scoundrel; jeered at
his impudent, affected airs of duty and affection, declared that
neither he nor the Queen was in a condition to see him act his false,
whining, cringing tricks now, and sent him orders to get out of the
place at once. His Majesty continued all through the dying scenes to
rave against the Prince of Wales, and call him rascal, knave, puppy,
and scoundrel. The Queen herself, although she did not use language
quite as strong, yet expressed just as resolute a dislike or
detestation of her son, and an utter disbelief in his sincerity. She
declared that she knew he only wanted to see her in order that he
should have the joy of knowing she was dead five minutes sooner than if
he had to wait in Pall Mall to hear the glad tidings. She told the
listeners that if ever she should consent to see the prince they might
be sure she had lost her senses. Princess Caroline was in constant
attendance on the Queen. So was Lord Hervey. The princess, however,
became unwell herself and the Princess Emily sat up with the Queen.
But Caroline would not consent to be removed from her mother. A couch
was fitted up for her in a room adjoining the Queen's; and Lord Hervey
lay on a mattress on the floor at the foot of the princess's bed. The
King occasionally went to his own rooms, and there was peace for the
time in the dying woman's chamber. Probably the only two that truly
and unselfishly loved the Queen were occupying the couch and the
mattress in that outer room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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