Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Regency -- England
"Next day, Baillie said she was quite capable of going over, and
advised her so to do; but she was really so ill, and so much
affected, that it was impossible. Her Royal Highness, therefore,
wrote to the Regent, entreating he would come to her. The Duchess
of Leeds, who, unfortunately, had been ordered to send in her
resignation some time before, but still came as usual to Warwick
House, called that morning, but I could not persuade her to stay till
the Prince's arrival, as she said he might think it improper her
being there.
"About six, he came, attended by the Bishop, only, (as I supposed);
but he came up alone, and desired I would leave him with the Princess
Charlotte. He was shut up with her three quarters of an hour, and,
afterwards, a quarter more with the Bishop, and her Royal Highness.
The door then opened, and she came out in the greatest agony, saying
she had but one instant to speak to me, for that the Prince asked for
me. I followed her into her dressing-room, where she told me the new
ladies were in possession of the house; that I, and all the servants,
were to be dismissed; that she was to be confined at Carlton House
for five days, after which she was to be taken to Cranbourne Lodge,
in the midst of Windsor Forest, where she was to see no one but the
Queen, once a week; and that if she did not go immediately, the
Prince would sleep at Warwick House that night, as well as all the
ladies. I begged her to be calm, and advised her to go over, as soon
as possible, assuring her that her friends would not forget her.
She fell upon her knees in the greatest agitation, exclaiming, 'God
Almighty, grant me patience!' I wished to stay and comfort her, but
she urged me to go to the Prince, for fear of greater displeasure.
"I went to him, and he shut the door; the Bishop was with him. He
told me he was sorry to put a lady to inconvenience, but that he
wanted my room that evening for the ladies, repeating what Princess
Charlotte had already told me. I asked in what I had offended, but
he said he made no complaint, and would make none; that he had a
right to make any changes he pleased, and that he was blamed for
having let things go on as they had done. He repeated his apology for
putting a lady to the inconvenience of leaving the house at so short
a notice; and I replied that, my father having served His Majesty for
fifty years, and sacrificed his health and fortune to that service,
it would be very strange if I could not put myself to the temporary
inconvenience of a few hours. He then said that in the arrangements
at Carlton House there was a room which I might have for a night
or two, if I had nowhere to go. This I declined, thanking him, but
saying I had lodgings, which, fortunately, were now vacant; and that
Lord and Lady Rolle, who seemed to know much more of the business
than I did, had, to my surprise, offered me their house, for the last
fortnight. I then made a low courtesy to him, and left the room."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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