all, his being the choice of the Princess, made him the popular idol of the hour. The marriage was solemnized with extraordinary magnificence in the Carlton House. The Duke of Clarence introduced the bride, and the Prince Regent gave her away. In the Princess Charlotte's Monument, at Windsor. course of the ensuing summer, it was observed that the princess and her father, (afterwards George IV,) did not meet as often as they had previously done. This circumstance was ascribed to her taking the part of her mother, the Princess of Wales, against her father the Prince Regent, who intended to separate himself from his wife by a divorce. But the plan was abandoned through the spirited conduct of her daughter, and no open act of hostility was entered into, against the Princess of Wales, during the life of the Princess Charlotte. The death of the young Princess took place on the 18th of Nov., 1816, at Claremont, a few hours after giving birth to a still-born child. Never was a sorrow more universal than that felt at the death of this princess; and when her remains were conveyed from Claremont to Windsor, on the 18th of November, they were followed by the tears and regret of all England. OLD WINDSOR is a small village near the banks of the Thames, two miles from the town of New Windsor. In the Domesday book, this village is said to consist of one hundred houses, twenty-two of which were exempt from taxes. Previous to the conquest, it is reported to have formed a strong pass, and to have been the seat of several Saxon kings; but from the period when the Conqueror fixed his seat on the neighboring hill, (the present site of Windsor Castle,) it gradually decayed; the NEW town, which sprung up under the protection of the fortress, having superior at tractions. The village is of a picturesque character. The church is a venerable structure, and its walls bear the hatchments of many honored names. The church-yard has much of that pensive beauty which befits a resting place for wearied nature. The principal approach is through an avenue of majestic elms, and yew and cypress trees lend an air of peaceful solemnity to the scene. On the left of the avenue is a plain monumental tomb on which are the following lines: "Or Beauty's isle her daughters must declare She who sleeps here was fairest of the fair; But ah! while Nature on her favorite smiled, And Genius claimed his share in Beauty's child, Even as they wove a garland for her brow, Sorrow prepared a willowy wreath of woe, Mixed lurid nightshades with the buds of May, And twined her darkest cypress with the bay, In mildew tears steeped every opening flower, Preyed on the sweets, and gave the canker power. Yet O, may Pity's angel from the grave, The early victim of misfortune save, And, as she springs to everlasting morn, This is in memory of the celebrated Mrs. Robinson, who lies buried here. This unfortunate woman, so celebrated for her personal attractions and her connection with George IV, died in 1800, at Englefield Green, in the vicinity, neglected and poor, at the age of forty-three. The latter part of her life was gloomy as her youth had been brilliant: the canker worm of care and disappointment spoiled her personal attractions, and she became dropsical, and lost the use of her limbs. Mrs. Robinson was a talented and beautiful actress. Her husband being unwilling or unable to provide for her, she was compelled to obtain her own livelihood. Young and inexperienced she went upon the stage, to be assailed by every temptation which wealth and art could command. She, more than other women, was destined to a trying ordeal. The Prince of Wales, at the age of eighteen, saw, admired, and became enamored of her. Being at this time a kind of prisoner at Kew, he could not sue in person. He, however, obtained, as his "go between," Lord Malden, and as it is sometimes asserted, the celebrated Charles James Fox. These persons were of such "super-eminent loyalty" to the heir apparent, that they did not hesitate to stoop to pander to his appetites. Having full powers to treat, they entered into negotiations with the lady, who, captivated by the glittering prize held out to her, in due form acceeded to the wishes of her royal lover, as expressed by his right honorable diplomatists. The connection continued until the Prince grew tired; he then cast off the woman he had deemed himself so rapturously enamored, without explanation, and with insult, almost amounting to brutality. He left her without a provision, until one was actually wrung from him; and even the small stipend nominally allowed was never regularly paid.* ter. TRIAL OF QUEEN CAROLINE. George the Fourth, though called "the finest gentleman in Europe," was in his private life and habits a most despicable characIn his early life he associated with men of a low and groveling disposition, who spent their hours in the worst species of debauchery. Drinking, gaming, horse-racing, and boxing were their chief amusements. After Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Fitzherbert became his mistress, and to her it is said that he was actually married, though afterwards it was denied. His marriage with Caroline Amelia Augusta, daughter of the Duke of Brunswick, April 8th, 1795, is said to have been principally in order to obtain the means to relieve himself from the pressure of the debts contracted by his extravagances. After his marriage, he had so little respect for the feelings of his wife, that he had one of his mistresses under the same roof, and at the table of his wife. As might have been expected, a separation of the married pair soon took place. The following account of the trial of Queen Caroline, in 1820, is from the British Cyclopædia : "The Queen's movements from the Alps toward England, during the latter part of the month of May, were announced by her friends with menacing triumph, and watch * Westminster Review, 1830. ed by her husband and his party with much bravado but with manifest signs of fear. It may here, however, be expedient to advert for a moment to some preceding circum stances. The degradation of the Princess of Wales had been completed two years before, and abandoned only through the remonstrances of her daughter. Scarcely, however, had the Princess Charlotte descended into the grave, when the subject was secretly revived. In 1818, two emissaries had been sent to Italy, charged with a secret commission to collect evidence respecting the conduct of the Princess of Wales. Arrived at Milan, these persons, (Messrs. Cook and Powel,) were joined by two other agents-Colonel Browne, an Englishman, well acquainted with the language and character of the people, and an Italian named Vimercati. This commission sat for a considerable time, and collected a great mass of evidence. The accession of her husband placed the princess in a new and curious situation. She had ceased to be princess of Wales, and, not having been duly announced, was not recognized 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 consort. The accession of George IV had but recently taken place, 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 made 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. After a fruitless negotiation between Lord Hutchinson and Mr. Brougham, the queen at once returned to England. She landed at Dover on the 6th of June. Neither the king nor his ministers contemplated her arrival, and the commandant received her with a royal salute. Had this ceremony been omitted, the vast multitude, the banners, the shouts, and the real enthusiasm which met her on the beach would have consoled her. From Dover to London, her journey was a continually increasing triumphant procession. The metropolis poured out her vast population, as if to give her assurance that she had friends. The procession went along Pall Mall-halted for a moment, accidentally, or from design, before Carlton House-and shouted its clamorous exultation in the ears of her husband. It was said that he saw her from one of the upper windows, and remarked, in terms of levity and aversion, how well she looked. No residence was prepared for her, and she proceeded to the house of Alderman Wood, in South Audley-street. Parliament was sitting at the time. The king went in state to give the royal assent to such bills as had passed both houses; and, having gone through this ceremony, left Lord Liverpool charged with the following message, to be immediately, on his departure, delivered to the House of Lords: "The king thinks it necessary, in consequence of the arrival of the queen, to communicate to the House of Lords certain papers respecting the conduct of her majesty since her departure from this kingdom, which he recommends to the immediate and serious attention of this House. The king has felt the most anxious desire to avert the necessity of disclosures and discussions, which must be as painful to his people as they can be to himself; but the step now taken by the queen leaves him no alternative. The king has the fullest confidence that, in consequence of this communication, the House of Lords will adopt that course of proceeding which the justice of the case, and the honor and dignity of his Majesty's crown, may require. "GEORGE R.” The papers referred to were laid on the table under seal, in a green bag. A similar message and sealed bag were presented to the House of Commons by Lord Castlereagh. Both ministers announced the intention to move an address to the king, and the reference of the papers to a secret committee on the following day. A solemn silence was observed by the Lords, probably from an impression that their House would be constituted a high court to try the queen. In the House of Commons several opposition members expressed themselves with great vehemence on the subject. The proceedings of both Houses on the 7th, were looked to with the deepest interest. Lord Liverpool having moved a ceremonial address, which contained no pledge or opinion, proposed that the papers on the table should be submitted to a secret committee of fifteen peers, to be appointed by ballot. It was hitherto presumed, that the course to be pursued against the queen, was an impeachment for treasonable conspiracy. Lord Liverpool announced that such a course could not be adopted. The queen's alledged partner in guilt, Bergami, an alien, was not amenable as a traitor to the crown of England: to constitute conspiracy there must be at least two criminals; and the queen, therefore, could not be accused of having conspired. The proceeding by impeachment was understood to have been already adopted in the cabinet, when this new and obvious light fortunately crossed the mind of the chancellor. The address was agreed to without opposition, and the secret committee appointed by ballot the following day. On the 26th of June, while the secret committee were still sitting, Lord Dacre presented a petition from the queen, in which she protested against any secret inquiry, demanded time to bring her witnesses from abroad, and requested to be heard by her counsel. Messrs. Brougham, Denman, and Williams, afterwards presented themselves at the bar. The first two spoke with great energy of the hardships of the queen's case, and the necessity of delay. On the 4th of July the secret committee made its report. Lord Dacre next day presented a petition from the queen, to be heard against it by her counsel. This was refused; and Lord Liverpool, in pursuance of the report, brought in a bill of pains and penalties. It was entitled "An act to deprive her majesty queen Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of the title, prerogatives, rights, privileges, and exemptions of queen consort of this realm, and to dissolve the marriage between his majesty and the said Caroline Amelia Elizabeth." The bill was read a first time, and a copy ordered to be sent to the queen. The first reading having taken place, counsel were heard on behalf of the queen; but with the restriction that they should limit themselves to the time and mode of proceeding. The second reading was fixed for the 17th of August. On the 11th of July, the queen petitioned, and on the 14th, Lord Erskine moved that she should be furnished with a list of the witnesses against her. This advantage she would have had of right, in common with every other British subject, were the form of proceeding an indictment or impeachment for high treason. But the majority of the Lords, under the direction of Lord Eldon, took advantage of a legal technicality to withhold from her the great ægis of the subject against perjured witnesses and abuse of the power of the crown. A specification of the charges, which she declared was necessary for her to produce defensive evidence, was also refused. On the 19th of August, Lords Grey and King made successive and ineffectual attempts, by motions, to quash the investigation; after which the attorney-general stated his case in support of the bill. This statement occupied two days, the 19th and 21st of August. The close of it was drowned by drums, trumpets, and tumultuous acclamations, which announced the approach of the queen. The examination of the witnesses immediately began, and soon produced a remarkable incident. The queen, upon hearing the Clerk of the House call the name of Theodore Majocchi, the third witness, started from her seat with an indistinct cry, and retired from the scene. He had long been her confidential servant; and her cry no doubt originated in surprise and indignation at his ungrateful treachery. The limits of this article will not permit us to detail the records of the investigation. On the 7th of September the case against the queen was closed. An adjournment took place, to allow the necessary time for preparation to the other side. On the 3d of October, Mr. Brougham stated the queen's defense at great length, and with surpassing power. He was ably followed by Mr. Williams on the same side. The examination of the queen's witnesses continued to the 24th of October. The evidence against the bill being closed, Mr. Denman went over the case, not only with distinguished eloquence, but with a freedom and fearlessness which reached the utmost license of defense. The king's attorney and solicitor occupied four days, the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th, in replying. All the counsel, on both sides, who spoke, eminently distinguished themselves. The examination of witnesses and the addresses of counsel having been brought to a close, the discussion on the second reading of the bill began on the 2d, and continued by adjournment to the 6th of November. It was then read a second time, by a majority of 123 to 95. Lord Dacre was charged by the queen with a protest, which he presented to the House. The queen not having appeared in person at the bar, it was received only as her representation of her case. The House having |