This dismissal of the Lord Chancellor was not followed by a single resignation or change in any political or legal department: nor was it expected to affect the

vote of one member in either house of parliament-a clear proof of the opinion which was entertained of Mr. Pitt's conduct upon this occasion.

Her late Majesty, Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, was born on the 17th of May, 1768. Her father, Charles William Ferdinand, hereditary prince of Bruns wick Wolfenbuttle, espoused, January 16th, 1754, the princess Augusta, eldest sister of the late king, George III. Of this marriage Caroline was the offspring. In 1780, Charles, her father, succeeded to the dukedom; and, in 1787, was placed at the head of a Prussian army. The duke of Brunswick, on various subsequent occasions, gave eminent proofs of great military talents. At the battle of Auerstadt, after the most strenuous and heroic exertions, he received a wound by a cannon-ball in his forehead, through which he was deprived of sight and sense. Being carried off the field, he was first taken to Brunswick, but on the approach of the French, removed to Altona, in the Danish territory.

On the 25th of October, 1806, the House of Brunswick was declared to have lost the sovereignty of its ancestors. This event was followed by the death of the wounded and gallant veteran, who expired Nov. 10th, a few days previous to the entrance of the French into Hamburgh.

On the day succeeding to his decease, his son, the duke of

Brunswick Oels, who capitulated with general Blucher, arrived at the residence of his late father. The States of Brunswick sent a request to Buonaparte, that the corpse of the duke might be deposited in the vault of his ancestors. To this the following answer was given :-" Tell the present duke of Brunswick that I would rather cede Belgium, and renounce the crown of Italy, than allow him or any of his family again to enter the territory of Brunswick. Let him take his money and jewels and go to England."

The successor of the unfortunate duke was thus compelled to quit his native country. In Eng. land orders were given by the king (Geo. III.) for the accommodation of his nephew, and for that of his widowed mother.

The issue of Charles William Ferdinand, duke of Brunswick, by the princess Augusta of England, were Charlotte Georgiana Augusta, who was the first wife of the duke of Wurtemberg; Charles George Augustus, duke of Brunswick; Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, her late majesty of England; George William Christian; William Frederick; and, Leopold.

The princesses of Brunswick received their education almost

entirely under the inspection of their mother, the duchess. Their father's court was the seat of hospitality, the resort of military officers, the asylum of unfortunate foreigners. The princesses were early introduced into society, and had opportunities of observing the variety of national manners and characters. These circumstances led to a more easy and familiar mode of social enjoyment, than was consistent with the formality and etiquette usually prevailing in courts. The princess Caroline was of a gay and lively temper; pride certainly was not among her faults. She sought the love and the confidence which she thought could ensure her the homage and respect of her inferiors. She was, with her young female companions, the merriest among the merry, the gayest among the gay. She was fond of music, and participated in all the innocent amusements suited to her temper and age. She had a taste for ingenious mechanical pursuits, which she exercised in the construction of little elegant ornaments, toys, &c.

Her attractions and sprightly youth drew the notice of strangers, and their compliments were received by her with familiar and easy politeness. For the English," the good and brave English," as she was accustomed to style them, she manifested a peculiar partiality. Some months after the French Revolution, she had a personal interview with her cousin the duke of York; from that period the family alliance appears to have been in contemplation. In such a measure the duchess of Brunswick, of course, took a lively interest.

The marriage of the heir apparent to the British empire was considered as a subject of high national importance. The embarrassments of the prince of Wales, who had incurred a heavy pecuniary debt, induced him to lend an ear to a measure which his royal father declared should be the only condition on which he would consent to relieve him from the difficulties in which he was involved. A consent was thus, it may be said, obtained, rather than given.

Negotiations for a marriage between his present majesty, then prince of Wales, and the princess Caroline of Brunswick, were accordingly entered into; and every satisfactory arrangement having been completed, on the morning of the 20th of December, 1794, Caroline, now become by contract princess of Wales, accompanied by her mother and a numerous retinue, departed from Brunswick, her native city, amidst the acclamations and regrets of the people.

The duchess, at the beginning of the journey, was indisposed; but, after a short repose, being in some degree revived, they proceeded to the palace of Herrenhausen, near Hanover. On the 3rd of January, 1795, the travellers reached Osnaburg, where a messenger met them from Lord St. Helens, to announce the return of commodore Payne's squadron to England, and the danger of entering Holland. The bishop's palace had been prepared for the reception of the princess and suite. After a residence of a few weeks at Hanover they proceeded to Cuxhaven, and the princess embarked March 28th,

on board his majesty's ship Jupiter.

The following is a narrative of the proceedings of the squadron under the command of commodore John Willet Payne, appointed to conduct her serene highness to England, as taken from the minutes of an officer belonging to the flag-ship the Jupiter, 50 guns :—

The squadron, consisting of the Jupiter, of 50 guns; Phaeton and Latona, of 38 guns each; Martin, Hawk, and Lark, sloops of war; and Coburg, Active, Rose, Fly, and Princess Royal, cutters, sailed from the Nore on the 2nd of March, 1795, and on the 7th anchored off Cuxhaven. On the following day the Elbe became full of ice, which, driving down the tide in immense masses, rendered the situation of the ships extremely perilous. The severe scason continued with very little Intermission till the 28th. That

day," says the Jupiter's officer, "had been unusually fine; the weather had become more genial; and the whole scene had lost much of its gloom and dreariness, -when, at half-past four p. m. guns were heard off the offing, and soon the standard, which was discovered in a cutter standing out in the Elbe, announced that the princess of Brunswick was on board. The preparative signal was immediately made with one gun. The barge was dispatched with the first lieutenant to steer, accom panied by the boats of the squadron.

"The scene that followed had a peculiar interest and grandeur. The procession of boats, with their pendants flying, rowing in order, and keeping time with

their oars, had a fine effect. When the royal standard was unfurled in the barge, the ships of the squadron manned their yards; and a 'salute of 21 guns was fired from each ship. The evening continued remarkably favourable; the sun seemed to linger in the horizon, and for the time, owing to the smoke, had the appearance of an eclipse: it then darted out with fresh lustre. On the sides of the accommodation ladder of the Jupiter were placed midshipmen in their uniforms, and the officers and a guard of marines were drawn up on each side of the quarter deck. The moment her royal highness ascended the first step, which was about six o'clock, the standard was hoisted on the maintopgallant-mast head of the Jupiter, and received by the other ships with the customary marks of respect. The favourable weather, with the exception of some foggy days, continued during the remainder of the voyage. royal highness particularly endeared herself to the crew, and showed the utmost affability and attention to every one on board. The princess was attended by lord Malmesbury and Mrs. Har court. An admiral of high rank in the service of the prince of Orange was on board. The 29th, being Sunday, her royal highness at two o'clock had divine service performed on the quarterdeck of the Jupiter, by the Rev. J. Stanier Clarke.* At half-past seven in the evening of the 3rd of April, the Jupiter anchored at the Nore. At seven o'clock the next morning the Jupiter, ac

Her

companied only by the Princess Augusta yacht, stood up the river, and at 11 came-to off Gravesend. Early on the 5th, her royal highness, attended by lord Malmesbury, Mrs. Harcourt, and commodore Payne, went in the barge on board the Princess Augusta, when the standard was hoisted at the main-top, and commodore Payne's broad pendant at the fore-top. As the princess passed Woolwich, the whole band of the royal regiment of artillery played "God save the King," and the military cheered the standard; it was the first burst of loyalty her royal highness had heard on English ground, and it drew from her tears of joy. About noon the Augusta yacht reached Greenwich, when the princess embarked in the barge, steered as before, by lieutenant Manwaring, and landed on the right of the stairs, in front of the hospital, where she was received by sir Hugh Palliser, the governor."

Thence the princess proceed ed, amidst eager and admiring crowds, to the palace of St. James, which she reached between two and three o'clock in the afternoon.

Great preparations had been made for her reception, with a magnificence suited to the British name and character.

On the 8th of April the marriage was celebrated between George, Prince of Wales and Caroline of Brunswick, to the apparent satisfaction of the family, the court, and the nation.

But under these fair appear ances evil lurked that was not tardy in its manifestations. It had been understood by the

prince that his debts, estimated at 700,000l., were, on his marriage, to be paid by the nation; and when parliament voted the liberal sum of 60,000l. annually, in quarterly payments, for the support of his establishment, and the gradual liquidation of his debts, he is said to have experienced disappointment. This, probably, with other circumstances, very early led to a coolness on his part to his bride. On a subject so delicate, and on which but little with certainty can possibly be known, it would scarcely be prudent or proper to enlarge. The prince had appeared ever averse to marriage: rumours were in circulation respecting his having formed other attachments; and for the caprices of the inclination who can account? Marriages in his rank of life are not formed upon the sympathies and affections, by which hearts and hands are united in humbler, more natural, and happier stations; yet, even when tenderness is wanting, respect and consideration for the feelings and claims of others are assuredly due, and ought to be observed.

The circumstance that, when announced, afforded hope to the nation of a direct lineal succession to the crown, gave universal joy. The condescending and affable manners of the princess rendered her popular: by the king she was affectionately cherished as a daughter, by the other members of the family treated with complacency: but the heart which it was natural she should most wish to engage did not respond to her desires.

In a short time after the mar riage, his royal highness wrote a

letter to his consort, declaring frankly his dislike to her, and his fixed and firm resolution not to live with her as a husband. However, on the 7th of January, 1796, she was delivered of a daughter, the much-lamented princess Charlotte of Wales. For some time the princess remained at Carltonhouse, but a separation finally took place, and she had apart ments assigned to her in Kensington-palace. She was also allowed an annual stipend, and her household continued as at her marriage. On this occasion the prince addressed to her the following memorable letter:

Windsor Castle, April 30, 1796. Madam,-As Lord Cholmondeley informs me that you wish I would define, in writing, the terms upon which we are to live, I shall endeavour to explain myself upon that head with as much clearness, and with as much propriety, as the nature of the subject will admit. Our inclinations are not in our power, nor should either of us be held answerable to the other, because nature has not made us suitable to each other. Tranquil and comfortable society is, however, in our power; let our intercourse, therefore, be restricted to that, and I will distinctly subscribe to the condition which you required through lady Cholmondeley, that, even in the event of any accident happening to my daughter, which I trust Providence in his mercy will avert, I should not infringe the terms of the restriction, by proposing, at any period, a connexion of a more particular nature. I shall now finally close this disagreeable correspondence; trusting, that as we have com

pletely explained ourselves to each other, the rest of our lives will be passed in uninterrupted tranquillity.

I am, Madam, with great truth, very sincerely, yours, (Signed) GEORGE P.

The princess dowager of Brunswick, her mother, coming to England, his majesty purchased a house for her at Blackheath, and the princess had a house assigned her at the next door to that of her mother. From some cause, not yet ascertained, but said to have arisen from some intercepted letters, written by the princess to her mother, the female part of the royal family appear to have been on bad terms with the princess of Wales; but the king, ber uncle, gave her his full confidence and friendship, and frequently visited and dined with her at Blackheath.

After residing some time at Blackheath, she took under her protection the child of a poor man in the neighbourhood, of the name of Austin. Her enemies seized on this circumstance to attack her character, and even to assert, that this boy was an illegitimate child of her own. This was a charge too serious to be passed over. A lady, the wife of a field-officer of marines, lady Douglas, who had been much favoured by the princess, and honoured with her confidence, made oath to certain points of the princess's conduct, and to certain confessions of hers, which, if credited, afforded proofs of her guilt. This happened about the year 1806, when lord Grenville and Mr. Fox were in administration; and his majesty was advised