The Queen’s health required her not to confine herself within the narrow limits of her residence in Portman Street. She accordingly paid one public visit to Guildhall, and occasionally repaired to Blackheath. It was on her way back from one of these latter excursions that she honoured Alderman Waithman’s shop with a visit. The incident is perhaps as well worth noticing as that which tells of the trip made by the young Queen Mary to the shop of Lady Gresham, the lady mayoress, who appears to have dealt in millinery. The city progresses of the Queen did her infinite injury. The very lowest of the populace, who cared little more for her than as giving opportunity for a little excitement, were wont on these occasions to take the horses from her carriage, harness themselves to the vehicle, and literally drag the Queen of England through the mud of the metropolis. She could only suffer degradation and ridicule from such a proceeding, which a little spirit might have prevented. Her enemies bitterly derided her through their organs in the press. They expressed an eagerness to get rid of her, and added their indifference as to whether ‘the alien’ was finally disposed of as a martyr or as a criminal. On the other hand, her over-zealous partisans gave utterance to their convictions that there was a project on foot to murder the Queen. Party spirit never wore so assassin-like an aspect as it did at this moment. Caroline, it must be added, was not displeased with these popular ovations. ‘I have derived,’ she remarked in her reply to the City address, ‘unspeakable consolations from the zealous and constant attachment of this warm-hearted, just, and generous people, to live at home with and to cherish whom will be the chief happiness of the remainder of my days.’ But her chief occupation now was to look to her defence, for the time had arrived when her accusers were to speak openly. CHAPTER IX. QUEEN, PEERS, AND PEOPLE. The secret committee on the Queen’s conduct--Encounter between the Queen and Princess Sophia--Bill of Pains and Penalties brought into the House of Lords--The Queen demands to know the charges against her--Her demand refused--The Queen again petitions--Lord Liverpool’s speech--The Queen’s indignant message to the Lords--Money spent to procure witnesses against her--Public feeling against the Italian witnesses--Dr. Parr’s advice to the Queen--His zealous advocacy of her cause --Lord Erskine’s efforts in her favour--Her hearty protest against legal oppression--Gross attack on her in a provincial paper--Cruel persecution of her--Her sharp philippic against Ministers--Lord John Russell’s letter to Mr. Wilberforce, and petition to the King--The Queen at Brandenburgh House--Death of the Duchess of York--Her eccentricities--Her character-- Addresses to the Queen, and her replies.