princess of Wales, both as her law adviser and her friend. In the summer of 1819, he made a proposition, or threw out a suggestion, to lord Liverpool, the substance of which was, that the actual income of the princess*, instead of terminating with the demise of the crown, should be secured to her for her life, upon the condition, on her part, that she should reside abroad; and that, in the event of her husband's accession, she should not assume the title of queen of England. He declared to lord Liverpool that this suggestion came solely from himself, and that he could not answer for its being approved by the princess: it was, however, very plainly insinuated, if not openly asserted afterwards, on the other side, that he had an understanding with her. But, whether he had or not, the step taken by him should not be regarded as a presumption of her consciousness, or his belief of her guilt; for the matter dropped, not from any disinclination on the part of the government, but because Mr. Brougham manifested no decided wish to proceed with it.

The accession of her husband placed the princess in a new and curious situation. Abroad, she was slighted and mortified more than ever. She had ceased to be princess of Wales, and, not having been duly announced, was not recognised as queen of England. But neither the forms of diplomacy abroad, nor the regal power and hatred of her husband at home, could deprive her of the new and important rights with which she became invested as queen

* The allowance voted to the princess of Wales in 1814 was 50,000l., of which, by the advice of Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Brougham, she accepted only 35,000l. a year.

Consort. George IV. had hardly placed the crown upon his head, when he proposed to his cabinet to commence proceedings against her. His object was a divorce; but, by the process contemplated, she would be put upon her trial for high treason. The ministers had before them at this time the whole of the evidence taken by the Milan commissioners, but they still declined proceeding; and, finding the king intractable, tendered their resignations. For twenty-four hours the crown was without responsible ministers: an attempt to form an administration under lord Wellesley failed, and the former ministers were reinstated.

The first overt act against the queen was the exclusion of her name from the liturgy in its new form. She addressed a letter of remonstrance to lord Liverpool; and, receiving no satisfactory answer, soon resolved to face her accusers. Mr. Brougham re

ceived her commands to meet her in France. He left London on the 1st of June, with the following proposition to the queen, placed in his hands by lord Liverpool :-"The king is willing to recommend to parliament to enable his majesty to settle an annuity of 50,000l. a year upon the queen, to be enjoyed by her during her natural life, and in lieu of any claim in the nature of jointure or otherwise; provided she will engage not to come into any part of the British dominions, and provided she engages to take some other name or title than that of queen, and not to exercise any of the rights or privileges of queen, other than with respect to the appointment of law officers, or to any proceedings in courts of justice. The annuity to cease upon the violation

of these engagements, viz. upon her coming into any part of the British dominions; or her assuming the title of queen; or her exercising any of the rights or privileges of queen, other than above excepted, after the annuity shall have been settled upon her."

Lord Hutchinson had relations of friendly confidence both with the king and queen; he undertook to accompany Mr. Brougham as a mediator. They arrived at St. Omer's on the 3d of June. Mr. Brougham immediately waited on the queen ; but, instead of submitting to her the proposition placed in his hands, informed her that he came accompanied by lord Hutchinson, who had a proposal to make to her on the part of the king. The queen instantly demanded, through Mr. Brougham, that lord Hutchinson should submit his proposition in writing. Lord Hutchinson, in reply, said he had with him only memoranda upon separate scraps of paper; and intimated expressly, or by implication, his wish to communicate verbally. The queen sent him the following rejoinder:-" Mr. Brougham is commanded by the queen to express to lord Hutchinson her majesty's surprise at his lordship not being ready to state the terms of the proposition of which he is the bearer; but, as lord Hutchinson is desirous of a few hours' delay, her majesty will wait until five o'clock, in the expectation of receiving a communication from his lordship before that hour. Two o'clock, June 4. 1820." Lord Hutchinson, only a few minutes within the time, made his inauspicious attempt at mediation by the following letter:

"Sir,

"In obedience to the commands of the queen, I have to inform you, that I am not in possession of any proposition or propositions, detailed in a specific form of words, which I could lay before her majesty; but I can detail to you, for her information, the substance of many conversations held with lord Liverpool. His majesty's ministers propose that 50,000l. per annum should be settled on the queen for life, subject to such conditions as the king may impose. I have also reason to know that the conditions likely to be imposed by his majesty are, that the queen is not to assume the style and title of queen of England, or any title attached to the royal family of England. A condition is also to be attached to this grant, that she is not to reside in any part of the United Kingdom, or even to visit England. The consequence of such a visit will be an immediate message to parliament, and an entire end to all compromise and negotiation. I believe that there is no other condition -I am sure none of any importance. I think it right to send to you an extract of a letter from lord Liverpool to me: his words are, -It is material that her majesty should know confidentially, that, if she be so ill-advised as to come over to this country, there must then be an end to all negotiation and compromise. The decision, I may say, is taken, to proceed against her as soon as she sets her foot on the British shores.' I cannot conclude this letter without my humble, though serious and sincere, supplication, that her majesty will take these propositions into her most calm consideration, and not act with any

hurry or precipitation on so important a subject. I hope that my advice will not be misinterpreted: I can have no possible interest which would induce me to give fallacious counsel to the queen. But, let the event be what it may, I shall console myself with the reflection that I have performed a painful duty imposed upon me to the best of my judgment and conscience, and in a case in the decision of which the king, queen, the government, and the people of England, are materially interested. Having done so, I fear neither obloquy nor misrepresentation. I certainly should not have wished to have brought matters to so precipitate a conclusion ; but it is her majesty's decision, and not mine. I am conscious that I have performed my duty towards her with every possible degree of feeling and delicacy. I have been obliged to make use of your brother's hand, as I write with pain and difficulty; and the queen has refused to give any, even the shortest delay.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

"HUTCHINSON."

A rejection, in the following terms, was communicated to him on the instant : "Mr. Brougham is commanded by the queen to acknowledge the receipt of lord Hutchinson's letter; and to inform his lordship that it is quite impossible for her majesty to listen to such a proposition. Five o'clock, June 4. 1820." Lord Hutchinson, who appears to have been wholly unprepared for so peremptory a refusal, attempted to renew the negotiation by the following note to Mr. Brougham: