The Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. YellowplushThackeray, William Makepeace
General
The Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Didactic fiction; England -- Fiction; Household employees -- Fiction; Humorous stories; Master and servant -- Fiction
“Sunday 24th.--Yesterday, the princess went to meet the Princess
Charlotte at Kensington. Lady ---- told me that, when the latter
arrived, she rushed up to her mother, and said, 'For God's sake, be
civil to her,' meaning the Duchess of Leeds, who followed her. Lady
---- said she felt sorry for the latter; but when the Princess of Wales
talked to her, she soon became so free and easy, that one could not
have any FEELING about her FEELINGS. Princess Charlotte, I was told, was
looking handsome, very pale, but her head more becomingly dressed,--that
is to say, less dressed than usual. Her figure is of that full round
shape which is now in its prime; but she disfigures herself by wearing
her bodice so short, that she literally has no waist. Her feet are very
pretty; and so are her hands and arms, and her ears, and the shape of
her head. Her countenance is expressive, when she allows her passions to
play upon it; and I never saw any face, with so little shade, express so
many powerful and varied emotions. Lady ---- told me that the Princess
Charlotte talked to her about her situation, and said, in a very
quiet, but determined way, she WOULD NOT BEAR IT, and that as soon as
parliament met, she intended to come to Warwick House, and remain there;
that she was also determined not to consider the Duchess of Leeds as
her GOVERNESS but only as her FIRST LADY. She made many observations
on other persons and subjects; and appears to be very quick, very
penetrating, but imperious and wilful. There is a tone of romance, too,
in her character, which will only serve to mislead her.
“She told her mother that there had been a great battle at Windsor
between the queen and the prince, the former refusing to give up
Miss Knight from her own person to attend on Princess Charlotte as
sub-governess. But the prince-regent had gone to Windsor himself, and
insisted on her doing so; and the 'old Beguin' was forced to submit,
but has been ill ever since: and Sir Henry Halford declared it was a
complete breaking up of her constitution--to the great delight of the
two princesses, who were talking about this affair. Miss Knight was the
very person they wished to have; they think they can do as they like
with her. It has been ordered that the Princess Charlotte should not see
her mother alone for a single moment; but the latter went into her room,
stuffed a pair of large shoes full of papers, and having given them to
her daughter, she went home. Lady ---- told me everything was written
down and sent to Mr. Brougham NEXT DAY.”
See what discord will creap even into the best regulated famlies. Here
are six of 'em--viz., the quean and her two daughters, her son, and his
wife and daughter; and the manner in which they hate one another is a
compleat puzzle.
{his mother.
The Prince hates... {his wife.
{his daughter.
Princess Charlotte hates her father.
Princess of Wales hates her husband.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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