George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820; Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820
A lengthy correspondence ensued, wherein, on the one hand, the Prince
excused himself on the ground that the Princess was seized with the
pains of labour earlier than was expected, and that at Hampton Court he
was without a midwife or any assistance; and, on the other, the King
declined to accept these reasons as true, refused to receive his son,
and ordered him to leave St. James's as soon as possible, summing up the
situation in a final letter, dated September 10.
"GEORGE R.
"The professions you have lately made in your letters, of your
peculiar regards to me, are so contradictory to all your actions,
that I cannot suffer myself to be imposed upon by them. You know
very well you did not give the least intimation to me or to the
Queen that the Princess was with child or breeding, until within
less than a month of the birth of the young Princess: you removed
the Princess twice in the week immediately preceding the day of her
delivery from the place of my residence, in expectation, as you
have voluntarily declared, of her labour; and both times upon your
return, you industriously concealed from the knowledge of me and
the Queen every circumstance relating to this important affair: and
you, at last, without giving any notice to me, or to the Queen,
precipitately hurried the Princess from Hampton Court, in a
condition not to be named. After having thus, in execution of your
own determined measures, exposed both the Princess and her child to
the greatest perils, you now plead surprise and tenderness for the
Princess, as the only motives that occasioned these repeated
indignities offered to me and to the Queen your mother.
"This extravagant and undutiful behaviour in so essential a point
as the birth of an heir to my crown, is such evidence to your
premeditated defiance of me, and such a contempt of my authority
and of the natural right belonging to your parents, as cannot be
excused by the pretended innocence of your intentions, nor
palliated or disguised by specious words only.
"But the whole tenour of your conduct for a considerable time has
been so entirely void of all real duty to me, that I have long had
reason to be highly offended with you. And until you withdraw your
regard and confidence from those by whose instigation and advice
you are directed and encouraged in your unwarrantable behaviour to
me and your Queen, and until your return to your duty, you shall
not reside in my palace: which I will not suffer to be made the
resort of them who, under the appearance of an attachment to you,
foment the division which you have made in my family, and thereby
weaken the common interest of the whole.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account