Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'_Nov. 28, 1781._[23]--The Duke of Gloucester had come to town, as
usual, on the opening of Parliament, and stayed five days, in which
he was three times with the King, who, as if he had not used the Duke
ill, opened his mind to him on his son, the Prince of Wales, and his
own brother, the Duke of Cumberland, the latter of whom, he said,
was governed by Charles Fox and Fitzpatrick, and governed the Prince
of Wales, whom they wanted to drive into opposition. "When we hunt
together," said the King, "neither my son nor my brother speak to me;
and, lately, when the chace ended at a little village where there was
but a single post chaise to be hired, my son and brother got into it,
and drove to London, leaving me to go home in a cart, if I could find
one." He added, that when at Windsor, where he always dined at three,
and in town at four, if he asked the Prince to dine with him, he always
came at four at Windsor, and in town at five, and all the servants saw
the father waiting an hour for the son. That since the Court was come
to town, the Duke of Cumberland carried the Prince to the lowest places
of debauchery, where they got dead drunk, and were often carried home
in that condition.'
[Illustration: GEORGE IV. AS PRINCE OF WALES, 1 FEB. 1782.]
'_Feb. 20, 1782._[24]--The hostilities of the Prince of Wales were
supposed to be suggested by his uncle, the Duke of Cumberland, who
had now got entire influence over him. The Prince, though, at first,
he did not go openly to her, frequently supped with the Duchess of
Cumberland; and, in a little time, they openly kept a faro bank for
him--not to their credit; and the Duke of Cumberland even carried
bankers and very bad company to the Prince's apartments in the Queen's
house. This behaviour was very grating to the King, and the offences
increased. The Duke of Cumberland twice a day passed by the King's
apartment to his nephew's, without making his bow to his Majesty; and
the brothers, at last, ceased to speak. On hunting-days the Duke was
not asked to dine with the King. He returned this by instilling neglect
into his nephew. The King complained of this treatment to the Duke of
Gloucester, who asked why he bore it. "What can I do?" said the King;
"if I resent it, they will make my son leave me, and break out, which
is what they wish."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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