Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'A circumstance now took place, which ended by blasting all her happy
prospects, and, finally, terminated in a rupture with the Prince, which
lasted till the end of his life. One of the dearest friends of Mrs.
Fitzherbert, Lady Horatia Seymour, in the last stage of decline, was
advised to go abroad, to seek, in change of climate, her only chance of
recovery. She had, at that time, an infant, and, not being able to take
it with her, she entrusted her treasure to the care of her attached
friend, Mrs. Fitzherbert, who, having no child of her own, soon became
devotedly attached to the precious child, and her affection for the
child increased with the loss of the parent. Some time afterwards, one
of the near relatives of the family, desirous of having the education
of the child placed in other hands, and being jealous of the religion
of its protectress, applied to the Chancellor to obtain possession of
Miss Seymour, as guardian. Mrs. Fitzherbert, now more than ever devoted
to the child, and sharing, in this affection, with the Prince himself,
exerted every means to retain the custody of it; and, after all others
had failed, had, at last, recourse to Lady Hertford, with whom she was,
formerly, intimately acquainted. She requested her to intercede with
Lord Hertford, as head of his house, to come to her aid; and, demanding
for himself the guardianship of the child, to give it up to her,[76]
upon certain conditions as to its education.'
The satirical prints, of course, were to the fore on this subject,
although it was a purely private matter. First of all comes (January 9,
1805) 'TO BE, OR NOT TO BE, A PROTESTANT.' Miss Seymour is sitting on
a sofa, holding in her hand a book, '_Mother's advice to her Daughter,
respecting the true principles of the Protestant religion_'; Mrs.
Fitzherbert, wearing a rosary and crucifix, and having in her hand
a book, '_Directions from the clergy, respecting the Duty of a true
Catholic, in converting all, etc._,' says: 'I say I have the undoubted
right to have the care of her, and to bring her up as I like. Do I not
Rule the Roast?' At an open door appears a monk, who says: 'Well done,
my Child, you are now serving our holy religion; you shall next use
your influence to procure us Emancipation.'
[Illustration: THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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