Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'This proceeding, being related to the Prince, his Royal Highness, the
same night, wrote a letter, with his own hand, to Mr. Pitt, requiring
an immediate explanation of the extraordinary speech delivered that day
in the House of Commons. Mr. Pitt, in answer, requested leave again
to wait upon his Royal Highness. Accordingly the Minister went on
Saturday, at noon, to Carlton House, and had another long conference
with the Prince, in which his Royal Highness (in order to prevent any
more mistakes) gave to Mr. Pitt, in writing, his proposals, which were
in substance:--1. The Prince of Wales to have his debts paid off, in
part, at least. 2. To have a sum granted sufficient to finish Carlton
House. 3. To have such moderate increase made to his annual income, as
may be sufficient to prevent his running in debt in future.
'With these propositions Mr. Pitt took his leave, and on Sunday,
despatched them by a special messenger to Windsor, to the King; who,
on Monday last, returned his answer, signed in form by his Majesty's
own hand. This answer was on the same day delivered by Mr. Pitt to the
Prince at Carlton House, and is nearly to the following effect:--1.
That his Majesty was glad to find the Prince of Wales ready to submit
his accounts to inspection. 2. That it would be necessary for the
Prince, not only to ascertain the whole amount of his debts, but,
also, the particulars thereof, with an exact account of how each debt
was incurred. 3. That the Prince shall engage not to run in debt in
future. 4. That, upon the specifications above required, would depend
his Majesty's determining upon whether he should agree to the payment
of the whole, or any part of the Prince of Wales's debts. 5. That his
Majesty cannot think any increase of income necessary, so long as the
Prince of Wales shall remain unmarried. This answer cannot be supposed
to have been, in any way, satisfactory to the Prince of Wales.
'However, nothing was said upon the business in the House, either
on Monday, or Tuesday, and nothing on those days was done farther
than that the Prince, on Tuesday, sent his commissioners, Colonels
Lake and Hulse, with Mr. Lyte, his Treasurer, to Mr. Pitt, with all
his accounts, etc., etc., for the inspection and information of his
Majesty.'
The account of the Prince's debts which was furnished to the House is
as follows:
SCHEDULE OF DEBTS
Bonds and debts £13,000
Purchase of houses 4,000
Expenses of Carlton House 53,000
Tradesmen's bills 90,804
--------
£160,804
EXPENDITURE FROM JULY, 1783, TO JULY, 1786.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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