Lives of the Queens of England of the House of Hanover, volume 2 (of 2)Doran, Dr. (John)
History
Lives of the Queens of England of the House of Hanover, volume 2 (of 2)
Doran, Dr. (John)
Hanover, House of; Queens -- Great Britain -- Biography
Old English qualities manifested themselves at a Conservative festival
in Gloucestershire, where the health of ‘the Queen’ was ‘received with
great applause.’ Upon which announcement the ‘Times’ significantly
asked, ‘Is that meant as a compliment to her Majesty, or will it sound
as such in the ears of the unanimous people?’ Then, when reiteration
was made of the alleged co-operation of the sisters of William IV. with
Queen Adelaide in efforts to overthrow the Reform Bill, the ‘Times’
stepped forward with the following testimony in favour of those ladies
and their mother, with the accompanying admonition to the Queen:--‘No
one will be persuaded that any daughter of George III. could so mistake
her position in this country or so disregard her duty. Queen Charlotte
was advised by her mother, before she ever touched the shores of
England, to make entire and religious abstinence from politics the
rule of her life as a British Princess; and for twenty-eight years,
till the question of the first Regency forced Queen Charlotte upon the
stage as a reluctant actress, she had satisfied herself with being a
modest spectatress, living in strict observance of maternal counsel;
and what was the consequence? Down to the above-mentioned period of
her wedded life, her Majesty enjoyed, in a degree not experienced by
any Queen-consort for centuries past, the respect and good-will of the
whole community. Is it then to be supposed that the leading maxim of
her own mother was not impressed by that judicious and estimable woman
upon the minds of her daughters, the six Princesses, two of whom still
adorn the court of England with their constant presence? The Princess
Augusta and the Duchess of Gloucester owe little to the gossips who
thus abuse the delicacy of their illustrious names.’
Party-spirit was, doubtless, aggravated on either side by the tone of
the press. Influential cities announced their refusal to pay taxes,
and tavern-clubs possessing pictures of King and Queen turned them
heels uppermost, with an intimation that they should be righted as
soon as the originals had made themselves right with the people. If
Tories of eminence talked of coercing the King, Whigs equally exalted
hinted at the possibility of sending his Consort to Germany, and of
rousing the men of the provinces in order to make an impression upon
people in high places. One well-known ‘man about town,’ presiding at
a public dinner, refused to propose the Queen’s health, and among the
lower caricature-shops she might be seen pictured wending her way, the
ejected of England, to a dull, dreary, and unwelcoming Germany.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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