(p kjJ^^"^ .•■:%4/^y" q^ E V I li or THE COJIDUCT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES IK HIS VARIOUS TRANSACTIONS WITH Mr. JEFFERYS, DURING A PERIOD OF MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, CONTAININO A DETAIL OF MANY CIRCUMSTANCES RKLATIVE TO THEIK flOYAL HIGHNESSES ",i:i S' ' ' ' PMINCE ANB PRINCESS OF WAJLES, Mrs. FITZHERBERT, &c. &c. &c. By NATHANIEL JEFFERYS, Laie M. l\ far the City of Coventry^ jtounent Printed for, and published by, Mr. Jefferys, At No. 20, Pall-Mall. Trice 3 s. Printed by J.H. Hart, 23, Warwick-Scjuare, y\ • a • • • • • • • • DEDICATION TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOBIAS J.OR1D EHSKINIB, LORD IIIGU CHANCELLOR of ENGLAND, My Lord, In admimtion of your splendid talents, and in grateful remembrance of your zea- lous and spirited exertion of those talents in support of my claim, before Lord Kenyon, for jewels sold to the Prince of 'Wales; as well as for the honoi-able testi- mony you have borne to my character in the letter which you did me the favor to write upon the occasion, I presume to dedicate to your Lordship, the declared Assertor of the Rights of Juries, this Appeal, which with pain I am compelled to make to the public. A ? M80694 IV DE1>TCATI0N. ^ In this cause, My Lord, in which I had the honor and advantage of your able assistance as an advocate, it is well known that I obtained every satisfaction necessary to my character, as well as a verdict in my favor: — the sum awarded by the Verdict OF THE Jury was not paid, and I was RUINED. Such a case. My Lord, is without a parallel; and I sincerely hope, for the honor of the country and the security of the people, it will ever remain so. Your Lordship has, I am informed, since your elevation to the peerage, in the place of your family motto, substituted the words — '^ Trial by Jury \' •— to which I cannot help wishing you had added, — " And Verdicts paid as awarded.'* I have the honor to be. My Lord, Your Lordship's obedient Servant, N. JEFFERYS. INTRODUCTION Mr. JEFFERYS presumes that, in the opinion of a candid and liberal Public, upon the perusal of the following Statement, he will be fully acquitted of having acted hastily, or without a sufficient provocation in the injuries he has sustained, to justify the measure he has taken of thus publicly appealing to the world. A REVIEW, Sec A. HE Task which necessity (arising from op- pression) has imposed upon me is not difficult, supported as I am by the justice of my cause, and .confident in the liberal feelings of the Pub- lic, upon a case of such peculiar hardship as perhaps never before engaged their attcntion. Though not a difficult task, it is nevertheless a very painful duty, to be compelled as I now am, in defence of my character, which has been most severely reflected upon, (and nothing less than such a feeling could lead to such an. act,) to bring forward, in no very amiable point of view, the conduct of a Personage so exalted in rank as His Royal Highness tJie Prince of Wales. In the year OneThoiiaand Seven Hundred and Eighty-three, I commenced the business of a Jeweller and Goldsmith, in Piccadilly ; and in a very few days from my first beginning, I was sent for to attend the Prince of Wales at Buck- inglia m 'House, ■ : Kisltoy a! Klghnesij received me with great kindness of manners, and so completely capti- vated me by hiscondescention, that, young and .credulous as I then was, I imagined my fortune made by his smile, Mr. Gray, an eminent jeweller, and very re« spectable character, who now lives in Sackville* street, was at that time principally employed by the Prince of Wales ; and^ though I occasionally received His Royal Highness's orders, it was not till the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-eight or nine, that my concerns with the Prince of Wales assumed that depth of enterprize, which afterwards led to such de-* structivc consequences, About the period to which I allude, the Prince qt Wales (upon Mr. Gray requiring a settle-! 5 * nient of the great demands he had upon His Royal Highness) was so much displeased at that circumstance, as to cease giving him far- ther employment. His Royal Highness then sent for me to Carlton-House, and conferred upon me (most unfortunately) the favor which he had withdrawn from Mr, Gray. From this time, not a day passed for several years, in whicli, neglecting my general business, I did not spend half my time at Carlton-House.; and in which some entry was not made in my books of large amount for goods sold to His Royal Highness. If ever I was disposed to pause and reflect upon the consequences which might ensue, and which were continually pointed out to me by friends more prudent than myself, 1 was instantly diverted from the benefit of such reflections, by the constant and encouraging approbation of the Prince of Wales, for the zeal and diligence with which, without the smallest hesitation, 1 exe- cuted, regardless of the amount, every order which I received from His Royal Highness. . Whatever feelings of the most devoted attach- ments I had hitherto entertained for the Prince of Wales, a circumstance occurred, the particu- lars of which I am now about to relate, and which sealed and confirmed all my ideas as to the perfect confidence which miglit be placed in the assurances of His Royal Highness as to the fu* ture protection of me and my family, should (which I then little thought would be the case) any misfortunes overtake me, and make a resort to such protection necessary. Though the circumstance on wliich I placed this strong hope of security has since, I firmly believe, been the cause of many of the misfor- tunes I have sufi'cred, and I may be charged with great want of foresight to form such con- clusions as I then did,— I will venture to say, that, under similar circumstances, many who condemn me would (deluded and misled as I then was) hiivc acted a similar part. On the Twenty-eighth day of January, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety, the Prince of Wales sent for me to Carlton-House, at a much earlier hour in the morning than he was accustomed to do ; and, taking me into an inner apartment, with very visible marks of agitation 11 in his countenance and manner, said, he had a great favor to ask of me, which if I could accom- plish would be doing him the greatest service, and he should ever consider it accordingly. I re- plied, that I feared what His Royal Highness might consider a great favor done towards him must be more than my limited means could accom- plish ; but that in all I could do I was entirely at his service, and I requested His Royal High- ness to name his commands. His Royal Highness then proceeded to state, that a creditor of Mrs. Fitzherbcrt had made a very peremptory demand for the payment of about Sixteen Hundred Pounds ; that Mr. Wcltje' had been sent by His Royal Highness to the creditor making such demand, to desire it might be placed to the Prince's account ; this was refused to be done, on the ground that Mrs. Fitzherbcrt, being a woman of no rank or consideration in the eye of the law, as to personal privilege, was amenable to an • im- mediate process, which was not the case with His Royal Highness, This the Prince stated to have caused in his mind the greatest uneasi- riess, for fear of the consequences that might f nsuc ; as it was not in the power of His RoyaJ If Highness to pay the money then, or to name an earlier period for so doing than three or four months. The request therefore which His Roy a! Highness had to make to me was, that I would interfere upon the occasion, and prevent if pos- sible, any personal inconvenience to ISIrs. Fitz- hcrbert, which vyould be attended with extreme mortification to the feelings of His Roya! High* ness. I assured His Royal Highness that I would do all I coukl in the business; and I ap- pointed to attend, with the result of my en-* deavors, at Carlton-House the next morning. 1 did attend as appointed, and presented the Prince of Wales with a receipt for the whole sum, — fifteen hundred and eighty- five pounds, eleven shillings, and seven pence, which I had that morning paid, being the only effectual means of pacifying the creditor, arjd removing from the mind of His Royal Highness the anxiety he appeared so strongly to labor under. His Royal Highness was unbounded in his expressions of satisfaction at what I had accom- plishes], and in his assurances of future support. 13 so strongly made and so frequently repeated, as well as accompanied with such apparent marks of sincerity, as to have fixed my foith, (even had it b^e^n wavering,) hi the entire confidence I might place in ail he said. But what will the world think or say, when 'fliey are informed, which they now are, that f have (in ten long years of the most hitter ad- versity, occasioned by a continuation of simihir confidence) repeatedly applied, in vain, to His Royal Highness for relief, even in any degree to which he might have been induced to afford it me, but he has ever been deaf to my entreaties, The moment misfortune overtook me, the Prince of Wales totally deserted me ! Looking back, with painful remembrance, to ^hat I felt then, and to what I have since ex-^ perienced, I may well exclaim. Theresa no art •* To find the mind's construction in die face ; *' He was a Gentleman on whom I built " An absolute trust/* 14 In the afternoon of the same day, the Prince of Wales came to my house, and brought with him Mrs. Fitzherbert, for the express purpose, as his Royal Highness said, that she might her* self thank me for the great and essential service I had that morning , rendered her. His Royal Highness repeated the same expressions of satis- faction, and assurances of support, which lie had so abundantly made use of in the former part of the day. I appeal to General Hulse, a gentleman of known integrity and honor, for the truth of all I have stated. as having passed at Carlton-House in the morning. General Hulse received His Royal Highnesses directions to repay, at the end of three months, the money I had advanced, which was punctually done ; though I am of opinion that the repayment of the money will not be considered by the world as discharging the obligation, however it might do the debt. As to what passed at my house when His Royal Highness came there with Mrs. Fitzher- bert, a person, still in my service, was present, and to whom I remarked, immediately as the Princ€ and Mrs. Fitzherbert had quitted it, that if ever I should have the misfortune to lose the Prince's favor, I should have cause to lament the day when Mrs, Fitzherbert was under tlie necessity of thanking me for a service performed to her ; — an observation I was induced to make, from the mortified pride visible in the counte- nance of that lady. I should not have laid so great a stress npou the assistance afforded to the Prince of Wales, in thus extricating Mrs. Fitzherbert from the situation tliat caused so much uneasiness to her and His Royal Highness, but from the peculiar circumstances attending it. Was it possible to feel otherwise than highly gratified at tlie satisfaction so amply expressed by the Prince of Wales, as well as at the unbounded promises of future support, which His Royal Highness made upon the occasion ? TheassurancesofHis Royal Highness, by which I was encouraged upon all former occasions, were merely in consequence of my general attention ; but, in the case just related, an opportunity hiid occurred to lay the Prince of Wales, the 16 Heir Jppay^ent to the Throne^ under an obliga* tion, not by an officious forward act of civility on my part, but in consequence of a request, most particularly urged, that I should do what was termed a very great favor by His Royal Highness. He called it a great obligation ; and, most hberally promising to reward it, afforded me, as I imagined, a firmer ground than ever to rely upon his support, in the event of those misfortunes which I had not then in contempla- tion, but which my friends were -continually pointing out to me as the most prolpable re- sult of my bhnd and determined confidence. I thought, at any rate, T might rely upon His Royal Highness never refusing mt his assistance (should 1 ask it) to the extent at least in which I had accommodated him ; but the event has proved how deceived I was in my calculation. An ap- plication has been made to His Royal Highness through the Earl of Moira, in a moment of se- rious illness, most earnestly requesting a relief to the extent alluded to ; which application, though made under such distressing circum* stances, was never honored with an answer. — The Prince of Wales has even for ten years dis- regarded all applications made to him for assist- 17 ance ; and that which I did at his roost earnest request, and upon which I was induced to place so great a rehance, has never been permitted (as it would appear by the event) to occupy even a thought, beyond tlie accomplishment of the object. Can it be said, that I have not been mo^ cruelly and ungenerously treated ? Can it be urged, against rae, tliat I complain without cause ? . The only return made by Mrs. Fitzherbert (for what was also acknowledged by her as a great obligation) was the purchase at different times of goods, in which I dealt, to the amount in the whole of One Hundred and Twenty Pounds. No offer was ever made by her to settle this account, though owingfor a very con- siderable length of time ; and, from the intimacy subsisting between the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert, I was unwilling, by asking for the payment of this account, to fisk the displeasure of His Royal Highness; having ex-, experienced what His Royal Highnesses feelings M 18 were towards the creditor who had applied to Mrs. Titzherbert for the payment of the debt, which it is before stated I had discharged. An event was now about to take place of great national importance in the establishment of the Prince of Wales, the intelligence of which af- forded very general satisfaction to the public ; It was the proposed marriage of His Royal High- ness with the Princess of Brunswick, and his expected final separation from Mrs. Fitzher- bqrt. At that period, I passed much of my time at Cariton-House ; and, though I may provoke the anger of the Prince of Wales, and the displea- sure of Mrs. Fitzherbert, I will state that, which, from my being so much with His R©yal High- ness, I had an opportunity of observing anwl knowing. I declare it as my firm belief, however subse- quent events, which may truly be termed unfor- tunate for His Royal Highness and for the •country, may contradict the probability of my assertion, that no person* in the Kingdom ap- 19 pearcd to feel, and I believe at the titiie did feci, more sincere pleasure in the prospect of the pro- posed marriage and the separation from Mrs. Fitzherbert than His Royal Highness. I will not repeat the expressions of His Rpyal High- ness upon this subject, it is sufficient to say, that what I heard was not of a nature to increase the respect I had for the character of that lady ; but so far otherwise as to remove from my mind every apprehension I had entertained, that His Royal Highness would be displeased by an ap- pHcation to her for money ; I accordingly sent in my account; when I was told, I must apply to the Prince for the payment of it. I therefore informed His Royal Highness of what had passed, who directed General Hulse to discharge the ac- count. But to return to my narrative*— On the mar- riage of the Prince of Wales, His Royal High- ness gave me orders to procure the jewels neces- sary on the occasion : no limit was fixed for the amount, but that the finest and best of every- thing was. to be procured. My wish was. ^0 in the execution of these orders, not to go to too great an expense ; but the magnitude of the occasion, and the orders, in pursuance of which I acted, exceeding my own ideas, the amount naturally extended to a very consider- able sum, — fifty-four thousand pounds; and nearly ten thousand pounds, in addition, for jewels as presents from His Royal Highness, on the marriage, to the Queen and Princesses. It having been said at the time, that I had gone (contrary to what I have above asserted) to greater expense than was necessary, I beg leave, in contradiction of such report, merely to state the following circumstance : — I had, by the desire of the Prince of Wales, procured a setting for the miniature-picture of his Royal Highness, intended to be sent to Brunswick for tlie Princess, surrounded with large brilliants, and a brilliant chain, amounting to two thou- sand five hundred guineas. As soon as it was completed, I attended, with His Royal High- ness, at Buckingham- House, to submit it to the approbation of the Queen, previously to its being sent to the Continent. Her Majesty 21 thought it by no means of sufficient value for the occasion, and I accordingly prepared ano- ther, pursuant to the orders I then received, amounting to more than four thousand pounds. Could it for a moment be supposed (without an insult to the high and august character of Her Majesty) that any hazard would attend the execution of orders from such authority. — I entertained no doubts upon the subject, but acted as I was commanded to do. A considerable time after the jewels had been delivered, the amount of my charge was dis- puted by the commissioners appointed to settle the Prince's affairs. I resisted the great de- duction they proposed to make, and wxnt to the verdict of a jury, before Lord Kenyon, in February, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Six. The cause tried was, for the jewels furnished for the Princess, amounting, as I have before said, to the sum of fifty-four thou^ sand pounds, when I obtained a verdict for the whole of my demand, deducting so much as w^s charged for the necessary insurance of the Prmce*s life, that risk being stated by the judge from the bench, in his charge to the jury, as being at an end. "With this decision 1 was na* turally satisfied, accompanied, as it was, by the observation of Lord Kenyon, that all hazard was ended. In addition to the sum for which the verdict had been obtained, there were demands of nearly ten thousand pounds, for the jewels fur* nished as presents to the Royal Family, and bond-debts of His Royal Highness, for goods previously sold, amounting to twenty-four thousand pounds. For the two last-named Sums, the Commissioners, who were the nomi- nal defendants in the former action, suffered me to take verdicts ; consequently, the whole of xny demand was sanctioned by a jiiOS except the deduction above stated. I had also the additional satisfaction to receive from the present Lord Chancellor the following letter, jn answer to one I had written, thanking |iim for his exertions upon the trial: is Serjeanti-Inn, Teh. ip, 1796. Sir, I return you many thanks for your very obliging I-^tcr. — I spoke to the jury my own sentiments, and I de- livered them warmly, because I felt an extreme di^ttst at the evidence by which a just and honorable claim was attempted to be resisted. If Counsel, upon proper occasions, do not shew that they are in earnest, rwt only private injustice may be suc- cessful, but the freedom of English courts may be lost. I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, THO. ERSKINE. Ta Mr, Jefferys, Previous to going to trial, I considered it a mark of respect due to the Prince of Wales to state to His Royal Highness the necessity which existed of defending both my character and property, which were so deeply involved in the question ; and I expressed a hope that His Royal Highness would grant me permis- sion to resist before a Jury the very large deductions proposed to be made by the Com- missioners. His Royal Highness said, he highly approved of my conduct in so doing, and addressing him- self to the Earl of Cholmondcly, (then Lord 24 Chamberlain to His Royal Highness) desired him to attend upon the trial, and to declare, if necessary, on the part of the Prince, his entire approbation as to the integrity of my conduct, in the whole of my concerns with His Royal High- ness. Lord Cholmondely attended accordingly, but the Counsel for the defendants (the commis- sioners) declined detaining him in Court, say- ing, they were satisfied upon the subject ; and, when I had obtained the verdict, His Royal Highness congratulated me upon my success.—- I had, therefore, every ground to be satisfied with my situation. — The Prince had approved of my resisting the proposed deductions of the commis^ sioners, -^the jury had awarded me a favorable verdict, — the present Lord Chancellor had, in the letter just stated, expressed his opinion of my claim, — and the Prince congratulated me on my success. — In addition to what I have men^ tioned, as affording ground to be satisfied with my reliance on the Prince, another circumstance •ccurred in an opportunity to oblige His Royal Highness, by a compliance with his earnest re- quest, which it was very natural to suppose S5 would have strengthened my security in the mind and feelings of the Prince against the ca- lamities I soon after experienced : but I had un- fortunately yet to learn, that all such calculations were idle speculations. Within a short time of the marriage of the Prince, His Royal Highness being alone with me, asked if I had any money to spare for a few days, I replied, that I had in my pocket Six Hundred and Thirty Pounds ; that it was destined for a particular purpose, or I should not have it abo\it me ; but as it was only for a few days, any part of it was at his service. His Royal Highness took Four Hundred and Twenty Pounds ; and, thanking me in very warm terms, assured me of its return in ten days : — I refused to take any memorandum for the loan of this money, for the return of which I waited con- siderably more than a year. — I had now retired from business, but put myself in the way of the Prince as often as I could, in the hope of receiving this money, but no notice was ever taken of the debt, till my necessities (from the deductions made from the verdict which will be fully explained) becoming very pressing, I 26 was compelled to .make an application, accom- panied by circumstances which I will explain. Having relinquished my business, I had not the opportunity ot^ seeing the Prince as before ; my access to Carlton-Hause became difficult, and my reception was cold and distant, not as it used to be, which greatly alarmed me, as I saw the hour of calamity was fast approaching in my affairs, from the severe and sudden dis- appointment I experienced in not receiving the whole sum awarded by the verdict of the jury* Through the medium of Mr. Tyrwhitt, then secretary to the Prince, I solicited an audience of His Royal Highness. I attended twice, each time by appointment, and waited many hours. At last, the Prince, coming into the room with several gentlemen, asked me, in a hasty tone of voice, what I wanted ? I was so agitated with the contemplation of my own situation, so confused by the mode in which His Royal Highness spoke to me, as scarcely to be able to make any answer. His Royal Highness then said, — " I believe I owe you some money, — four hundred and twenty pounds ;— do you want it tiowP^^^-l replied, when it suited His Royal Highnesses convenience. The Prince said, very welit and left the room witliout another word. Leaving Carl ton -House in a very dejected state of mind, as may be supposed, I met, in Pall-Mali, the late Admiral Payne, wlio had been the confidential friend and secretary to the Prince, but who had been recently dismissed.— Admiral Payne asking me if I had been Litely at Carl- ton-House, I related to hirn what had passed. He said, the conduct I experienced wa.> most shameful, but that he could put me in the way 0f getting the money. Wc tlien walked together for a considerable time in St. James's Square, when he told mc, if I would write such a letter as he would dictate, I sfiould get the money directly. I accordingly wrote the same day to the Prince, staling my liope, that His Royal Highness would excuse the application I made to him for the payment of the Four Hundred and Twenty Pounds, which I had advanced at his request nearly fifteen months before ; that my necessities were very great in 25 consequence of the losses 1 had sustained in his service ; the consideration of which, with the recollection that the money had only been bor«- rowed for a few days, would (I trusted) induce His Royal Highness not to leave town for New- market, where he was going the next mornings without first returning this money. — That I was prevented by delicacy to His Royal Highness, in the morning when I had been with him, from mentioning the circumstance, so many gentlemen being present. The letter produced the effect expected by Admiral Payne, the money being sent to me that evening. — ^This application for money, I be- lieve, produced such a degree of irritation in the mind of the Prince, as to do away all recollec- tion of what for years he had termed services ; aad was, I believe, considered by His Royal Highness, and is so still, to be such an offence as not to be forgiven. Shortly after this, (in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven,) my affairs became so embarrassed as to deprive me of all S9 I possessed ; and, having the world to begin again, I naturally turned my thoughts to my original business of a Jeweller and Goldsmith, in the hope that I might preserve many of my original connections : and not doubting that the Prince of Wales would contribute to restore my broken fortunes, I wrote the following letter to His Royal Highness : — October 25, \799* SIR, I sometime since took the liberty to make known to your Royal Highness my intention (in consequence of the severe piisfortunes I have experienced) to resume my original busi- ness of a Goldsmith and Jeweller ; I now beg to inform your Royal Highness of my ha\ing taken for that purpose the house of Mr. Lockhart, No. 34, in Pall Mall; in which undertaking I flatter myself I may hope to enjoy your Royal Highness's favor and protection. Conscious of never having done any thing to forfeit the high opinion your Royal Highness has frequently- expressed yourself to entertain of the integrity of my conduct, I have every ground to hope, from your liberality, benevolence, and justice, that (upon a consi- , deration of all the circumstances of my unhrppy case) your Royal Highness's decibion will be favorable tQ my application, I have the honor to be, &c. &c. NATH. JEFFERYS, 30 But In this, as in every other calculation, formed on an idea that an appeal might be made with success to the feelings of His Royatl Highness, I was completely disappointed. Under the disadvantageous circumstances of a ruined credit^ reduced property, and the friends on whom I had formerly depended having attached themselves to other houses in the same line of business, as also the total abandon- ment of my interest by the Prince of Wales, I carried on the business in which I had re- engaged under circumstances of extreme diffi- culty; and, conceiving this difficuly to arise, in a great degree, from the prejudice so strongly excited against me in the daily charge made in conversation, and by other means, that my unfortunate situation had not in any degree been caused by the reduction made from the verdict of the Jury, which the public naturally supposed I must have received, I found it necessary to publish the follcvvip.g statement and letter : — 31 Statement of the accounts of Mr. Jefferts, in the affairs of Ilis Royal Hiji^hness the Prince of Walks: ^hrwini? the amount of the claims of Mr. Jefferys, as established by the verdict of a jury before Lord Kenyon, and those admitted by the Commissionterusal of it, vill not deny to me the credit of having care- liilly abstained from all reflections on any individual. 37 Til? cruelty of my situation has seldom, I believe, been experieHced by any man : my fortune has been ruined, my character discredited, and my health broken with excessive anxiety. All this has been produced by placing an unli- mited confidence in a quarter, where a doubt of its rectitude would have been insult. The injury I individually complain of, Sir, is not con- fined to me, it extends to the public : a sacred principle of our Constitution, — the Verdict of a Jury, ■ — has been rendered of no effect, I/ifluenced by the powerful calls of necessity, and urged by no principle of resentment to any person, in the mode I adopt to vindicate my character, I hope for your Royal Highnesses forgiveness, if any thing I have said sliould hurt your feelings ; — I assure your Royal Highness nothing 15^ farther from my intention. I have the hoi^or to jje, §ir. Your Royal Highnesses obedient Servant^ nath.je;fferys. The publication of this statement was of the greatest service to m&, as it opened the eyes of many, who had viewed my situation in the most unfriendly and hostile light, to acknowledge 38 their error with great kindness and commissera- tion. Upon the mind of the Prince of Wales, this measure produced a very diflferent effect. His Royal Highness was indignant at the impression that was attempted to be made upon the public mind, that a deficiency in the payment of his debts shouki have been brought forward as the cause of the embarrassment I felt ; and the letter which accompanies the statement, though intended to express towards His Royal Highness no sentiments but those of respect, was represented by those, who termed themselves the friends of the Prince of Wales, as highly offensive to the delicate feelings of His Royal Highness. Whether such a charge is justly founded or not, the public have an opportunity of judging. The difficulties under which it must be evident I carried on the business I had resumed, added to a very reduced state of health, made it neces- sary for me in a short time totally to relinquish it; and, being of course again without any di- rect object in view for the support of my family, 39 I once more addressed myself to His Royal Highness in the following letter : — January 4, 1803. SIR, Extreme distress, which I trust will ever find an ad- vocate in your Royal Highness, induces me to trouble you with this application; and nothing less than the wretchedness I now feel can justify my compliance with the wish of many of my friends, to obtrude myself on the notice of your Royal Highness. I have endeavored, Sir, since the misfortunes I expe- rienced in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Six, (by an industrious application to business.) to procure the means of supporting my family, and of doing justice to my creditors; but, from my very destitute situation, in want both of capital and patronage, my en- deavors have been exerted in vain. 1 will not, Sir, advert to the causes whence all my dis- tresses have originated, as affording me any claim on the bounty of your Royal Highness ; but surely, Sir, when I call to my recollection the frequent expressions you have, with great condescension, used in approbation of my in- tegrity, during the many years I had the honor to receive your commands, and the encouraging assurances you so fre- quently and kindly afforded me of the reliance which I might place on your support, your Royal Highness will not, I hope, think me censurable for looking towards you for re- 40 lief from my distress. If, Sir, you should be of opinioti that, in any instance, I have expressed myself with tpo much warmth on the subject of my great losses, I beg of your Royal Highness to consider, not only what I have suf- fered, but that, like all men in misfortune, I have many enemies to misrepresent an4 tradi;ce iny condact and cha- racter, ^ That 1 have not omitted such opportunities as my Tumted situation has afforded of shewing every respect I could to your Royal Highness, | beg to refer you to the part I took in the debate, in the House of Commons, on the subject of your Royal Highnesses claims to the Cornish arrears. I also beg to call to your recollection, that, at the perio^ pre- ceding the general election, when my friends in Coventry desired me to bring down a colleague of my own nomina* tion, I immediately offered to your Royal Highness to in- troduce any gentleman of your recommendation, and the event of the election has proved that the offer was iiot mad^ without the means of procuring success, I am induced. Sir, to mention these circumstances, to Uo atVay any prejudice that may exist in the mind of your Royal Highness, from the misrepresentation of my enemies, that I am not well affected to your person and interests. Let me entreat your Royal Highness, in the considera* tion of my unfortunate situation, to do justice to your own judgement and feelings, and to the high opinion the publio entertain of your sense of honor, justice, and humanity, 41 111 that case. Sir, I am confident of your Royal Highness's assistance; and that my family and myself will no longer suffer the calamities we have experienced for the last six years. That your Royal Highness may not impute ray embar- rassments to the expenses of the late election, I beg leave to say, the expense was defrayed by a subscription ; and the same means are adopted to defend the petition against xne. I am, Sir, Your Royal Highnesa's obedi ent Ser\'ant, NATH.JEFFERYS. For a considerable time, I never troubled the Prince of Wales with farther application, liaving most lamentably experienced how un- availing was my attempt to interest his feelings, or excite his liberality. I employed mys(;li:" in procuring by my diligence, in the business in which I had engaged, (the sale of estatas and property on commission,) the means of support for my family, and endeavoured to forget, as far I could, the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert, with their ungeneions treatment; but, fjom an absind anecdote I am 49 going to mention, it appeared they were not so easily disposed to forget me. A gentleman, well-known in the fashionable world, and who was in the habit of visiting the Prince of Wales, in return for some ci- vilities which he was so good as to say I had shewn him, invited me, about four years since, to pass three or four days at his house at Brighton. I accepted the invitation, and in my way to the place I met the Prince of Wales on his road to London. After staying at Brighton, I believe, only two days, I re- turned to town, in company with the gentle- man at whose house I had been, and on our road we met the Prince returning. I really should have hoped that so insignificant an individual as myself might have passed two or three days at Brighton without ex- citing any emotions in the mind of the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert, — but it was not so ; for, on the return of my friend to Brighton, he was immediately waited upon by Colonel M'Mahon, who (from the Prince) desired to be informed as to the object of my coming to Brighton the day His Royal 43 Highness went to town, and leaving it the day His Royal Highness returned.— The gen- tleman was all astonishment at such a request-; to which he replied, that the time of my coming to and leaving Brighton were purely acci- dental ; and that the only object he knew of for my journey was to accept an invitation he had given me. Colonel M'Mahon pressing for a more satisfactory answer, my friend re- quested to know the cause of such extraor- dinary inquiries; to which he answered, — that a paragraph had appeared in a newspaj>er (The True Briton) just at that time, reflecting on Mrs. Fitzherbert, which caused great uneasi- ness to her and the Prince, and which I was sus- pected of writing. My friend said, he did not think I had done so, as I had never mentioned such a thing being in the Papers. As soon as I received this information, I made it my business to search the Paper, wiicn I found the paragraph, which I not only never wrote, but most probably should never have seen or heard of, but from the groundless charge of being the author of it. My curiosity was much excited, as I suppose the readers will be, to know what this paragraph contained, which was represented as being so very offensive. — It contained some account, written in a ludicrous style, of the amusements and company at Brighton, with giving Mrs. Fitz- herbert the appellation of grandmoth£:ii of thi: LOVES. , Unwilling as I have before said I was, to at- tempt any farther to induce the Prince of Wales to do any act of justice or liberality towards me; there was one point yet remaining, on which by the advice, and with the recommendation of some of His Royal Highness's friends, I was once more persuaded to apply to him, and upon the Success of my application they expressed thcm^ ^ves with confidence* It was relative to the important object of placing my only son in his first step in the world. I complied with their request, hoping that the injuries done to the parent by the Prince would be compensated for in the patronage of the son. I therefore wrote to His Royal Highness the following letter : — ' 45 44, Pall'MaU, Jan. 26, 1806. SIR, The importance to my family and myself of the subject, upon which I take the liberty to address your Royal High* aess, will, I hope, apologize for the intrusion. My only son is now in his eighteenth year ; he has been for some time in the office of a solicitor of eminence, and he IS now about to be articled ; and the object I have long "had in view is the hope that your Royal Hij^hness would so far consider the sufferings I have experienced as to take my «on under your prdteetion in this first step of his life, by as- sisting me with the amount of the fee to be paid ; which, with the duty to government, i» four hundred guineas. Your Royal Highness has liad tlie goodness, very often formerly, to ejwpress your favorable opinion of me; and, upon an occasion of so much consequence to the future hap- piness of my son and to my own feelings^ I cannot but en-^ tertain the most sanguine hope thut your Royal Highness will comply witb my request. I have the honor to be. With every feeling of duty and respect. Your Royal Highnesses obliged and obedient Servant, NATIL JEFFERYS. This, tliough sanctioned by tlie recommenda- tion I have mentioned, was like all die previous applications iotally disregarcld. 46 CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION. Having always been given to understand by- Lord Moira, and the friends of the Prince of Wales, that, whenever His Royal Highness had it in his power, I should without doubt, receive a compensation for the injuries I had suffered. — 1 very naturally looked upon the change of ad- ministration, and the admission to power of the party called the Prince's friends, as a favorable event to my interests ; and the more so, as I had acted in support of the New Administration {while in opposition) the several years in which I had a seat in the House of Commons. I of course had reason to hope, that the years of adversity I had passed would be now suc- ceeded by some provision to render the remainder of my life easy and tranquil. I wrote accordingly to the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Moira, Lord Erskine, and Mr. Fox, the following letters : — Pall-Mally March 12, 1801, SIR, I bog to refer your Royal Highness to Mrs. Fitzlierbert and to Gen. Huhe, for the truth of the following facts, 47 whicb, I presume, will be considered as affording a reason- able ground of claim upon tlie assistance of your Royal Highness, now that assistance is so amply in your power. Several years since, your Royal Highness asked my in- terference, as a very great favor, to arrange the settlement of a debt of nearly sixteen hundred pounds, due from Mrs. Fitzherbert to a creditor, who had demanded the payment in a way so peremptory, as to cause great uneasiness, I requested your Royal Highness not to consider as a favor any thing which I could perform, for that I was entirely at your service. The next day I discharged the whole of the debt » and, upon that occasion, your Royal Highness expressed yourself as rnost particularly obliged to me, and de- clared repeatedly, in the presence of Gen. Hulse, that you never could forget my zeal and readiness to meet your wishes, and that I might ever rely upon your support and assistance. In the course of the same day. Sir, your Royal Highness came to my house, with Mrs. Fitzherbert, for the express purpose, as you said at the time, in the presence of a person now living with mc, that Mrs. Fitzherbert, as well as your Royal Highness, might thank me for the useful service I had performed, and to assure me again, that I might ever rely on your Royal Highness's support and pro- tection. At another time. Sir, when Lady Jersey was at Carlton- House, I supplied your Royal Highness, at a minute's notice, with several hundred pounds, when I received from you a repetition of the same satisfaction at my conduct. 48 and similar assurances of future support. Since that time* Sir, during an adversity of nearly ten years, occasioned by farther unlimited confidence in your Royal Highness, I have never received the consolation of any assistance from you. To ask j'our support, that myself and family may be preserved from farther adversity, upon the ground of the circumstances I have stated, cannot be considered as an unreasonable claim. I hope and trust your Royal High* ness will decide, upon this occasion, in a manner gratifying^ to the public opinion, to your own exalted station, and to my urgent case. I have the honor to be. Your Royol Highness's obedient Servant, NATH. JEFFERYS, His Royal Highness the Prmce of Wales, ^c, S^c. 4-c. ^^y Tall-Mall, March 12, ISOff. MY LORD, As it is the first wish of my heart to pay my debts, I have looked, with anxious expectation, that some remunera- tion should be made to me, now the Prince has it in his power : and the more so from the repeated promises of His Royal Highness, that he would not omit the opportunity when it offered ; as well as the assurances of your Lordship, in a letter now before me, that I might rely on the honor of tlie Prince, whom you mention to have frequently observed 49 td your Lordship, that I had been very ill used, and that jire muneration ouglit to be made. 1 have constantly, my Lord, in parliament, supported the present administration, while in opposition, in their most unpopular moments, and I hope they will not, now that they are in power, forsake me, because I can be no longer of any use to them. I have the honor to be. Your Lordship's obedient SeiTant, NATH. JEFFERYS Kiglii Hon, the Earl of Moira, if^c. Sj-c, SfC, 44, Pall'Mallf March 12, 1806. SIR, From the friendly treatment I have ever experienced from you, I hope you will excuse my reminding you of my unfortunate situation, from the dreadful gacrifice that has been made of my property and reputation, by the op- pressions of the late administration. During the most unpopular periods of the present admi- nistration, (when in opposition,) I have always divided with them in parliament upon evert/ question, except where in- stinictions from my constituents demanded a different line of conduct. 60 After all the misfortunes I have experienced, from the oppressions of the late administration, it will be a hard case» indeed, if those with whom I acted in adversity should* now that they are in power, entirely overlook me. I am. Sir, Your obedient and obliged Servant, NATH. JEFFERYS. Right Hon. Charles James Fox, SfC. SfC, 44-, Fall-Mall, March IS, 1806. MY LORD, The total neglect I have experienced from the Prince of Wales, for ten years, to every application I have made to him, during that period, as well as the present time, for a performance of the promise he has made to remunerate the private services I hare done for him, and the distresses I have experienced, in consequence of my confidence in His Royal Highness, has induced me to prepare for immediate publication, a statement of all the facts on wliich I ground my claim to the Prince's assistance; and, as your Lordship's opinion of the integrity of my conduct, and the justice of my claim to the verdict of which I was deprived, is very handsomely expressed in your letter to me after the trial, I have very naturally availed myself of so honorable a testi- mony to my character, and accordingly ^inserted it in tlic •tatement to which I allude. ^1 Convinced that your Lordship does not entertain, as Chancellor, different ideai of the justice of my case, to those you expressed as an Advocate, I presume no apology will be necessary for the use I make of the letter I allude to. Should the Prince of Wales be of opinion that the pub- lic mode 1 adopt to vindicate my character is improper, I have to plead, in excuse, not only the necessity of the case, to which 1 am forced by the oppression I suffer, but the example of the Prince of Wales himself; who, conceiving his claim to military rank not being properly attended tr, sanctioned the publication of the private correspondence of the King, the Duke of York, and himself, in the Morning- Herald of December 7, 1803. I have the honor to be. My Lord, Your obliged and obedient SeiTant, NATH. JEFFERYS. Lord Chancellor, ^c. SfC. SfC, From Lord Erskine and Mr. Fox I never re- ceived any answer ! — and the letter to the Prince of Wales, some days after His Royal Highness received it, was returned to me unopened, by Colonel M'Mahon, who said, if I would write a letter to him, stating in very respectful terms, D 2 6^ what I wished to be communicated to the Prince, he would take an early opportunity to lay it be- fore His Royal Highness. I knew too well what this meant, to com- ply with it ; I told the Colonel, that the Prince never returned any of my letters before, and that I considered myself to be most unge- nerously treated : I should therefore print the letter, that the Public might read what the Prince of Wales would not. Colonel M*Mahon, how- ever, expressing a desire that I would write to him, I the next day sent him the following letter : — Pali-Mali, March 17, ISOS, sm, I feel very seriously the Injury done to me by the Prince in returning my letter unopened, particularly when I consi- der that, while my communications to his Royal Highness contained the intelligence of loang and services, my letters were always readily received; but, now that a letter received from me is supposed to contain an application for a perfor- inance of the promises of the Prince, and an act of justice to the necessities 1 have suffered, through a confidence iu His Royal Highness, he most ungenerously returns my let- ter unopened. In tlie common transactions of life, such a line of conduct would be considered as most strongly indica- 63 live of character; and in that light it Is considered by those to whom it has been mentioned. I will never apply to His Royal Highness again for any assistance; for, after what lias passed, I have very faint hopes indeed of any act qf justice or liberality towards me. The letter. Sir, pointed out to me yesterday as proper to be written, I cannot write ; I will not degrade nay own cha- racter to flatter my oppressor. I ha^e, in the greatest dis- tress, endeavored to preger\'e a spirit of independence ; and, I hope, I never shall be induced, for any temporary advan- tage, to act otherwise. I haye, for a long time, had it io contemplation to appeal to the public, but I have been in- duced hitherto to delay it, in consequence of an assurance from Lord Moira and others, that the Prince had it not in his power to assist qae, but that, wlen he had, I was certain of His Royal Highnesses protection ; — the Prince has it noMr in his power, and the treatment I have received decider the line of conduct I shall pursue. — I lament the necessity of such a measure, — the fault of such an exposition is not with me : — I am driven to it by the treatment I experience, and encouraged by the advice and opinion of many very respectable Members of the House of Commons, to whom I yesterday comnjunicated the treatment i have suffered. No man, in my rank of life, ever made such sacrifices to the Prince's wishes as I have done ; none ever received greater and stronger assurances of his satisfaction, and pro- oiises of support and protection ; and no instance can be found of any man so cruelly deserted. 54 The verdict of a Jury is a sacred right, and it is the duty of the Prince to respect it in all cases, but particularly not to countenance an infraction where he is a party, and by such infraction can be considered a gainer* The verdict was virtually against the Prince ; it is the only verdict in which he ever was a party, and probably the only one in which he ever will be a party ; and, I trust, he will not let it be the only instance upon record, where the plaintiff has been ruined by its not being paid as awarded. I therefore do not stand on the ground of an ordinary cre- ditor — I call upon the justice of the Prince fur redress ; and, for the services I have performed to the Prince, which he has repeatedly acknowledged to be obligations, and as repeatedly promised to reward, I appeal to the honor of the Prince ; and, in this instance, 1 do not stand in the light of an ordinary creditor. I totally deny the charge brought against me, of having written a single paragraph in any paper against the Prince, and defy any proof that I have done so ; and the ridiculous paragraph in a paper some tim^^ since, terming Mrs. Fitz- berbert, the Grandmother of the Loves, which occasioned so much uneasiness to that lady and the Prince, and which I was charged with writing, because I happened to be at Brighton at the time, was not only not written by me, but I should never have seen it, had I not, by being charged asth^ author of it, been induced to inquire for it and read it. S5 I care not. Sir, for any threats that may be used to pre- vent my publishing the review I intend, accompanied by this and other letters. I have, in this mode of seeking re- dress for an injury, the example of the Prince of Wales; who, conceiving his claims to military rank not properly attended to, did not scruple to authorize the publication* of the private correspondence between the King, the Duke of York, and His Royal Highness. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, NATH.JEFFERYS. Several days after this, I received the following letter from the Earl of Moira, requesting to see me, in St. James's Place, on the subject of my letter to Colonel M'Mahon : — March 26» SIR, Until I could have conversation with Col. M*Mahon, (which my excursion to the coast delayed,) it was useless to propose an interview on the subject of the letter which you addressed to me. If you are at leisure at five o'clock thii day, I can then have the pleasure of receiving you. I have the honor to be Sir, Your obedient Sjervant, MOIRA. N. Jefferyff, Esq. * The lelters alluded to, were publislied in the Morning-Herald of Decera- fc«r7, 1803. 5Q I accordingly attended his Lordship ; and I was (as I believe the public will be) very much surprised at what passed. —His Lordship told me my conduct was scandalous, in vyriting 3uch a Jetter fo Colonel M'Mahqn ; and in proposing to publish my case under the title of ^^ A Review of the Conduct of the Prince of IVales,'^^ that he should think it his duty to persuade His Royal Highness never more to notice me ; that my con- duct was a fit subject for the attention of an At- torney-General ; and his Lordship went so far as to compare my proposal to publish a review of the Prince-s conduct, to the threatening let- ter of a felon to extort money. I replied, that I did not thjnk niy conduct war-^ ranted the treatment I had receiyed ; that I hac} been ungenerously and cruelly treated by the Prince of Wales, of whose conduct I conceived I had a right to complain ;— -thati disregarded the threats used by his Lordship; for, as it was the business of an i^ttorney-General to protect the * laws, it should be my care not to break them. In the course of the conversation, the loans of jnoney to the Prince, and the circumstances at-- ^7 tending them, (as before detailed,) were men- tioned ;— rthese circumstances his Lordship sai4 ousrht to be considered, that he had never heard pf them before, and he vyould see General Hulse upon the subject, and I should hear from Jiini J— though to this moment I have not heard a word upon the subject. OBSERVATIONS, From what I have stated, it must, I think, be admitted, that to all in which the Prince of Wales could express a wish, I was ever ready to attend, and, regardless of inconveniencies tq myself, to act up to it. \. No circumstance that I can recollect at any pe riod ever occurred in which His Royal High, ness expressed the smallest hint of displeasure at my conduct; and Lord Moira, the confiden- tial friend of the Prince of Wales, in answer to a request I most earnestly made in my last inter- view with his Lordship, as to the ground of dis- pleasure taken by His Royal Highness against 59 me, positively declared he had never heard of ANY. To what then am I to attribute the cruel and ung^enerous return I have experienced for the ^reat sacrifice I have made of my time, my pro- perty, my lieakh, (worn down by anxiety,} and my reputation ? The Prince of Wales by inducing me to place a reliance on him, caused me to neglect (in the early part of my life) the advantages of a lucra- tive business, in the pursuit of which, I could to a certainty have secured an ample indepen- dence ; but, by forsaking it to rely on the pro- mises of Plis Royal Higlmess, I lost " Tliat tide in the affairs of men, " Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune : ** Omitted, all the voyage of their life ** Is bound in shallows and in miseries/' At last, to be denied by the Prince of Wales, and that for ten years together, the return for services which no individual in private life, wish- ing to be thought possessed of honor and feel- ing, would have permitted me twice to apply 59 for, occasioned a disappointment exciting such keen sensations, and caused such bitter conse- quences, as frequently to have brought me to the very brink of the grave. Applications in these moments of serious dis- tress have been made to His Royal Highness for reliefjbut they also passed unnoticed. I have been at Brighton for my health in a state so reduced by these illnesses, as scarcely to be able to walk across the Steine without assistance, where I have been seen by the Prince, but no feeling of kindness was excited by my situation in the mind of His Royal Plighness, who, with Mrs. Fitzherbert leaning upon his arm, passed me with looks of scorn. What I here state was observed bv several persons, and mentioned by them in a m.anner which did more honor to their feelin^rs than it it reflected credit on the conduct of those, by whom such feelings were excited. It has been asserted, that the pecuniary cir- cumstances of the Prince, from the largeness of my demand, prevented his granting the relief i 60 solicited; that could not be the case, as I never specified any amount ; but always con- fined my request to some relief from the distressing situation in which an implicit confidence in His Royal Highness had placed me ; and thus the pretended friends of the Prince of Wales, who plead, as an excuse for his conduct, his pecuniary inability to do an act of common justice and hurpanity, do His Royal Highness (so far fi'om a service) the greatest pos- sible injury. To state this inability as a cause is an un- handsome return to the people for their libera- lity to His Royal Highness, in the immense sums at various times granted out of the pro- dace of their industry to supply his luxuries and expenses. The enormous and unnecessary expenses going on at Brighton, and at Carlton-House;— at the former, alterations ancl additions in expenditure, amounting to a sum very considerably exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pounds; and at Carlton-House, where every thing >vas finished pot long since in a style truly suitable to the re- 61 side nee of the Heir Apparent, under the direc- tion of an architect of refined taste founded on science, (Mr. Holland ;) all is now pulling to pieces, under the direction of a gentleman, called, an amateur architect^ at an expense beyond calculation. These large expenses going on, while tlie discharge of an act of Justice and honor re- mains unperformed, and which would little in- terfere with the expenditure alluded to, convey at once a very severe reflection on the con- duct of the Prince of Wales, to wliom all ad- vances, made by the public, are with a view to a proper and dignified support of his rank ; and must be disgusting to the generous feelings x>f the people, who are under the necessity of depriving themselves in many instances, not merely of the luxuries, but even of the common comforts of life, to defray the taxes imposed upon them. The Prince of Wales receives at this time, a larger income than at any former period of his establisment, andMives without the state of that establishment ; which the latter grants o^ 62 Parliament were intended to enable liim to support. Upon, the application made by His Royal Highness to Parliament^ for the arrears that ac-* crued during the minority of His Royal High- ness as Duke of Cornwall ; it was stated, by Sir Thomas Manners Sutton, (then Attorney- General to the Prince,) that His Royal High- ness 07ily wished justice to be done to him^ that he might do justice to others; and to be ena- bled (by receiving the money to which he was so entitled) to resume the re-establishment of his household, and to maintain that splendor so necessary to the situation of the Heir- Apparent to the Throne, which he was then deprived of, — 60,000/. per annum having been taken away by the commissioners, to pay his former debts. Government, with an extreme liberality to the Prince, though they resisted the claim to the Cornish arrears, consented (for the pur- pose of supporting the establishment of the Prince in its accustomed splendor,) to give up the Sixty Thousand Pounds per annum, re- 63 storing His Royal liighncss's income to its origiwal amount. The Prince declines to revive the splendor of his establishment, notwithstanding this additioa of income 60,000/. professing, as a reason for his continuing to live in a state of privacy, that it is with the laudable motive to be enabled to dischar2:e the deficiencies, which the Commis- sloners for settling the debts of His Royal High- ness, had occasioned. This magnanimous de- claration of the Prince was so flattering to hi« creditors, who had suffered so much by the de- ductions of the Commissioners arid the delay in the payment of their several demands, that a meeting was actually held at the Thatche<1- House-Tavern, and an address voted to the Prince, expressive of their approbation and thanks at the mode the Prince liatl adopted for relieving and doing them justice finall}'. As the Prince of Wales, however, in the dis- charge o^ i\\\s magnanimous diity^ was uot quite in so great a hurry as the creditors for the mo- ment of its performance, tlie inteliigenct^ of the intended address no sooner reacht^d His 64 Royal Highncss's ears, than Colonel M'Malion was dispatched to say the Prince was so satis- fied with their attachment as not to require any address ; — ^biit, as it was voted, it might be sent to Colonel M'Mahon. The Prince of Wales, though In the receipt of the money from the time I mentioned, has never paid a single shilHng in diminution of the deficiences he was so anxious to discharge, and In gratitude for which the creditors were s® eager to address him. o Her Royal Highness THE PRINCESS OF WALES, AND MRS. FITZHEHBERT. The public, I am confident, will conceive an apology to be due from me, for placing upon the same sheet of paper the names of the Princess of Wales and that of Mrs. FitZ'- herbert. 66 Knowing, as I do, the benevolent and gene- rous disposition of the Princess, and the true DIGNITY OF VIRTUE which actuatcs Her Royal Highness, I trust her goodness will excuse any errors of decorum I may commit in my zeal to do justice to her character. I am not so sanguine in my hopes of for- giveness from Mrs. Fitzherbert, for the pre- sumption she will no doubt consider me guilty of, in placing her name after that of the Prin- cess of Wales, and not allowing to her that precedence, which (to the sui^prise of many of the Nobility of this couutry, and to the cUs^ gust of the people at large,) she daily receives at the entertainments of the Great. Fearless, however, of the anger of Mrs. Fitzherbert, I shall give precedence where it is due. THE PRINCESS OF JVALES. Her Royal Highness has been in this country ten years ; during which time, the virtuous, amiable, and truly dignified conduct of this illustrious lady, has secured the esteem of all who have had the honour to approach hei — she is beloved, revered, respected, — I might almost say adored : the feelings of sympathy E 66 attend her in her extreme retirement, and from contemplation of her character, a question arises in the mind of all who know her — How THIS CAN BE ? Attention and kindness fipm persons of su- perior virtue always reflect an honor on those tq "whom that attention is paid. For myself, I should be personally wanting in duty to her Royal Highness, if I omitted, on that or any- other occasion, expressing my sensibility at the attention she has condescended to shew to my situation. This feeling of gratitude, I trusty will be considered by her Royal Higlmess, as an apology for thus introducing her name in this painful appeal to the public. MRS, FITZHERBERT. This Lady, who has for many years held so conspicuous a situation, is of a reputable Catholic family, of the name of Smith, \n Staffordshire. She married early in life Mr, Wild, a gentleman of fortune, in Dorsetshire ; Vipon whosQ death she was again married to Mr. Fitzherbert, and after a few years, became a second time a widow. On the death of Mr. Fitzherbert (being a yery rigid Catholic,) she passed ^ great deal of her time on the Con* finent« 67 It i^ generally understood, that about eigh- teen years since, she a third time entered into the married state, according to the ceremonies of the Romish Church, with an illustrious PERSONAGE of the ProtQstant Religion : for this reason, the marriage was said to be kept a secret. This circumstance, however, did not prevent the parties from being received in afl societies j in which they had been accustomed to move for several years, as married | ersons. The report qf such a marriage has been asserted to be groundless, and a union of h t ILLUSTRIOUS PERSONAGE with a Protcsta i lady has since taken place, according to the legal forms of the Church of England. How absurd, therefore, to contend, for a mo- ment, that any such previous marriage could have taken place. No doubt that tlie friends who thus contend, are anxious to gratify Mrs. Fitzherbcrt, without weighing in their minds the charge they indirectly and unintentionally bring against that illustrious personage : — a charge, when proved, punishable by the laws of England with pillory, imprisonment, or transportation, as too frequently occurs at the sessions in the Old Bailey. 68 CONCLUSION, Having now performed my promise to tlie public, and submitted a detail of the injuries t hive sustained, I trust I shall be acquitted of any charge of intemperate warmth of expres- sion, and that due allowance will be made for the. sufferings I have experienced. To those servile minds who make no allow- ance for injuries when imposed by superiors, I shall answer by quoting the elegant reply of the present Lord Chancellor Erskine, when advocating the cause of the Dean of St. Asaph for a libel ;• who was threatened to be com- mitted by Mr. Justice Buller for freedom of speech. *'It was the first command and counsel of my youth, always to do what my conscience told me to be my duty, and to leave the consequences to God ! I shall carry with me the memory and, I trust, the practice of this parental lesson to the grave : — I have hitherto followed it, and have no reason to complain that my obedience to it has ever been a temporal sacrifice — I have found it, on the contrary, the road to pros- perity and wealth — and I shall point it out as such to my children.^' THE END. PrittlcU by J. H. Hart, 23, War wick- Snuare, A JLJETTBR ADDRESSED TO Mus. FITZHERBERT. A LETTER ADDRESSED TO Mks. fitzherbert, XX ANSWIK. T« A COMPLAINT, IHAT HER FEELINGS HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE MENTION OF HER NAME IN THE REVIEW •r TRX CONDUCT OF THE PRINCE OF V7ALES, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THB INFLUENCE of EXAMPLE, &c. &c. &c, r.' - J ■ - ■ ', ■ . ^ -. ■■ -^ .'.i By NATHANIEL JEFFERYS^ Laie M. P. for the City of Coventry, Ilontion$ Printed for, and published by, Mr. Jeff erys, 20, Pall-MalL x.O^; Printed by J. H, Ha«.Tj 33, VVarwick-S(iuare. _ "V> INTRODUCTION* The facts complained of in the fol- lowing Letter to Mi's. Fitzherbert are 50 well known and excite (at this par* ticular moment) such hourly expres- sions of merited abhorrence and con- tempt at her conduct, from all ranks of people throughout the Kingdom, that Mr. Jefferys does not consider any apology to be necessary for pub* iishing them« LETTER ADDRESSED TO Mrs. fitzherbert. INFLUENCE of EXAMPLE, &c. &c. &c. Hail ! — Thou shalt be ***** hereafter. Shakespeare^ GOD FORBID !i! MADAM> You are, I understancl, much offended at the freedom with which I liave men- tioned your name in the appeal I have made to the pubUc, and I am informed that I liave hurt your feehngs ; — if, Ma- dam, to hurt your feeUngs should lead to an alteration of your conduct, and induce you to consult the feelings of others, theii should I have reason to rejoice that I have been instrumental in producing si most desirable effect. Has (do you think) that Illustrious Per- sonage, the Princess of Wales, no feel- ings? — What must be the sensations of mind in that truly-unfortunate Lady, to witness, for years together, the attention which is due to her paid to you, and to hear of your feelings ? You are displeased, I am informed, at my having mentioned the precedence given to you at the AssembUes of the Great : — Can you deny that you do receive the pre- cedence, which, appertaining only to he- reditary rank, you, as a commoner, can have no pretensions to ? Do you not sit above your superiors? Is not a marked attention paid to you as the friend of the Prince of Wales ? Has it not occurred, and frequently too, at en- tertainments, where you have been in the company of His Royal Highness, that a circle has been formed round you similar to -the circle in the Qiieen*s dmiving- room !!! — I know that sucli attentions luive been paid to you, and I could name tiie places where. -7-- 1 find you complain that I have offended you by saying that such pre- cedence is a matter of surprize to many of the Nobility, and of great disgust to the people at large,— is it possible to be other- wise ? What opinion must the public enter- tain of your understanding, (to say notliing more,) to see you accept and appear to be gratified with an attention that you not only have no pretensions to, but which every body, except yourself, sees is paid to you from necessity, with disgust and contempt by many, with ridicule by others^ and with real respect by none ? Have the ancient nobility then, do you suppose, no feelings of uneasiness at the affront thus offered them ? And are the 10 people at large, do you imagine, divestect of all feelings upon such occasions ? It is now many years since you were first upon a footing of intimacy with the Prince of Wales. A house of great ex« pense was taken for you in Pail-Mall, com- municating privately with Carlton-House ; and the house adjoining the Pavilion at Brighton, till then inhabited by Mr. Weltje, (house-steward to His Royal Highness,) was appropriated to your use, "with an establishment upon a scale of mag- nificence (infinitely beyond the limits of your original income) at the charge of the public, and, consequently, to the loss of the just creditors of the Prince of Wales, who can only be considered a trustee for the proper disposal of the income allowed him by the country ioX the support of his dignity. The world therefore coniiiders, and the Prince's creditors feel, that vou have been, and arc still, living at the pub- 11 lie charge. — Have the pubhc then, in your opinion, no feelings ? They have : and their's can be no other than feehn^s of EXTREME DISGUST. When the Prince of Wales was married to the Princess, it was agreed that you should retire from that intimacy of friendship you had so long enjoyed, and your houses in Pall- Mall and at Brighton were given up accordingly. However creditable, prospectively, to your character, that you did retire to the Villa purchased for you at Castle-Bear, yet, viewed in a retrospective light, the necessity of such a retreat, (accompanied, as it was, by a pension of several thousands per an- num, payable quarterly at an eminent ban- ker's, and a retention of the very valua- ble jewels, plate, &c. &c. given to you by the Prince,) did not, in the opinion of the id world, acid mucli good fame to your repu^ tation. Had yoti continued in the retirement ex- pected of you, the world would probably never have disturbed you in the enjoyment of your great possessions, by any reflections upon the mode of their acquisition; but, not long after the Prince of Wales was married. His Royal Highness discon-s^ tinned to live with the Princess, and re-* turned to your society, in which he was eagerly received !!! O Shame! wh£iie is thy BtusH? On this unexpected renewal of intimacy ^ an establishment, upon a still larger scale, was formed for you ; a noble house in Park-lane, most magnificently fitted up, and superbly furnished ; a large retinue of servants ; carriages of various descriptions ; a new Pavilion, bviilt for your separate re^i- 13 dence at Brighton ; and the Prince more frequently in yonr society than ever ! ! ! When, Madam, your friends pretend that your feelings are hurt, let me ask you (and them) if you think the people of moral character in this country have no feelings? I am sure they must relinquish uU claim to any, if they could view, with indifference, such a departure from decen- cy as this conduct exhibits in you, and not see, with anxiety and fear for the future, the probable result of such a dreadful in- fatuation ; — not less dangerous to the future interest of this countiy than any that was ever experienced at the profligate court of Versailles* Let no more be said, then, of your feel- ings, but consider the poignant feelings of the much -to -be -pitied Princess of Wales. 14 Consider the indigxant ycELiNGs of the ancient nobility of the countrj, in- sulted by the precedence you enjoy. Consider the disgusted feelings of the pubHc, (while suffering under the weight of taxes,) upon seeing so large a proportion of the fruits of their industry so unworthily bestovyed upon you. Consider the outraged feelings of the moral class of society,* who, to their praise, attach importance to the influence derived from example. Give but a due consideration, Madam, to the feelings of the different classes of society * At a dinner given at the Mansion-House last week, the Chief-l^Iggistrate, as usual, gave ** The Kingr The se- cond toast was, ** That ynuch-injured IVomanf Her Roj/c^l Highness the Princess of Wales !'* which was received with ENTHUSIASTIC RAPTURE by the wholc company. •— Mor^ 7ihg-Posf, Juli/7t 180(). 15 alluded to, and they cannot fail of promoting that change in the disposition of your mind, which will relieve you from the painful feelings of which your friends insinuate that you complain, and secure you from the farther contempt of the world. I charge thee, fling away amLition ; ^ By that sin fell the angels. ShAK£SP£AII. I am, Madam^ Your obedient Servant, Palt-MaH, Jfulj/ 5, 1806. NATII.JEFFERYS. Printed by J. H. Hart, 23, Warwiek-Sciuart. 17 TO THE PUBLIC. A Pamphlet having been re- cently published, under the Title of DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND, by an Anonymous Author, containing many positive falsehoods, gross misrepresentations, and much scurrilous personal abuse of my cha- racter and conduct, I have been induced to prepare for the press a reply (which will shortly be published) to the various charges brought forward against me, all oi which I am confident I shall be able to refute, to the entire satisfaction of every person whose approbation is worth the possessing ; but an edition of the Pam- phlet alluded to, pubhshed yesterday, con- tains charges against me so injurious to my character as to require an instant con- tradiction. It is stated in this Pamphlet, that I obtained from the Duke of N-— and the 18 Earl of M — Twenty Pounds each, on the pretence of a charitable subscription for a distressed gentleman in the Fleet-Prison, and that, with the exception of five pounds^, I retained it for my own use. Such a charge, if true, would subject me to the well-merited contempt of society, as well as to a criminal prosecution : — but the whole is a fabrica- tion: — I never apphed to any Duke of N — or Earl pf M — upon such an occa- sion, nor did I eyer receive the sum allu- ded to for any siich purpose. If what I istate is suspected to be false, let those who accuse me of so infamous an act bring forward the names of this Duke of IST— ^nd Earl of M — , w^hoever they are, as well as the distressed Gentleman in the) yieet-lMson, It is aiso stated, that I received in ad- vance One Huiidred and Twentj^ Guineas, wliich had been subscribed by some School- Boys fpr the purpose of preseutiug their Master with a Piece of Plate^ and that I 19 retained the money for my own use, with- out performing the Gontract; This is another infamous fabrication, as J never received, in the whole course of my life, any such Order or any such Pay- ment ; a^d, if what I here assert is not credited, let my accuser name the School- Master or any of the Boys, and call on them for the proof of this most grounds- less charge. I now presume to ask the Public — what credit they think can be due to any of the assertions in the Pamphlet alluded to, and what sort of a cause that must be, which, in the opinion of its anonymous de- fenders, makes a resort to such infamous falsehoods necessarj^ THE END, REFUTATION OF THE POSITIYE FALSEHOOIDS AND GR©SS MISREPRESENTATIONS COVTAXNED IN THE SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS PROFESSING TO BE ^tN REPLY TO THE RE V' I E W OF THE CONDUCT OF THE FMINCE OF WAlLESs - WITH OBSERVATIONS. By NATHANIEL JEFFERYS, TO WHICH IS ADDED THE REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS UPON THE TRI^JL Before LORD KENYON, in 179^, TOR THE RECOVERY OF THE MONEY DUE TO' MR. JEFFER Y5 FOR JEWELS AND PLATE SOLD TO THE PRINCE OF WALES. 3Q,onDon ; Prtvted Foi. Mr. Jeffervs, By J- H. Hart, 23, Warvskk-squarey Warwick -lane f AND SOLD At Mr. , Blacklock's, Rnycil-Exchuno- ; and at No. 44, Vail- ■M-iUi an i may be iia4 of all the Bjokse llers . Price 3*. INTRODUCTION. Great Misrepresentation of the evi- dence of the Proceedings upon the Trial before Lord Kenyon, for the recovery of the money due to me for Jewels and Plate sold to the Prince of Wales, having been made in the several Anony- mous Pamphlets lately pubHshed, I have, with the advice of my friends, reprinted the proceedings upon the Trial, as taken from the notes of the shorthand- writer; by a candid perusal of which, the reader will be enabled to judge of the justice of the claim, (declared by the present Lord Chancellor to be fair and honorable^) and of the extreme in- justice and hardship of my case, in the mode adopted for the payment of the sum awarded me by the Verdict, a de- duction of nearly 17,000/. having been made from it. A REFUTATION, &c. 1.HAT "Facts are stubborn things/^ th$ writers of the Pamphlets which haVe been pub- lished in answer to the "Review gf the Con- duct of the Prince of Wales^^ have abundantly- proved; as no assertion that I have made iri the publication alluded to, relative to the un- generous conduct of His Royal Highness to- wards me, has been in any degree contradicted or refuted, otherwise than by the substitutioii (in the place of argument and truth) of the most violent personal abuse, infamous false- hoods, and gross misrepresentation of my cha- racter and conduct. If all that has been so maliciously said of tne could be proved to be true, it would not^ I B am confident, in the opinion of the thinkirrg- part of the world, be considered as a justification of the cruelty and unfeeling oppression, which I have experienced in return for the unlimited confidence, so fatally for my family and myself, placed by me in the Prince of Wales. If answers were to flow from the Press til! every type in Europe was exhausted, they could not refute the assertions which I have made, as I have most scrupulously adhered to facts, which can neither be palliated nor denied ; and, if the anonym.ous writers of these Pamphlets, who, with more apparent regard to their interest than to their characters^ have attempted to apologize (in their unbounded abuse of my character) for the dignified INJUSTICE of which I complain, had suffi- ciently attended to the strong ground I have taken, supported by truth, I do not think they would have hazarded a contest, from which His Royal Highness is likely to receive such little benefit, and his champions as little honor. It IS rather unfortunate, that Pamphlets, avowedly written to rescue the Prince of Wales 7 from what is termed " unmerited odium/' should contain scarcely any tiling else than reflections upon me, which apply more closely to the situation and feelings of his Royal Higl.A ness than these writers intend, or than their Royal Patron will thank them for. Is it possible to reflect upon my having been subject in the year 1797 to a Commission of Bankruptcy, without reflecting at the same time upon the Prince of Wales, an unlimited confi- dence in whom was the cause of it? — Is then such a misfortune, and arising from such a source, a proper subject of derision and scorn from the advocates of the Prince of Wales ? — His Royal Highness's rank in life places him above the possibility of such a calamity, and his feelings ought to place him above the inde- licacy of patronizing reflections upon a misfor- tune, from which, (without any merit of his own,) lie is exempt ; more especially ought not those to be insulted, by his authority, with reproach for misfortunes, which they have experienced in his service, and who have a claim on that ac- count to his protection. b3 Though the Prince of Wales, from his rank^ cannot be a bankrupt, His Royal Highness has experienced a situation very nearly resembhng it. In the year I79<5, upon an application to* Parliament to pay the debts of the Prince of Wales, the management of His Royal High- ness's affairs were, (by the authority of Par- liament,) taken out of his hands, and placed un- der the direction of Commissioners, not mate- rially differing in their appointment from as* signees. The payment made by these Commis- sioners to the creditors of a sum less than the amount of their claims can be considered in no other light than as a dividend ; and the le- gal discharge given by the creditors from all farther claim, on their part, upon the effects of His Royal Highness, bears a very strong re- semblance to a certificate^ with this exception only, that a certificate requires the consent of a majority of creditors, and, in the case of the Prince of Wales, the discharge on the part of the creditors from all farther legal claim was obtained by compulsion ; as the Commissioners would not pay the sums tendered to the credi- tors, but upon the condition of a complete and Jinal discharge! U Is, then, the character of the Prince of Wales advanced, or are His Royal Highnesses feelings consulted, by the unmanly and abusive reflections of his anonymous defenders, who provoke comparisons and discusi^ions, which would otherwise not have been brought for- ward ? Very ungenerous and unjustifiable are the re- flections that have been so profusely heaped upon me for the misfortune I experi- enced ; and remarks, accompanied with deri- sion and scorn, upon such a calamity, cannot but be disgusting to every feeling mind, more particularly to the commercial part of tlie com- munity; — it is a misfortune, which many men (now of importance as to wealth and charac- ter) have, in the vicissitudes of the world, at some former period of their lives cxpi^rienced, and to which every man in trade, howevei wealthy at one time, may be subject at ano- ther. 10 The Prince of Wales, it is to be hoped, can? not think his cause advanced by such unmanly reflections upon misfortune ;r— if he does, he is most lamentably deceived. I have been reflected upon for not paying Twenty Shiihngs in the Pound ; — Did the Prince pay Twenty Shillings in the Found ?— It was the deficiency in the payments of His Royal High- ness to me that caused my deficie icy to my creditors. It is alleged against me, that I did not offer any of the debentures to my creditprs, who would gladly have received them at the full amount, without subjecting me to the heavy loss I complain of: — the charge is fal^e ; — I paid large sums in debentures to majiy of my creditors ;— to one person, at one time. Ten Thousand Pounds ; and t;p others large sums. So far frorn the creditors being willing to take these debentures without loss to me, (as has been positively asserted,) I did not experience any one instance in which I could pei'suade a creditor to soften his demand a single Shilling in consequence of the losses I had sustained; and several instances occurred jin which creditors, 11 who were paid the whole an^ount of their de* loands ill debentures, proved debts Jiipon my Commission for tlie deficiencies occasioned solely by the discount. It lias been also, with an equal degree of falsehood asserted, that I parted witli the debentures at a greater discount than I m^ht have sold tiiem at, if 1 had ap* plied to respectable people on tiie occasion. AH the debentures I had were either paid to my creditors, or disposed of tiirough the mediuiiv of Bankers and Brokers of the most respectable character* Great stress is laid by my opponents upon the small amount of the dividend arising from my effects, the occasion of which arose from very large payments having been made be- fore a commission was in contemplation, from the great loss upon the forced sale of my property in trade to the amount of several thousand pounds, and other losses arising from the oppressive severity of creditors, of which the following is an instance : — I had purchased, for the Prince of Wales, of Messrs. . Jew Merchants in the City, diamonds to a great amount: I paid them a considerable sum If- in debentures, subject to a heavy discount, and gave them my notes for the remainder. As a collateral security for the payment of my notes, I placed in the hands of these Gen- tfemen, a bond of the Duke of York, payable to me, for Three Thousand Pounds, having nq great length of time ta run ; ai their desire I -Bigned a power, enabling them, in case of my not paying the notes, to a])ply the produce of the bond in discharge of them, ihe great losses I experienced from the deductions made; by the Prince's Commissioners from the sun^ awarded by the Verdict of the Jury, put it out of my power to discharge my notes with punc- tuality; and, withoiitany other notice than what I obtainetl from the accidental reading of a newspaper, I was informed by pubhc adver- tisement of the intended sale of this bond at Oarraway -s Goffee-PIolise. It was there sold for a sum, wlfich, after the expenses of sale, &c. left only One T}^iousand Three Hundred and Forty-Eight. Pounds Ten Shiilings, which was alPtlrat was allowed to me, though the purchaser was a partner in thehqtisp witli whom it was de- posited as a security, and the wlmlc of the bon(| L3' of Three Thousand Pounds, with interest, was paid by the Duke of York sometime after* wards ! ! ! — Subject to such Josses, it it to be wondered at that my estate paid a small di*» vidend ? My concerns with the Duke of York were very large, and I might justly be charged with great ingratitude to His Royal Highness were J to omit the opportunity which now offers of .expressing my most sincere and grateful ac- Jcnowledgernents for the obligations conferred upon me by this illustrious and truly honorable character. I speal^ of His Royal Highness fron^ EXPJSitiE-NCE : he has conferred upon me many favors. His Royal Highness never made me A PROMISE >yHICH HE DID NOT PERFORM ; and I have no hesitation in saying, there is not (ia my opinion) a man existing, on whose bare word I could rely wjth more entire satisfaction than on that of the Puke of York. 1 firmly believe, that, in a strict adherence to his word, he is (like His Royal father) a man of perfect INTEGRITY. Before I quit the subject of bankruptcy, jyliich has been so illiberally dwelt upon by u my opponents, I think it fair in my own de- fence to ^tate facts, which I trust the public will give me credit for, at least as far as my intentions and my limited means have enabled me to put .such intentions in force. After a bankrupt has obtained, by a certi- ficate, a legal discharge from all farther claims from his creditors for the payment of deficien- cies, the voluntary discharge (out of subse- quent gains) of such deficiencies is generally considered as a criterion favorable to his cha- racter ; and here I presume it will be eagerly asked by my opponents, if by any such volun- tary payments I have ever shewn a disposition entitling me to this favorable opinion ? In an- swer to this question, I can,* with great satis- faction, reply that I have! — and not rest my claim to it on my own assertion only. Since the period of my misfortunes in 1797, success has occasionally attended my efforts in the business I have followed, and am now en- gaged in, the sale of property on commission ; and I nevci; yet had a year of prosperity in which I did not appropriate some portion of its 15 gains to the .full discharge of Twenty Shillings . in the Pound to some of my former creditors, (giving, of course, the preference to those from whom I have experienced kindness in the hour of distress,) and who now, in consequence of the unparalleled infamy with which my character lias been attacked in anonymous publications, have offered to come forward with their names, and establish the fact, should the veracity of my assertion be doubted by any person of re- spectability. I have, by these voluntary sacri- fices to perform what I considered a duty, oc- casionally put mystlf to great inconvenience. Considering the extreme severity with which I am treated by these anonymous writers, I think I have a right to ask, if the Prince of Wales, since the compulsory discharge he ob- tained from his creditors, has made good, by subsequent payments, the deficiencies they suf- fered ^ though His Royal Highness might have done so, without sustaining any inconvenience, as the liberality of the Country in pecuniary supplies to the Prince of Wales have most amply provided him w^ith the means of per- jforming such an act of liberal justice? — It is, 16 Ijowever, serionsly to be lamented, that Hi5 Royal irJighness has not done so, in preference to the vast and unnecessary expenditure in build- ings at Brighton, a very small portion of the money employed upon which, would have been more than sufficient for the full discharge of every former deficiency to his suffering credi- toi-s ; would have been a source of happiness to m^ny families, enduring the severest distress on his account ; and have held up the character of the Prince of Wales to that estimation in the public opinion, which is equally for the interest of the nation and the honor of His Royal High- ness. Reviled and abused, as I have been, by ano- nymous writers, in what they call the Cause of the Prince of Wales, it is and ever has been the great object of my anibition, since the period of my misfortunes in 1797, to convince my cre- ditors, by my conduct, that lam not undeser- ving of the good opinion of those, who have ge- nerously and uniformly expressed a good opi- nion of me; and to let others of them, whose opinion has not been so favorable, see that it has been founded in error. As far as my li- mited means have permitted, T have acted 17 up to this principle ; and, should success attend my future efforts in business, so as to increase those means, 1 trust I shall never possess them unaccompanied by a disposition to perform an act of justice and integrity ; and I hope 1 shall think it a duty to the last hour of my life,, should prosperity attend me, to appropriate an- nually a portion of my gains to the discharge of debts, which, though no longer due in law, are so in HONOR. Had the Prince of Wales been actuated by a similar principle, and done by me as I had a RIGHT to expect, and as tliC world say His Royal Highness ought to have done, I should, long since have had an opportunity of practically- proving to my creditors the sincerity of my declarations; the time, however, 1 hope, is not- far distant, when the industry of my owa efforts, aided by the liberal support of the public, may supply the means, which have been, so ungenerously withheld from me. The charges against me, that I have ex- pended, according to some accounts, Four-^ teen Thousand Pounds, — and ocheis, Sevea 18 Thousand Pounds, to get into Parliament, are both erroneous : the expenditure was not equal to one-half of the smallest of the sums named : — it was what at the time I considered myself entitled to. I admit, however, that circumstances have since proved, the expense ought not to have been incurred. In the space of the -last ten years, nearly twenty members of the House of Commons, engaged in commercial pursuits, have been in the Gazette as bankrupts ; it is therefore very illiberal afid unfair to single me out, as bring- ing disgrace upon the House of Commons, in having been subject to a Commission of Bank- ruptcy while I was a member. That my un- fortunate situation, in the opinion of some persons, miglit be thought a discredit to a seat in Parliament I will not dispute ; but that my conduct, as a member, ever disgraced it, f defy the proof of. The system of attack upon me is so general, that no point is left unassailed ; and, speaking of my parliamentary conduct, my opponents say, I was unwortliy of the scat I held in: ;9 Parliament, as no party conld depend upon me, my vote being sometimes given in support of Ministers, and at others, in opposition to •their measures; — a greater compliment (hov^^- ever unintentional on the part oflhose who confer it) could not have been paid to me ; as I believe it will not be disputed, that a Memb«r of Parliament, who, in the discharge of his duty, wishes to make the law of his conscience the rule of his parliamentary conduct, will decide upon measures according to their merit, with- out being influenced by any consideration for. the party whence they originate. To abuse and villify me is the grand object ; and, neither the money expended for a seat in Parliament, nor my conduct in Parliament, would have been a ground of objection, if I had not presumed to remind the Prince of Wales of obligations, which His Royal High* ness acknowiedo-ed in the warmest terms to have received from me, and OP promises WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN PJ^RFORMED 1 ! ! I am ashamed to trespass so long on the patience of the reader, by entering into a re« fatation of so great a variety of charge^ founded in absurdity, malice, and falsehood* By one writer I am charged with pride, in aspiring to the company of my superiors, to the neglect of my own connections and friends^ in the giddy pursuit of ambition; by another, I -am described as too humble and low minded^ in the choice of companions and associates. Upon the latter charge^ of an improper choice of associates, these defender's of the Prince of Wales had better not say too much, as their reflections in the opinion of the public may apply more closely to a quarter for which it was not intended than would be acceptable. In short, there is scarcely an item in the whol0 catalogue of vices and follies, to which human nature is subject, of which^ in the opinion of my opponents, I am not guilty ; the whole of tvhich is to be accounted for in very few words^ •"^thdit I lent the Prince of Wales Money at his earnest request^ and dared to ask him for it ; and that His Royal Highness^ having made pror mises which were not performed^ I presumed to remind him of them. SI As an additional mode of defending^ as it is called, the character of the Prince of Wales, I am branded with every vile epithet which the most immoral life could merit, founded on a relation of anecdotes and facts which never existed, and of which I defy the proof; but, •supposing them for an instant to be true, can such very gross reflections on the presumed immorality of my life be read as a defence to the Prince of Wales, without exciting in the minds of those who read them a disposition to inquire, how far His Royal Highness himself exhibits in his private life, in the se- veral relations of a husband, a parent, and a son, a pattern of morality and virtue worthy of imitation ; for such inquiries. His Royal Highness is indebted to his injudicious de- fenders. A charge is brought against me, and much dwelt upon, (for the falsehood of which I ap- peal to the Prince of Wales,) it is this, that I forced myself and my goods upon the notice of His Royal Highness, and wasted my time at Carlton-House when I ought to have been at- 22 tending to my business at home. — That I did not attend to my concerns at home, in pre- ference to attend mg the orders of His Royal Highness, 1 have indeed most serious cause to lament; but, that such a hne of conduct was the result of my own choice, the Prince of Wales knows was not the case. His Royal Highness has frequently (in the presence of those who well remember the fact) commended me in very high terms that I did not do the very thing which I am now charged with, but that I attended only when sent for ; and, so far from urging the Prince of Wales to an increase of the account, 1 have at times received from His Royal Highness very expensive orders, which I have delayed putting in execution, to afford him an opportunity to change his mind, which has often been the case, and for which His Royal Highness has in very strong terms ex- pressed his approbation and his thanks. I re- fer with confidence to the Prince of Wales for ♦ the truth of what I assert, and I appeal to the world on the cruelty of this determined system of abuse, which, in a pretended defence o^ the Priace of Wales, condemns me for the very acts, for the performance of which I have re- ceivfed His Royal Highness's approbation and thanks. — Such is the reward for my zeal in the service of the Prince of Wales ! The very trade in which I am engaged is, by a false representation of facts, made a ground of censure. I am charged with extravagance and vanity in having possessed and resided at East- ClifF- Lodge, near Ramsgate, the present resi- dence of Lord Keith ; where, it is said, the costly decorations of the late Mr, Bond Hop- kins, a gentleman of large fortune, were not in a style of splendor to sait what is called my silly vanity ; — that I pulled all to pieces and refitted up every part with the greatest profu- sion of expense. — This charge is as absurd as it is false ; for, the plain fact is this : Mr. Bond Hopkins died before the house was finished, and I purchased it in that state of the execu- tors, one of whom I had the pleasure of knowing, — Mr. Chamberlaine, • I accordingly finished what Mr, Hopkins had left undone, not with a view to gratify any silly vanity, but as an article of trade, to resell it ; and I of course took the opportunity, while I possessed c 2 It, of residing there. Was there ever any thing so absurd as inventing such lies, and forcing them upon the public, under the pretence of defending the character of the Prince of Wales? — A charge of extravagance might, with equal justice, be brought against Mr. Godsal, the first coachmaker in London, for having ele- gant and expensive carriages in his possession ; or against Mr, Rundel, the jeweller, for having the inost splendid collection of jewels of any man in Eur )pe in his house ; as against me for having oc- casionally elegant and attractive houses ; it being the superiority of merit, in every article of trade, whether in a carriage, a diamond ornament, or a house, that leads to an expeditious sale of tt. Another ridiculous charge of vanity and ex- travagance is, that 1 had the presumption to in- vite to my table the guests of the Prince, whom I met at Carl ton- House : — I never was at Carl- ton- House but as a man of business, to receive His Royal Highnesses orders, when sent for.— I never met any persons as guests at Carlton- Hbuse, and no instance can be produced of my ever having had the presumption to invite any 96 individual to dine at my table who was a guest of the Prince. The general habits of my life are totally and maliciously misrepresented by the defenders of the Prince of Wales. I am represented as living in extravagant luxury, while those, who know my real habits of life and those of my family, know that a quiet and regular system of do- mestic economy is that by which we are guided, and have been ever. — I am represented, ia one of these Pamphlets, as sallying into the street with a bottle of Burgundy under one arm and of Champagne under the other. I can safely appeal to those who know me, that in- temperance forms no part of my character ; and the insinuation that Burgundy and Champagne are the wines I drink is a mean and pitiful en- deavor to render me contemptible in the eyes of the world ; I never had any Champagne or Burgundy in my house. Whatever may be my habits of life, I have not the vanity to suppose that the world can feel any interest in them ; and, therefore, the only apology lean make for obtruding so much of the subject on the 26 public notice is that which I hope will be re- ceived as my excuse. Every individual, let him fancy what he will to the contrary, even the Prince of Wales himself, has an interest in the good opinion of the public; more particularly those who, like myself, are dependent upon the public for support ; the losses I have experienced render the public opinion to me a matter of great moment ; my adversaries know it, and have artfully endeavored, by the grossest falsehoods and misrepresentations, to deprive me of the « ■ 1 -I •. ' ■ ■ '■ benefit of it. I therefore, in my own defence, have been obliged to this long detail of con- tradictions. I must now notice charges against me of a nature so shameful on the part of my accusers, from their entire falsehood, as to pro- voke, I have no doubt, in the minds of all who read them, a feeling of extreme disgust and of sincere sorrow, that such base means should be resorted to, as a defence of the con- duct of the Prince of Wales, the Heir-Appa- rent to the British Throne. 27 I am charged with having received of the Duke of N ^ and the Earl of M , each of them, Twenty Pounds, under the pre- tence of making a collection to assist a dis- tressed gentleman in the Fleet-Prison ; and that, with tlie exception of Five Pounds, T kept the remainder, (Tiiirty Five 'Pounds,) to my own use ; thereby defrauding these Noblemen of their money under a false pretence, and de- priving the distressed person, for whom this assistance was said to be obtained, of the be- nefit of their benevolence. — Such a conduct, if true, would justly expose me to the well- merited contempt of society, and the effects of a criminal prosecution ; but the whole is a most infamous falsehood, as I never at any time applied to any Duke of N — : or Earl of M — — — - on such an occasion, or received from them or any body else the sums in cpies- tion. So far from having adopted so infamous a line of conduct, I am compelled to mention a circumstance out of which this disgraceful iJtory has, 1 suppose, arisen , that the pubhc may see iii Avhat degree I am deserving of cen- sure or otherwise. — About four J^ears since, I was applied to in behalf of a destrcssed Baronet 28 n the Fleet. I knew little of him but by the recommendation of a third person. — Desirous of relieving distress so urgent as his was repre- sented to be, I mentioned my intention to the person applying to me of soliciting a subscrip- tion of the Baronets whom I knew, in behalf of one of their own order; and, presuming upon success, I sent h'm Five Pounds, and after that two or three pounds more. I never applied but to two persons, from one of whom I received Two Guineas, and no- thing from the other ; but, so many close ques- tions and remarks were put to me the instant I mentioned the name of the person for whom this subscription wms wanted, that I relin- quished all attempts to get more, and contented myself with my good intentions towards him ; for which, with the advance of Seven or Eight Pounds, and provisions at different times sent to him, the reward I experienced was, the in- famous accusation alluded to. — If what I state is not true, why not bring forward this pre- tended Duke of N or Earl of M- tq contradict me. 20 Another charge, of an equally-infamous na- ture, and equally false, is, that when in busi* ness as a goldsmith, I received from some school-boys One Hundred and Twenty Guineas, the amount of a subscription they had made for the purpose of presenting their master with a piece of plate, and that I sent them soratf paltry article of the value of about Thirty Pounds, keeping the One Hundred and Twenty- Guineas to my own use. — 1 never at any time in the course of my life received any such sura, or any such order ; and, if what I say is not credited, let tiie schoolmaster or any one of the boys be brought forward to establish the charge 1 The whole story is a base falsehood I Another charge of a similar description as td mean and base intention is, that 1 did not lose any thing by my concerns with the Prince of Wales, but that I dissipated my property and destroyed my health upon a French lady resi^ ding in Charles-street, Berkeley-square, to whom, it is said, I presented an elegant side- board of plate. — This is also a base and infa- mous invention ; — I never knew a lady so de- scribed, and never gave to any woman in my 30 life, either a sideboard of plate, or a piece of plate of any value whatever. The public, I am sure, will be struck with horror at a line of conduct so infamous, and from the effects of which no individual can be safe, let his character be ever so irreproachable, if 'attempts like these are countenanced, to disr turb the peace of a family, long happy in the enjoyment of mutual affection. Is it possible to believe the Prince of Wales can be gratified with a conduct (under the al- leged pretence of defending his character) so infamous, so base, so cruel, and so mean? — To suppose so would be a libel indeed on the cha- racter of His Royal Highness as a Man ! The last publication which has appeared con- tains a charge against me, tremendous in sound only, but which, upon the slightest examina- tion, conveys a reflection so severe upon the Prince, that no man (except under the mask of pretended friendship) would have mentioned it: — it is, that I wrote a letter to Lord Moira, containing a threat to extort money from the 31 Prince of Wales. In the Review of the Conduct of the Prince, I have stated, that, at his ear- nest request, in a moment of great difBculty, I lent His Royal Highness at one time One Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty - Five Pounds, and at another Four Hundred and Twenty Pounds, making togethei about Two Thousand Pounds. His Royal Highness, upon the loan of this money, expressed himself under the greatest obligation for a service, which he declared he ?iever icould forgets This violent attempt to extort money from the Prince of Wales, then, was a letter, couched in the most humble terms, written on abed of sick- ness to Loid Moira, requesting, as a great favor, the loan of Two Thousand Pounds from the Prince, which I expressed a hope could not be considered as an unreasonable request, it being no more than the sum, which I, an humble indi- vidual, had lent on a former occasion to the Prince of Wales, and which service His Royal Highness had declared he never could forget: that if His Royal Highness would grant me this loan, I would thankfully accept it as a loan, to be accounted for to His Royal Highness out of any money he might hereafter think due to me 35 for the services whicJi His Royal Highness had acknowledged that 1 had performed for him. In soliciting this return, for that which His Royal Highness had called a favor, and which, when he received it, he declared he never could forget^ I am branded with the epithet of ^. felon writing letters to extort money If! And, because the letters contain some communication from me to Lord Moira of private embarrassment, which it might reasonably be supposed would have operated as a stimulus to an act of liberality on the part of the Prince, they are meanly given to a hireling writer to be published, to do me all the injury which an exposure of embarrass- ment might be supposed to occasion. If in a moment of distress I had assisted a friend in private life with 2000/. or any sum of money which he had represented to be necessa- ry to his relief; and at a future period circum- stances might have made a loan of a similar a- mount necessary to me ; where, would 1 ask, should I have applied for relief but to the quar- ter where I had granted it, and that under a presumption that it could not and indeed would not be refused? S3 ,1 have applied, in the letter alluded to. to the Prince of Wales for a return only to the extent of a service, which he (the Heir-Apparent to a Throne) has acknowledged with thanks to have received from me ; and every villanous epithet that can attach to the character of a thief is applied to me, as though it were a folly, in the opinion of the pretended friends of the Prince of Wales, to confide in his Royal Highness, and a crime to expect from him the performance of a promise. — Of all enemies, there are none so dangerous as injudicious friends, and this, it is to be feared, His Royal Highness will find ere long to his cost. I will trouble my readers with an answer to only one charge more, — which is, that, in case of revolutionary times, I might be expected to take an active part. — This charge is almost too contemptible for notice. The feelings, which I cannot but entertain for the severe injuries I have received personally from the Prince of Wales, ought not to involve me in a charge of disaffection to the Govern- ment ; and I think his affection to his Prince is the least to be questioned, who has made the greatest sacrifices in proof of his attachment; I am ready to pay every homage that is due to the Sovereign and his offspring ; their rank in the country gives them claim to homage and regard ; but surely it is not too much to ex- pect, that a conduct correspondent with their station should legitimate and ratify the claim. — And, liowever the Prince of VTales may be persuaded by the servility of sycophants to think that different duties attach to dif- ferent stations, of this he may be assured, to use the words of an elegant writer, — " That •' the basis of all lasting reputation is laid in •' moral worth. Great rank and splendor may ** sparkle for a time in the public eye. The *' world looks up to them with wonder as to an *' extraordinary comet or blazing star. Dis- ** tinguished virtue and worth, in whatever *' rank they may be found, create less asto- ** nishment, but, like the fixed luminaries of " Heaven, they shine with a more steady and ♦' permanent lustre. ^^ 55 LAW REPORT Court o/King's-Bench, PTestminster, Feb, 18. 1800. Sittings before Lord-Chief' Justice Ken^on^ and a Special Jury. JefFerys v. T. Walker, Esq. and Others. Mr. ERSKlNEsaid, he was counsel for Mr. Jefferys, who had long been an eminent jeweller in this town. — The Defendants are the Commis- sioners appointed under an Act of Parliament for the liquidation of the Debts of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Undoubtedly, the subject of this Action was not at all in the contemplation of Parliament when this Act was made. But it was &this Lordship should know ; (for, the sooner any thing that could create a prejudice in the cause was removed the better;) — it was necessary that his Lordship and the Jury, who were to try this cause, should know, that the sum of money demanded by Mr. Jefferys in this 36 Action was not due from the Prince of Wales in consequence of any private contract entered into by the jYmce and Mr. Jefferys, in former times, between the date of the Prince arriving at full age and the present period ; but that it arose in consequence of the contract of marriage which took place between His Royal Pfighness and his illustrious relation ; and was solely, singly, and entirely, for the jewels furnished for Her Royal Highness, with the approbation, not merely of the Prince her Plusband, but also of the King and Queen. They were directed to be made by the Prince. They were shewn at different times to their Majesties in the course of their being made up in that elegant style and fashion, which was necessary for such a wearer ; and they were at all times sanctioned and ap- proved of by His Royal Highness ; he had reason to suppose by his Royal Parents also. Justice must be done to the Defendants, who appeared to have no other interest in permitting Mr. Jef- ferys to bring this cause into court than that they conceived it to be their public duty, in or- der that the value of these jewels might be fairly estimated. It was not a thing which one would wish, most undoubtedly, to bring into court 37 very illustrious persons, who ought to be with- drawn as much as possible from forums of that kind, otherwise he could have called His Royal Highness himself, and he did expect to see a person, (Lord Cholmondeley, who afterwards came into court,) high in the service of the Prince of Wales, who he was sure would willingly by his testimony confirm the truth of what he had then uttered. He was glad this was so, be- cause most undoubtedly when the Act of Par- liament was passed it looked in a very different direction. His Royal Highness had contracted many debts, and some of them were such as propably would require that scrutiny which was never ill bestowed when a contract of any mag- nitude was to be under investigation. If, when this cause was over, the Jury might go to St. James's, they would see these Jewels to much more advantage than they could possibly be de- scribed in court, for they would see them worn by the Illustrious Possessor of them. The sum depended entirely on those who contracted for these Jewels beiog made (said Mr. Erskine) . — I confess, for one, that I think the splendor of a court, and that which is necessary to support that- dignity, and those ornaments which are D 38 the subject of this action, are expenses that Englishmen will least of all be disposed to grudge. It is impossible to suppose, that a great and dignified country can be maintained with all those eminent stations, and with all that is necessary to support the great fabric of society, without that which gives dignity and illustration to human life ; and perhaps nothing less exhausts the resources of a nation than such expenses, because they tend to create emulation and to the encouragement of the Arts and Sciences, to the advancement of the manufactures, and the va- rious reciprocations of human life, in a country lifted up by its trade, and blessed with the most extensive commerce. Not a farthing of this ex- pense goes out of the country ; but, if it did, and if it were lost in that bottomless gulph, where many large sums have been lost, it is no- thing to this jeweller, who has sold his wares to those who honored him with their orders. I have not the honor to be in the service of the Prince of Wales, but I think I do him no more than justice when I declare, that I believe he would be one of the last men, who would wish to deprive a tradesman who had furnished 39 him with any comtnodity in the course of his trade of an rota of its value* It is necessary, however^ that I should say he has the same in- terest as any other man in lessening the demand^* where his funds are to he answerable ; for, the Act of Parliament mortgages part ol" the Reve- nue of the Prince fur the payment of his debts, and that revenue tloes not return to him till those debts are paid. In proportion therefore as those debts are lessened, his revenue is increased: — That, however, can have no effect where the mind is rightly placed. Mr. Erskine said, that, after Mr. Jefferys brought in his bill before the Commissioners on oath, he was summoned under the authority of the statute before the Commissioners, and desired that the jewels should be looked at ; they were inspected by two or three persons eminent in the trade ; but, from whose declaration, which would be given in evidence he did not know they had an opportunity to form that accurate judgement tliat was necessary. They said, after .the short time they had spent in the examination, and not having taken the means to ascertain ac- curately their value which had since been taken, D 2 40 they only valued them at 43,700/. But they said, though that might be their vakie yet they were of opinion some allowances should be made for collecting so speedily this valuable set of jewels, which must have occasioned very ex- traordinary demands on the person procuring them. The risks also which attended the case were many, and he should not lessen them by stating, that it was not from every man nor at every sale that Mr. Jefferys could collect jewels of such magnitude and value, especially on the shortest notice, and which furnished one of the most brilliant assortments that ever was worn by any crowned head in Europe. He would venture to say, that no assortment of jeweJs, ei- ther with respect to brilliancy or setting, were finer, or more beautiful. They were approved of by all whose approbation was fit to be had, and were worthy of the use to which they were adapted. Mr. Jefferys waited for the judgement of the Commissioners, who added 1200/. to the sup- posed value at which they had been estimated, which made 44,900/. 41 The Act of Parliament gave the option in this case to the party, either to abide by the judgement of the Commissioners, or to lay his claim before a Jury of his country, as Mr. JefFerys had done. Nothing but an arbitrary Parliament could have deprived the subject of the right of bringing his claim before a jury of his country; and, therefore, this Act did 'not take away that right, but allowed him to cou^e into a Court of Justice to have the cause tiied in the common form ; and the only^ principle on which this cause could be tried was, what these jewels were fairly worth to the wearer; and what they ought to be estimated at to such a wearer, attended with all the circumstances of inconvenience^ risk, and e.vpcnse, to him who furnished the commodity. — Ihatwas the prin- ciple on which the law of England would as- certain a question of this sort. Mr. Jefferys had an interest not to enter into any controversy, not to stir up any dispute, but to abide by the judgement of the Commis- sioners. But a man, who had engaged in trade, and had various difBculties, must take care they 49 did not hirn out to be an incumbrance to him by his not having a fair profit, by which alone, he could stand. No man could be supposed ta go through the drudgeries of trade to oblige others, - liowever - ilhistrious they might be. Every man went into trade to make his own for- tune, and to give independence to those that fol- lowed him, and who njight not have the same means of procuring it for themselves ; and, there- fore, what he asked for Mr. Jefferys was, that he jthbuld have what these jewels were fairly worth. Mr.Jefferys consulted his friends, and those w.ho knew the various difficulties he had been put to on that short notice, Wiiich was recog^ nizcd by those gentlemen who were called in by the Commissioners, He Consulted the most eminent persons in the trad^, ar.d the result was, that there was a great difference between the real value of these jewels and that at which they had been estimated by the Gentlemen who ]iad been called in by the Couunissioners, They would inform the Jury, tliat they were eetim. teci at lifty 'lliousai^d Aine Hundred and ^.'inety-Scven I\)unds Ten Shillings, uitiioiit tak'irg into thdr coimdcraiion anij of the cir- 43 cum^tances or difficulties under which they were procured. It was very material that this estimate had been made on the bare inspection of the jewels, judi^ing by their weight and ac- cording to their brilliancy, of which they were quahfied tojad^^e from their skill in the trade. That estimate 'was formed without taking in- to their consideration the particular circum- stances attending this case. If then, effect was given to the judgement of the Commissioners, by adding Twelve Hundred Pounds for the difficulties attending this particular contract; and if tiut sum were added to the former, it would amount to Fifty- Two Thousand One Hundred and Ninety-Seven Pounds Ton Shil- lings. Besides that, Mr. Jefferys had been obliged to pay out of his pocket Two Thou- sand Pounds in hard money, as interest upon the secupties he had given to those persons from whom he had purchased the diamonds : and no man living could possibly exist upon the dia- monds that were in his shop, till they were converted into money. Mr. Jefferys was exa- mined as to what were the particular profits of his trade. He said that was a question which 44 tradesmen in general were not disposed to an- swer; he, however, had no secrets ;— he stated what his profit was, and it was no more than tliat of others who dealt in the same commo- dity. A man who deals in diamonds must have a differeiit profit from one who deals in brooms. In the first place, it requires an im- mense capital to furnish raw materials for the manufacture and trade. Secondly, it requires persons eminent for their skill and of fine taste, who must be paid great salaries. Tradesmen in the situation of Mr. JefFerys must also have persons in whom he could saiely repose the greatest trust. He was obliged , to live in the most expensive part of the town, and must have a house fitted up for people of fashion to call on him in the line of his business. — ■ That was necessarily attended with heavy rents and the expenses of servants. It was also necessary to take into calculation the various drawbacks to which all trades were subject, but to which a trade of this descrip- tion was peculiarly subject. Besides that, Mr, JefFerys, by the form of the late Act of Par- liament, was not to be paid in the same man- ner as if he bad received a ji)dgement in the common form. Here he coirfd su^ out no execu* 45 tion ; he would receive prompt payment iii part, and for the remainder he must take debentures out of the Exchequer, which bore a discount. All these circumstances were to be taken into consideration. To conclude, (said Mr. Erskine,) I wish to state Mr. JefFerys to be an honorable and re- spectabie tradtsman^ and I trust he will go out of this court so. It is a most flattering* and sa- tisfactory thing to me to be able to state that so he is considered by all those who are concerned in this contract. Gentlemen, Mr. Jefferys desires to have no- thing but that which the fair profits of the trade entitle him to have. If there was the smallest difficulty in ascertaining the real weight and value of any one of these jewels, and if a cloud were to be thrown over your ver- dict by any man of rank or skill in this trade, (these jewels being set,) I believe Mr. JefFerys would have no objection to its being unset ; and, if there was found the smallest defalcation or the least impropriety in his conduct, he would be glad to have it corrected by your verdict. 45^ The first witness on the part of the Plaintiff was Mr* W, Sharp, who said he had been a Diamond Broker these twenty years; he believed he was more largely concerned in the purchase of diamonds than any man ; he had seen the jewels that were purchased for Her Royal Highness^ »nd had accurately examined them for the space of five hours ; he examined them stone by stone, and apprehended no man could collect such an assortment of jewels without purchasing^! number of stones, which could not afterwards come into the assortment ; he estimated their value, with- out taking into consideration any of those circumstances that had been stated, at Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven Pounds Ten Shillings. On cross-examination he said, that jewels were now higher by Ten or Fifteen per Cent, than when Mr. Jef- ferj^s received this order ; it being known so many dia- monds were to be purchased it raised the price in the market. If he had had this order to execute he did not know what he should have charged per Cent. He did all his business by commission, he believed jewellers had sometimes a very large, and at other times, a very small, profit; he did not know whether Twelve, Fifteen, or Thirty Five per Cent, was a sufficient profit ; if the price of the commodity was raised in the market in consequence of the publicity of the order, the profit would rise in the 8ame ratio. The other three Gentlemen, who were called on behalf of the Plaintiff, were Mr. D. Eliason, Mr. Z. Levi, and *7 Mr. R. Dugdale, two of whom are Difimond Merchantf, in a very great way of business, and the third a Jeweller; they had examined these jewels, and all agreed in the estimate which we have stated. Their evidence was very nearly the same with that given by Mr. Sharp. Their valuation was made on the 13th of Jajiuar'/ last, then diamonds were estimated at the price this commodity bore at the time they were purcha!;ed. Mr. Eliason said he would not have undertriken such an order' unless he had been per- mitted to charge whatever he thouaht proper, because the market would rise. If the order were low to be executed, it could not be done lor les? ; and it would be a difficult, matter, and almost impossible, to execute that order at the present moment, Mr. Garrow, as Counsel for the Defendants, on the re- cord said, there were very few causes that came for dis- cussion under circumstances similar to the present, because the defendants had no more interest in the subject thaij any one of the Jury. They had a public duty of the last importance cast upon them ; and, however painful and dis- tressing the discharge of it might be under certain circum- stances, yet they were bound to meet their situation man- fully, and to perform their duty under all its difficulties. Their anxiety was to lay before the Jury in evidence those grounds upon which they were to form their judgement, and when it was formed the Defendants would be most perfectly satisfied. He had no instructions, and it would have been extraordinary if he had had any, considering the quarter whence they came, reflecting on the 4* CONDUCT OR CHARACTER of Mr. jefkrys. He was not in^ ttructed to state to the Jury that he forfeited his pretensions to the character of a fair and honorable tradesnlan. The question for the - Juiy to try was this ;-«- Under the existing circumstances, was the demand, which Mr. Jeiferys had made against the estate of His Royal Highness, such a demand as could po^sibly be sustained in a Court of Justice r" He said, he, for one, had no difficulty in stating, Bot only that iie thought the Commissioners justified in taking the opinion of the Jury on that question, but that they would have been totally undeserving of that confi- deace, which the^ Legislature had thought they might safely repose in them, if they had not put it into the state of inquiry which that day had produced. His Learned Friend began his address by observing, that it was fit in the outset to remove any prejudice that might have crept into this business, and he said this question was by no means in contemplation at the time the Act of Parliament took place. Mr. Garrow said he did not agree with him in that, because the Act of Parliament intended to make a suitable provision for the Illustrious Personages who were the objects of it; and, to remove these embarrassments, which the generosity of His Royal Highness had subjected him to, he had been graciously pleased to desire, that a certain fund migl.t be appropriated in the hands of those Trustees for the payment of any debts that might be brought forward, and such as His Royal Highness ought to be fairly and honestly called on to pay. Under these circumstances, what wa* the duty of these Commissioners } 49 To receive the claim of Mr. Jefferys and of all others, to examine its extent, to judge of its propriety, and if they approved of it to put it in a course of payment. On the contrary, if they had such grounds as to induce them to think it exorbitant, then to tender to Mr. Jefferys what they thought an ample compensation, and if he was not satis- fied with that, to do what they had done that day. The four persons, who had been examined before them, were cognizant in this branch of trade. Of them, as of Mr. Jefferys he should say nothing disretpecfful ; butit was a matter fit to be observed, without the least stain on the credit of Mr. Jefferys,that all of those persons were employed in the market for procuring those sort of articles. He did not suppose the verdict of the Jury would pass, on the supposition that they came there to misrepresent facts. He should state what the conduct of the Commissioner* had been, and what they would do after the Jury had giveo their verdict. \ His Learned Friend had observed, that the persons, who had been examined by the Commissioners, had themselves stated, that, according to a cursory examination, they had formed their estimate. He said there never was an estimate taken under circumstances more auspicious, because it was not originally taken with a view to pare down Mr. Jefferys's demand ; but it was made for the satisfaction ^t the Commissioners, that they might know how to go to Parliament. These Gentlemen would inform the Jury of the precise value of all tlie jewels, and of the profit they 60 had allowed to the Plaintiff. They had examined them all, stone by stone. When they had examined the size and weight of a stone, they had not got to- the end of their journey. It was also necessary to examine its brilliancy, to detect its flaws, and tind out its specks. His Learned Friend had told the Jury (and he dared to say it was true) that these jewels had given the most ample and perfect satisfaction to all to whom satisfaction ought to be given on the subject. It was not a pleasant thing for him to state, that every part of these jewels was not as perfect as every body would wish they had been. They were not then in a Court of Compliments, but in a Court of Law, where justice and truth were to be their guides. He was bound to state to them, because he should prove it, that on comparing some of these jewels furnished by Mr. Jefferys with some others, they Wv.re in many instances vastly su- perior to those of Mr. Jefferys, and in one instance he had va- lued a stone at 800/. which another Gentleman would have been willing to furnish for 600/. and have given twelve months credit, and should have thought he had made a tolerable bargain. The Commissioners had dealt , with Mr. Jefferys as they had done with every other tradesman. They had submitted Ms bill to persons of skill and experience in his trade, and they had selected the most eminent and most skilful. But they had taken another course to satisfy their own consciences, and the Jury niight "be surprised, and very much satisfied, to see the two modes they had pursued, and which came to be pretty much the same in the result. He wished the Jury to give Mr. Jefferys a fair and honorable profit for the commodity ti« had furnished. ;5l Mt. Levi, one of the witnesses called on the part of the Plaintiff, said, that if he had gone to market and pur- chased these jewels, and immediately delivered them over to the person for whom they were purchased, as was the case with the Prince of Wales's orders. Ten per Cent, was a profit which would have satisfied him. Mr. Garrow said, whatever dropped from Mr. Erskirie fell with great weight. He believed, with him, that what had been laid out on that most superb assortment of jewels was one of the last expenses high-spirited Englishmen would Vish to save. He did not desire the Jury to abate one shilling of whatever was necessary for the comfort, the splendor, and dignity, of the Illustrious Personages for whom these articles were furnished. All that he wa^ anxious about was, that this demand might not be made subservient to the private interests of a private individual. His witnesses had allowed to Mr. Jefferys a profit of 16 per Cent. ; and, after iill, there would be a deduction of 10,000'. from Mr. Jefferys's demand of 54,685/. He asked whether, if the Commissioners had complied with that demand, they would not have been guilty of a total dereliction of their duty ? whether they would not have been unWorthy of any confidence ? and whether they ought not to have been stigmatized by all honest men ? They would certainly have merited every opprobrious epithet if they had submitted to the payment of that demand, when persons most emi- nent for their skill, honor, and integrity, told them 10,000/. otight to be deducted, and that after all they would leare a profit o£ l6 per Cent, to Mr. Jefferys on his commodity* 6f ^ The Jury would leave out of the question all circumstances of risk, payment, and of the probability of a delay in pay- ment, because they did not belong to it. In whatever situation Mr. Jefferys might have been with other contracts, 25,000/. was at his call from the hour these jewels were purchased, had his charge been of a size to have autho- rized the Commissioners to have paid it ; and he would also have had debentures carrying interest for the re- mainder of his demand. It was one of the imperfections of the Act of P;arhament, (and it had more than one,) that it did not authorize the Commissioners to make a ten- der ; but the moment this cause was decided, Mr. Jefferys might go to the Exchequer and receive 25,000/. in hard cash. The witnesses for the Plaintiffs were shy respecting the pro- fits of this trade ; but Mr. Jefferys himself, when examined upon oath before the Commissioners, had declared, the usual profits of his trade were 12 per Cent. Was that the profit he had charged on this order ? He had charged 30 per Cent.* Mr. Garrow h«re stated some figures, but did not wish the Jury to decide the cause upon them ; he only meant to use them by way of argument, to shew the difference between the profit that had been asked in this case and the ordinary profits of the trade. The sum charged to His Royal Highness by Mr. Jefferys for this as- sortment of jewels, was 54,685/. ; from that sum he proposed to subtract 30 per Cent, and afterwards he could add what was fit to be added. Thirty per Cent, amounted to 16,405/. 105. If that sum was deducted from Mr. Jefferys*» ♦ The gi.'ss profi's, indepencleat of any tleducliuns for interest of money „ insurance pa ibe Prince's life, and other contingeut expenses. 63 tteniand, it would leave the sum of 33,279/. IO5. as the prime cost of these jewels. If Mr. Jefferys, therefore, only received that sum, he would have no profit ; but the Jury would give him a profit. Suppose he received the common profits of the trade, 12 per Ceul. t-\.^. ^ onld amount to 6,562/. and which, being added to the prin e cost, would amount to 44,641/. 14.s. which sum, when dedacted from tlie Plaintiff's demand, left 9,843/. 6y. These figures stand thus : £ s. Mtr. Jefferys's demand ...... 54,685 Thirty per cent, deducted ... * 16,405 lO Leaves the prime cost . I i . . . 38,279 10 Twelve per cent, added 6,562 4 Makes the sum of 44,841 14 DifFerenbe between Mr. Jefferys's demand and ai profit of twelve per cent. £9,843 6s. He had only used these figures bi/ way of argiment, and did not consider them as the most proper basis upon which the jury oug^ht to form their judgement, though they went a great way to shew, that the deductiens, which had been made by those gentlemen whohitd been called in by he Commissioners, was right. Mr. Garrow concluded with the character and situation ©f the witnesses he should call, arid the nature of the evi- dence they would give. As he had before observed, he said, the Commissioners had only wished to satisfy the jury ch, from other circumstances, and a different situation, he might be obliged to undergo. It was patural to suppose, if Mr. Jefferys was able to carry on his business, he could have no objection to enter into a con- tract with the public. He said he cgilled the Prince of Wales the Public^ because he represented the public. Though no man was bound to divulge all the secrets of his trade, when Mr.yJefferjs came to ask for his money, he had been compelled to do what no tradesman hud ever been compelled to do between subject and subject. li'ie Learned Counsel desired it might be remembered, that he was not contending there ought to be any difference whe- ther this order came from a Duke, an Earl, from the Commissioners themselves, or from therm as representing the Prince of Wales. But let it not be said that the Jury were to Veigh and decide what this gentleman had a right to expect, abstracted from the conditions in which he stoudy the circumstances attending the contract, the .various difficulties that attended the execution of it^ and SB the species of command that fell on him to execute. If ft tradesman in a great way of business had shrunk from the execution of such an order, it would not Have made very much fof his ^advantage in the ordinary course of his business. The next observation he had to make, and which he knew must make an impression on the minds of the Jury, was this, they were nut here in a case where a man had sold diamonds to ' the amount of 5,000/. which might have been purchased at any shop in the Strand or Fleet-street : such a cause could not last half an hour. It would only have been necessary to call two or three witnesses, who were skilled in the trade to aak what such a set of diamonds were reasonably worth, and the answer would have decided the cause : but, in the present case, it had been admitted by the witnesses on both sides, that Mr. Jefferys had furnished suck an assart- ment of Jewels as no tradesman ever did-, that he had such a contrast as no other wan ever had to execute; that he had difficulties which no other jeweller ever had ; and that he was subject to a competition to which no other man could be suljcct ; and yet, with all this novelty, and though he stood in an unparalleled situation, this cause, it see oris, was to be decided as if the order had been ejcecuted in the ordinary course of his bus^iness. It had been said, that was not a Court of Compliments; — God forbid it should! It was a Court of Justice and of Truth, where every fair claimant had a right to expect his just demand would be enforced. The Learned Counsel next made Some observations on the testimonies of the witnesses pro- duced by the Defendants. In making their estimate of the jewels in question, they had compared some of them 69 ivith some of their own that were similar, and by that means had judged of their value. He conceived, by such a mode of proceeding, their judgement was abundantly apt to be deceived. It was among the infirmities of human nature to consider what was our own as better than that which belonged to any other. God Almighty had so made man, and we could not change him. These Gentlemen, on looking at these jewels, found certain specks in them ; and he had no doubt, but if they had been ordered to examine the most glorious of all the bodies in the solar system, — the sun himself, — they would also have found fault with him for having specks. His next observation was, that Mr. JefTerys was never called in to disprove what were alleged to be the imperfec- tions in his Jewels. He submitted whether it would not have been candid to have given Mr. Jefferys notice, that they were about to examine the defects of these Jewels, that he also might have sent men of skill to attend the ex- amination. In that case, judgement would have been op- posed to judgement, and skill to skill, and justice would have held the balance between them. He said, he wished to «peak of the Defendants' witnesses with respect, and he hoped it would be understood, that he was retained in that cause ta depreciate no man. But who were these witnesses ? They were arbitrators picked out by the Defendants ; they ivere called inexparte, — ^not approved of by Mr. Jefferys, not called in by him. 66 The Learned Counsel submitted to the Jury that there^ was a gross contradiction between the certificates, signed by the witnesses for the Defendants, and the evidence they had that day given. They said, in their certificates' ** We have inspected the Jewels furnished for Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and now in Her Royal IJighness's possession, and, as far as we are able to judge in the short time we have had to form our opinion, we think their value 43,700/." The first remark he should make on that certificate was this : It happened rather singularly that on the first blush of the thing, without weighing, without particular exami- nation, without setting their eminent skill to work, they should come to a specific value ; and that afteinvards, when they did set their wits to work, and examined all these Jewels, their estimate should be exactly the same. — If a man's judgement was not fastened down by any preju-. dices, and if he did not consider himself as a party, what were the chances against his coming to the same value of these Jewels, when he looked at them superficially a:tid af- ter examining them with the greatest care and accuracy ? — Yet the second time these gentlemen rhade the estimate, they made it amount to the same as thcii did at Jirst. The witnesses for the Defendants had said, that some allowance should be made for collecting so speedily so valuable a set of Jewels, which must have occasioned very extraordinary demands on the person procuring them. This, they said, we are unable to estimate, as well as the risk that niay have •ttended the order. These gentlemen now said, in theii' 61 examination before his Lordship and the gentlemen of the Jury, that they meant that allowance as a mere douceur, as an act of liberality, to prevent litigation. But the Jury would recollect his Learned Friend nad told them, that es- timate was originally taken not with a view to pare down Mr. JeiFerys's demand, but in order to ascertain the value of those Jewels to the Commissioners, that they might know how to go to Parliament. After many other ingenious remarks on the testimony of the Defendants' witnesses, Mr. Erskine concluded his reply iFfith the following observations :— I still retain for the Prince of Wales the same affection I ever had in the earlier part of my life. As to those in-e- gularities which have led him into debt, I have no doubt but he will one day most amply repay the People of Eng-» land by the protection of their just rights and liberties. It was for the defence of the British Constitutiop that the House of Hanover was first called to the Throne of these King- doms ; and, therefore, the people of this country have a re- ligious right to expect, that the Princes of that House will ever continue the faithful guardians of their rights and pri" vileges. The Lord-Chief-Jastice, in his excellent sum- ming up to the Jury, observed, the single question they were to ascertain by their verdict was, — what these wares and merchandizes were reasonably y 62 worth? Whatever became of this cause, he thought the Commissioners, who were men of the highest honor, and had a public duty cast upon tiiem, were entitled to the thanks of every individual. His Lordship next directed the attention of the Jury to the most material parts of this cause ; after which they withdrew for a short time, and then brought in a Verdict for the Plaintiff for Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven Pounds Ten Shillings. Mr. JefFerys's other claims on the Prince, of 24,700/. for Bond-debts, and 9,331 L 9s. for Jewels sold to His Royal Highness, as presents to the Queen and Royal Family, were admitted by the Commissioners, and Verdicts taken accoidingly. The amount of the Verdicts together were 85,028/. 19s. 6d. ; 25,000/. of which was paid in cash, and the residue was, after being subject to a deduction of 10 per cent, paid by deben- tures, due at such distant periods as to be sub- ject to a discount on an average of 20 per cent, making together a deduction of nearly 30 per cent, THE END. ^^tttedbtf JtM.tiatii 23, Wamiik-S(iuarCf Ne-wgand has settled a plan and fixed an order to those expenses, whi :h ft was trusted would effectually secure the execution of his intention!"— Xing*! Message, dUivcrcdio the House of Commont in 1787. JLonacn: Printed for and sold by Mr, Jepfehys, No. 44-, Pall-Mall; And to be had of all Booksellers in the United Kino-doms, - - - ■ •" 'Tf^ Hari, Printer, No, 23, Warwick- Square, War-jokk-Lane, Price Four Shillings. .:->;:^\' 4iSi\n to Mrs. FITZHERBERT. Madam, THE important sacrifice offered by the Prince of Wales, at the shrine of h/s fnendship for you, cannot but create in your grateful mind a strong feeling of interest in Avhatever concerns His Royal Highness. I therefore dedicate to you the fol-^ lowing Pages; and, with all the rcs|X^ct due to your distinguished character, as an ex- ample of morality and decorum, I have the lionor to be. Your obedient vservant, N. JEFFERYS. ^gSSSSSttSSBStKB^!^s!S£ Kf W "P TT -^'^ Jf •Q --Dijb-noO S!i: ? aiH I ^^^Ti^.- ^Ofl iiiW iaWW tiO: Ji:3UUaL 3 ■m * LETTER, Sir, 1 HE sad truths which I was compelled, by the most urgent necessity, to relate, in a Pamphlet, in titled, *' A Review of the Conduct of your Royal Highness,^* of the want of generosity, liberality, and justice, which so pre-eminently marked your Royal Highnesses conduct to me, have drawn upon my character at- tacks in anonymous publications, so desti- tute of truth, and so injurious to my reputa- tion, that your Royal Highness, I presume, cannot, and I am confident the world will no^ be surprized at my anxiety to vindicate my cha- racter, the only remaining hope of my suppor^^j after the ruin to my fortune, occasioned by mj^£^ fatal confidence m your Royal Highnessje-ii nioy I^should have hoped. Sir, that your Royal^ , Highness would have considered the destruc-^r tion of fny property and the consequent dis- . tress of my family a sufficient sacrifice, witho|;it^. suffering me to be pursued with such a perse- vering rancour, ^s I have experienced, by writers assuming the, sa^nctjon of your name, ia^ publications issuincr from the press of YOur»v Royal Hi diness's printer, , *, ,. « Notwithstanding what 1 have suffered, Sir^ |t ^ tyas my wish to have dropped for ever the painful ^4( subjecl; , , of tKc ^ unparalleled inj ustice of mv . ,, case; but I daily feel such injurious effects from the shameful falsehoods which have been circulated, as to render the step I now t^ke, ^ ^^. measure of indispeasible n^cessit|j.^^^^j^|^^^.^ Viewing it in this light. Sir, I snalj hot only^ ^ refute tht falsehood of the attacks raad.c upon zyy clki-acter, but at the saimc " time endeavor to prove, by an Wamlitafibfi' bf 'fflS ^ and conduct of your Royal Highness^ from your first entrance into public life to the pre^^ sent moment, how much the reflections levelled at me, by the pretended friends of your ftoyal Highness, are calculated to promote discus- sions, which cannot be otherwise than unplea- sant to your feelings. ine iff/ 1 shall, without doubt, Sir,' for such 'a l\ of conduct, be accused of attacking your Royal Highness in Indecent language ; but is tfie in- decency of my language. Sir, equal to the indecency with which I have been treated? Are such sufferings as I have experienced to ba borne without complaint ? Or can birth or titleg sanction a 'want of feeling to inferiors? ;:i-// id': vh'; tTJcrp- occa- With respect to the motives which urge me t0^ this publication, they are justified by the sion which excites themrand, reverencing'the laws of my country, with the constitution for my guiAe,tHave nothing to fear ; though the| abject and the corrupt, who are alike ready tp flatter and betray, will affect to c©ndenin tlie freedom of my language. If all that has been so maliciously and falsely said of me by the pretended friends of your R®yal Highness, could be proved to be true, it would not, in the opinion of the thinking part of the community, be considered as any justification of the oppression under which I have suffered, in return for the unlimited confi- dence I have so unhappily placed in your Royal Highnesses repeated assurances of support and protection. ^ Ofi'f iiew wretched M^ U ikiL^pffO^mmCAJisi^ :JjiyttJiftOg^0n Princes favors ! ^l^ii/b;'^^^^^t^Mj;r ^^Oi^t^r^ r'- ' Shakespeare^ "^Tf answers to" WMtT have stated in my Re- view of the Conduct' of 5'^our Royal Highniess were to flow from the press till every type was exhausted, they could not "refiite the assertion ;* which 1 have made, as I have tnost scrupu- lousty adhered to -facts, which can neither be ^allisfted nor denied ; a'tid,- if your Royal High- nesses knahymoiw''X).E^ HEAVEN ;'' aod my own exppj^t^ ^npe of trl>e kind ^nd benevolent disposition of 1 p^r^pn of this ^rsuasipn,* has proved to me, th,at A^pad Jew is jnore tp. be esteemed than a rab JPiiRpT,X^^;)—;liis pamphlet is composed of th^ fi^^t^i^vjals ^ui:r\i§Ued in the zii/idication, to whiclj }iiih S3flk ^(?i>d .9xi-r-,: bainiuri hh ># ^. l^tj^lnjc J. need n<5t9ay,a«y |lj|ng;nQre to jE- ford your %yal^ighnes^s a correct id^^ gf jfb^^^,y^lp9^ 9^ 1:1^*8 ^sr^elitish defpqd^r^ jfj^q, .thai) tQ ni?;)Jtionj^ .a^ a proof of his dis^g- terefi^4njjss ii> the service of your Koyal High* ^^S ^^^^h Pfeviously to the publicatiqn of hiaf muvi^ile^i 1^5 ^flt|fp!"'^e^y consulted several of J>js f^:jends, as to the side most adviseable jto *|^e^ upon th^ score. of eventual profitjr-^whe? t|h.|;r.^Qt write iii support of, or in opposition to me, l - ,, Wb^t the opinion of his friends mjo^ht be, I know not ; but the prudent Jew adopted <' r:i>vt Mr. L-~|^j^rj~^ ^^^hai^in the City, s Ibatrme of conduct, wliicb,T nave lib doubt, las been attended with its rewarcf. « , B fftr „,Tii(r iUAw 3U88I p-K>|_©J '^JiHulToqqa fl'sefn . Tlienext in iiudCession, Si^, is^KhigBt*«r- rant, who, Vith ttietrae spifft of bfin^alry, jus- tifies the whole of your Royal HighnesS'¥¥oh. auct, and paTticuIarly the cgnkection with ■ Mrs. FiTzriERBEaT r-of^wKa^"W%P«^s in ' £ '^erms of ^MXABt^f 6^AESh^^*Efeter- IKG, &c. with a warmth becoming HSi^s^lTan. try of liis order— a simple knight .—Thin preju- " dice of the Knightr-ik^^o^^^Sf tenf^^bility "'^f Prini^ris. *I P^r^: ^m<^ofet«3%r, "' i^irciVLms^ln^^' oV''^n^e#^1.fe^ to yie literary turn oF this g'^HtTdWltfrt ifor the ""' t^i^^r^f i;;£J^^' Jo^ivityr^^est JcJl^e^: >*hich • -'"iight la^e S lost bu W^Mt)lfentifUl quota, '"'' ^s ofrthemjn'p .vKi^us t^tirS^hith he . h^s published. Of his chtm t6 tQ$phtt, as an ^^ author, both ibr Twiz^Vc/^fl^n^ve/^^^ijfif; ^'i-eferenc^ ^^' to his works wiir'affbrdtlie besf pirbo!:^^ ♦ Round - Court, ia the Strand, where the Knight^* 3»n JEt^iher kept a Uttle muavc-^jhQp. r,oi1?.3un ^i\ ' aii ...Anotlier advocate in the cau^e of your Royal Highness, and the last 1 shall notice, has gken meanopportunity to join issue with him, Cfn a question of considerable importance^ to joyr Royal Hi^hn_es3, and of much greater i^ the nation, jg^Q^ HTI7 ,_.^ lit ejy^,, acknowledges, th?t what en) er ^degrades T^hA-. station of Frinces Yenis Jo'Wnimnm y.nKi»!Vt#§df iS^^^^^^^^l^r ^,?S^e r and,; tlms ^.,, iigr.eed^^^p^jic^t the oi him to sa^, who .Jit ;hl\i^t.md€r^inf{S.^^^^ Princes, who l;,3t;fcFfeit 4ieir.f;laim^^ estf em^l^ a gross^nd riff t Wpar^^on^^l^ violation^ of ' thefr ^ engagements ^^j^ith.the people ; -Of ;:he^an^^^^ wish to ^.:,s^ei,|Lh^m awakened tp a^sense of their dut}^ ,,f aj)dr.»act: like honest men, who, aware of the j^P^ ^^aqi^f Jto^€ apprehended from^ their criminal ety as, \ys^ibk,, Sik^ in a, pretended defenpe of yojtir I^oyal Higli- ness's fioxoR, to cas^lt reflections of ^coin ai?|i dcrisiqu upon me, oji sucb ,ai^ s^ccownt, withom at the same T time leasing the severest reflec- tion to arisev i« ^^:ery |jpi>^st Bji^jn^, «|>5>n the conductof y<>Mi JioyaJ Ifjgbn^si? an UtnUmit^tJ^ confidenqcj la wkomx hm{}}g ^^z^^ to ejw^r^ . in your sexvicc si^ch a yast^^fint jp|; |^^ perty, was die ground of ^ misfortune I .Ijpvte; s<{Kpv»cii ca^u^e to;Jaij).ea|i^ aip^vW^H^ y^^T aifci^ocates, in the abusive iapguage they ^^d.Qj>t upon tl^ occasion, seem to coni»ider as a mattietf., ^1 sioa torn tlibse, ^ Whiy^^call themstrlvci" your Royal Hlghness^s friehdV?^ ^^^^^^'^ ^^"'^^^ ^^^^ ^- Y6iii^hi^¥, Sir/ i^lff^; 'plSt^s-^otfat>64felh^ f^iblIiiy^^'^u^h%^fVifsf6rtftne^^^ your feeU ^»ip>^io¥rt^-^"f li^tfi^ Vc^ abbVe^ tlie infdelicatry of ^otfni^fei^icmg ■ fefl'cc^^^ ttjKyn'-^i ' calamity, from which, witliout any incrit oT ybtir own; you are exempt. — Rejections upon such a sub- ject, iVntlW-^IiM ^c%'a'fd*^^rHl irtSuenee 6f your Royals M^ghiii^^ft^s^' ifem^, CA«not fceotbc^wise ihan di8^l!§t?ii^ ^-evfery^ '^eiliwg m?rt«H^— more partibiilAriy tb ^i6 ^ok^inht^^l {>nn Of the com*^ iTiiwityf^Hs it tii^^iToVufc^i ^hicti ihimy meW in the City of Lio^^ii^''fnHUr of importance a^ to health * aiid^ ehaViugfferV liav^,* ' In the vicissi- tudes^ of th6 ■ woi^dv ' ife Witte fornier period c€ their livesv ekp^rieiicec!,' kiid to wfeicheyc*rymait irt trade, liovrerervveealtii^y ai obc uiue^ may be '^Thonf h yWli* Hifi^jfr-ilrirhnes^ crtrtrtot be a' bankfiiilt, yoii%14^kt^crienccd a ^"tiiat^bn ib^ neady r(;seml^lMg tt^' k^ f^.itr feffcctiou^- u^l*' bankfuptcyv jft a rl^ht vie*'" «ill thie^ -kulbj^i^i- IS gratifying to your feelings or flaiterlng to your character. Upon the last application to Parliament to pay th6 debts of your Royal Highness,' amounting to more than Six Hundred Thou- sand Pounds, a commission was ifistituted by the authority of Parhament not very dissimilar to a commission of bankruptcy, and commis- sioners appointed with powers not materially dif* fering from the iSssignees of a bankrupt. — These commissioners were, by the authority of Parlia- ment, to take the entire management of your Royal Highnesses property and income; over whicb, (from a recollection ©f your depart«re from your former engagement,) by a solemn act of the Legislature, with the Royal assent of Hi3 Majesty, you were noJjQpgerp^rottittfidXo. have a control! if, >,m! - m ■j:% \\'<\'* The payment made by these Commissioners to your Royal Highnesses creditors of a sum less thap the amount of their demands, can be considered in no other light than as a dividend ; anxi the discharge obtained Jby your Royal Highness, upon lliis occasion, from your ere- 4ilpi« of alL farther claims upon the properjtji/g^ your Royal Highness, bears a very strong re-. semblance to the certificate of a bankrupt, with €^Jy this difference, that the latter niust be|6b- tajiicd by ,the consent of the creditors, and tlj^q certificate oi; discharge o^ yonx Royal Highnes*. (if the word ii$ more palatable) was procured :hy: compulsiojij tlie Commissioners refusing to .pay : the sunis tendered, to the Creditors, but on con*' c]iUfti\9rt^..tbWiP«iWiiS>^Mf i)|tif« lJi«9hajjg;« I.- ...>. I think, Sir, I, ha ve^ by, this compwson of your Royal Hiffhness's situation and mv own. succeeded in establlshins: the fact that ti * NO.T!.COJ^FlNEI>^T(i,.,, ,, ^ jo« nmalod 15 I'A {^^^^P^^Xi^ . i.l ino'^xn9i> M heg 'noW 4cf ' ask^^«iaiwRoyalf Ht^jrfesSy' ' i*^ your dignity advanced,' or your feelings con^' ^ suited, by the unmanly and abusive reflections sq profusely cast upon me by your officious de- fenikrs, who have provoked comparisons and discussions, which .would not otherwise haye:: b^ep brought forward ?^^-^Tlie illitimed zeal of., your Royal .Highnesses friends justiiies tlie ob-.r seM'ation of a Roman Catholic Priest, m answer to .the iinyectives of the -iat^ Bishop Horseigy^ against the doctrine of purgatory ^-^^^ that hh Lordship might go fart hm: and fare wars^/' To pursue the subject, Sir, it fs- strongly^ urged against me tliat I did not pay, Twenty- Shillings' in the Pound. Did your Royal: High- ness pay Twenty Shillings in the Pound ?^^ — No,, Sir ; if that had been the case, I sliould not have experienced the misfortune for which I anv so insulted by the persons employed to write in- your defence, as they call it| ^^|,j|Sfi*a|lte^ done what your Royal Highness has 7iot dom.. I have endeavored by every effort pi* cUIigencc and economy, to procm-e the means of making up the deficiencies, and have omitted iio opportunity, which my limited means have of-^ forded to make up the full payment of Twenty Shillings in the Pound to many of ray Credi- tors:-^this fact need not rest upon my assertion only, many of my Creditors are ready to con- firm the truth of my assertiouj and, indignant at the treatment I have received, have repeat- edly offered their interference. 'Wliat, Sir, has been the conduct of your Royal Highness since the period of your com- 1* mission P When the Act passed, you expressed the greatest indignation, that you were depmed of the means of paying your Creditors the fuU amount of their demands; and, with a genero- isity of expression declared your firm determi- mination^ that, to effect so desirable an object, you would lay aside the dignity and state your Royal Highnesses rank entitled you to, and ^'Appropriate the savings from such a plan for the benefit of your Creditors. A part of your engagement your Royal Highness has performed with the most sacred regard to your magnani- mous dedaration^^-^Xwit^f ^^y^^g asidt the <^ignity 'and state reqmsiU ' i^. iftmr exalted station/ A veo-y small pOftionr 6f tho. vast sium^ so improvidently ! ivished by yotir Royal Highness on unnecessary buildings and ex^ penses at Brigliton and at Carl ton- House, would haire been more than sufficient for the full dis- charge of every former deficiency to your suP- fering Creditors, would have been a source of happiness to many families enduring the most severe distress on youraccount, and have held up the character of your Royal Highness to that degree of estimation, so desirable for the in* terest of the nation, and your own fame. ■ To abuse and vilify mycharacter,Sir,Is themiitl object of your defenders. By one writer . 1 am charged with pride, in aspiring to the company ^etf; my superiors, to the neglect ofhrny-vown connections and friends, in the giddy pursuit of ^^mbition; by another, I am described as too . humble and low minded, in the choice of com- panions and associates. Upon the latter charge, of an improper chpipe of associates, these defenders of your Royal Highness had better not say too much, as their reflections in the opinioa of the public nxay apply more closely to a quarter for. which they were not intended than to me. In short j tfiere js scarcely an item m the whole catalos^iie of vices and follies, to which human nature is subject, of which, in the opinion of rny oppo- nents, I am not sfuilty : the whole of which is to be accounted for in very few words, — that Jlent your Royal Highness money at your earu' est request^ and dared to a^sk you for it ; and that your Royal Highness^ having made promises •which were not performed^ I presumed to remind you of them. on. ■^' ^ " This isi. UiP beA4 an4 if^i^i of my offending,"— 5^ aAe5;7Cflrf. ron As an additional mode ot defending ^"tx^ rt is called, the character ^of your Royal High- ness \ ath branded \irlth every vTl^' epithet which the most- imnloraP' lift could mettt, founded on'U rdation^ df anecdote's' yria"' tales Which never existed, and of whidh I^dbfy the proof; but, supposing them for an insta'ht to be ^ true, can such very gross reflections on the presumed immorality of my life be .read .fs ^ defence to yowv Royal Highness, wi th 6 ik Ex- citing in the' minds of those whp read them, a disposition "to inquire, how^ 'far your Royal Highness has'exhibited iil your private life, in the several relation^ of a husband^ a parent; and a son, a pattern of morality and virtue worthy of imitation. '^ k)1t bar The very trade, Sir, in which I am engaged J^ by a false representation, made a ground of cen- sure. I am charged with extravagance and vanity in having possessed and resided at East-' Cliff-Lodge, near Ramsgatc, the Jate residence of the Princess of Wales, where, it is sai.(J,^jtl}^ costly decorations of the late Mr. Bond Hop- kins, a gentleman of large fortune, were iiot in a style of splendor to suit what is (^lled my M$ JZ5 hnf: -T^'^r-. $1% vanity ;— that I pulled all to pieces, and'fc* fitted up every part with the greatest profiisionf ^C.??^P^"se.— This charge is as absurd as it i? false ; for, the plain fact is this ; Mr, Bond Hops* kins died before the house was finished, and'1'^ purchased it in that state of the executors; '^^P accordingly ^nished what Mr. Hopkins had left undone, not with a view to gratify any silly vanity, but as an article of trade, to resell iff' and I of course took the opportunity, while^f^' possessed it, of residijig tliore. Was there eveif' anything so absurd as inventing such falsehood^,- and forcing tliem upon the public, ufider the pre- tence of defending the character of your Royal Highness?— A charge of extravagance might} with ecjual justice, be brought against ~Mfi Godsal, the first coachmaker in London, for ■having ejegant and expensive carriages in his possession; or against M. Ruhdel, the jeweller^ for having the most splendid collection of jewels of any man in Europein his house ;^s &gainsl: .roe, for having occasionally elegant arid atM^ lave houses; it being the superiority of mefft, wi eVery article of trade, whether in a carri^a:^, a diamond ornamcrit,' ot a house, that leads to anexpeditiousisalcof 1f. -^viixliii^) Another ridiculous charge of vanity and ex- travagance is^.fhat^ I had the presumption to iuvite to ray table^ the guests of your Royal Highness, whom I met at Carhon-House: — ^Your Royal Highness well knows that I neverwasat Carltoa-House but fxH' the purpose of receiving^ your orders, when sent for ^ I of course never met any persons as guests at Carlton-House, and no instance can be produced of my ever having had the. presumption to invite any individual to dine at my table ittho waa^ a guest pf your Royal ^^»^^t d:>a« gmini^^ni 8b bT^acffi pa ^nidt^mi Th« general habits of my Iifti-Sir. Ire tetany and: maliciously mhsreprcsented by tHe defend-^- €r^ of Your Royal" Hjghnqss. I am- represented ^ living in extravagant luxury, while those, who know my real habits of life and of my family, know, that a qi^iet and regular system of domestic economy is that by which we are guided. — I am represented, in one of these- Pamphlets, as sallying into the street with a bottle of Burgundy under one arm and of Champagne under the other. I can safel}'- ap- peal to those who know me, that intemperance tormsLno part of tny cliaracter.L and t}ie msinu* 9^ ation that Burgundy and Champagne are the wines I drink, is a mean and pitiful endeavor to render me contemptible in the eyes of the world ; — I never had any Champagne or Bur- gundy in my house. Whatever may be my habits of life, I have not the vanity to suppose that the world can feel any interest in them; and, therefore, the only apology I can make for obtruding so much of the subject on the liQtice of Your Royal Highness is, that, w^hicl^ I hope will be received as my excuse. Every individual, let him imagine what he will to the contrary, even Your Royal High-^ ne'ss, has an interest in the good opinion of the public; more particularly those, who, like my- self, are dependent upon the pubhcfor support; the losses I have experienced rendqr the public opinion to me a matter of great moment; my adversaries know it, and have artfully endea- vored, by the grossest falsehoods and^ misrepre- sentations, to deprive jine of the beuefit of it. I therefore, in my own defence, have beeu (Obliged to this Ipng detail of contradictions. • — I must now. Sir, notice charges, against me of >a nature so, shameful on the. part of my *^S?: 25 5crs, from ttieir entire falsehood, as to provokcy (I have no doubt,) in the minds of all who read them, a feehng of extreme disgust and of sin-: cere sorrow, that such means should be re- sorted to as a defence of the conduct of Yoxi^r. Royal Highness, the Heir- Apparent to the British Throne, I am charged with having received of the Duke of N and the Earl of M , each of them, Twenty Pounds, under the pre- tence of making a collection to assist a dis- tressed gentleman in the Fleet-Prison ; and that, with the exception of Five Pounds, I kept the remainder (Thirty-Five Pounds) for my own use ; thereby defrauding these Noblemen of their money under a false pretence, and de- priving the distressed person, for whom this assistance was said to be obtained, of the benefit of their benevolence. — Such a con- duct, if true, would justly expose me to the well - merited contempt of society, and the effects of a criminal prosecution ; — but the whole is a most infamous falsehood, as I never at any time applied to any Duke of N — or Earl of M on such an oc- ^6 casiori, or received from them, ot any bod} else^ tlicf^ums in questioh^^'^'Sb''^i^^f^ h^Mg W ddpted so infamous a line dfcohduct, lam com- pelled to mention a cirbumstaricfe out of which this' disgraceful story ha^/ F^uppdse, arisen^ tiiatthe pubHc niay i^e iii^ whit t^egr^e I am deserving of censure, brotherwT^ei^-i^j^bbv^ six years since, I was applied "torn behalf of a dis* tressed Baronet, in the Fleet, Sir Wm. M e. 1 knew little of'hW fcut by thfe rtcon^meiida. tion of a third person . &esifous of relieving distress so urgent as his was re^re^erifted>to be, 1 mentioned my iii^ehtion to the person apply- }ng to me, of soliciting* at subsdHjMion of the Baronets whom I iknew^ of one of their own order; an d\ priming upon suc<:;€ss, I senj him I'iye Pounds, ahd after that Two or Three Pounds more. ""'''' ''''' Sniq-t)^ ^.thauoH I never applied but to' tw6 pefsbiis,' from one of whonii I received Two Guinea^/^-iEUklt'no- thing from the other; but, so many felose ques- tions and remarks were put W itie^ the instant i mentioned the parii'6 of^ the pJersori for ^vhoin this subscription was wanted, that I fcfm- quishcd aU attempts to get more, and contented se^. !57 myself \v;kl;^, nay good intentions towards him ;^ txy- yyl\\(ikf\ ^fl^.tUe advance of Seven or Bgb|:^ Pounds, and prayisions at different times senp^ ta.Wfp, tl^e rew^fdl experienced from this jnr gr^jef^l mAt>^,.^as, the infamous accusation al- Ji^ejl t(3(ro4f what I state is not true, why n^t ki»>g%V^vard,et^is pretended Duke of N - .r>f)A4H>^8«;^^^^?ig^> ^^ ^^^ equally-infamous na- ^ n>^^ r ai^d feqv^aliy. fahe, ifp^ijiat,^ when in busi- jKiss^.tas -ffcjgoldsmijL^ ^.^j received from sonjc sch9pl-bo)^sPc\e IJ^undt^fjand Twenty Guinea^, the amou,i)t9f.^, subscription they had ma4e foi: t^e pvrg(^Qpf presenting thcir^ master wiUi ,^«^i?e ,pf plate 1^, ^4^ tl^t^I.se^t them so^e paltry ar^icl?. ji^ , tjie A^alue .of about^ Thirty Pounds, keeping the One Hmidr^ an^^^ Guineas to my own use. — I never, at any ^rf^A^e, Sir, jp^tbfi cour^e.of my hfe, received -rWyiy|»,ch.^uni>,er any-such order; and, if what -lijajo^ vW;^ credited, let the schoolmaster . :or any one Qf the boys be brought forward to , .establish the charge J^^J^e^|fj|e^st^^^ is a base .. felsehoodl .,.„^^^ , :^^^^^^ ^,^ S8 A charge of a similar description as to mean and base intention, is, that I did' not lose any thing by my concerns with Your Royal High- ness, but that I dissipated my property upon a I*rench lady residing in Charles-street, Berke- ley-square, to whom, it is said, I presented an eFegant sideboard of plate.-^This is klso a tttost ^base and infamous invention: —1 never knew a lady so described, and never gave to any wo- rhan in my life, either a sideboard of plate, t^r a piece of plate of any value whatever. uid^he public, I am sure, m411 be strutsk witk Korfbi' aid Tme of Cohduetso^in famous, and ^on^ the (Effects of which ndiindividual can be safe, I6t his chari^icter be ever so irreproachable, if atteiti'pts like the^ are countenanced^ to dis- tur'b the peate of a family, long happy in tht of enjoyment mutual afFectionyos* (ia^ie)i • " it is impossible to believe that Your Royal Hrghness can be gratified with a conduct (under the alleged pretence of defending your character) 90 infemoiis, so, base, so cruel^ and so mean. The- last publicaiioii which has appeared con- t lins a cbarge against me, tremendous in sound •only, but which, upon the slightest examina- tiqi>, conveys a very severe rtfltction upon- your lloyal Highness :— ic is> that 1 ;Wiote a letter to Lord Moira^ containing a //fr^^z/ to extort mo- jfiey fronir Your Royal Highness. In the Re- y'iQw^f the Qpnduct of Your Royal Highness ^stated, that^. at your earnest reque^t^ in a mo- ment .f great difficulty, I letft Your Royal Higbjiess at one time One Thousand Five Hun- dred and EigiityrFlve Pounds, apd at another Four Hundred and Twenty Pounds, making .^together about T^o T^iousaa me tQ/Lojrd Mpira of private ,eit)barraS(Snipnr, >ylii^h it might reason ably ^e-^up;j>psed Wj^ J/t>er5ii^D^,oa the^l^ai't-fifi j'ouf Roy^l Highiiie^?,(ji^^y oi*3em;f i;Vj^fii h^'>\\\^ Lordship to a ]:ib'elii\giwrB;t.crii|p ,b«'ipvrfeli$lie«^ to do me all the injury wifiph^ain, e^yppsui'-qtofi embarrassment might be supposed to occasion. If in a moment of distress I had assisted a > a J , -^ -;: ' :' .-r^ i^pJ ^3^7 vino ot 'lyrjeix^ person in private life with 200O/. or any sum o* money whicji he had ixprcsentcd to be neees- ^^ ■./!:> ^:.>i-"- :., ■ ". •.:■?,"> -.u ^aEJ ui,i:v;D^qz9 sary to his relief; and at a future period, cu*- cumstances might have made a loan of a si* si- milar amount hS^efSsaiy tb me ;' -where, wouW I ask ytnt-t Royal Highness, should I have ap- plied for relief, but to the quarter where I had granted it, and that, under a presumption that it could not, and indeed would' noty bt te^ fused P '^^^ ^' I applied, in the letter alluded to, to yoUr Royal Highrless for a return only to the extent of a gemce, A^hich you (the Heir^Apparent to a Throne) had acknowledged with th'anks to have received from liie; and every villanous epithet, that fcah attach tb* the character of a thief, »i» applied to me, as though it were a folly, in the opinion of the pretended friends of your Royal Highness, to confide in you, and a crime to expect from you the performance of a promise. Of all enemies. Sir, there are none so dangerous ,as injudicious friends. I will trouble your Royal Highness with an answer to only one charge more, — which is, that, in case of revolutionary times, I might be expected to take an active part. — ^This charge is almost too contemptible for notice. "Tlie feelfngs, which I cannot but entertaia •for the severe injuries I have received personally from your Royal Highness, ought not to in- volve nie in a charge of disafFection to the Go- vernnient; and I think liis affection to his Prince is the least to be questioned, who has made the greatest saciitices in proof of his altacli- meiit. lam ready, Sh\ to pay every homage that i!i diiS to the Sovereign and his offspring ; their rank in the country gives them claim to homage and regard ; but surely it is not too much to ^ expect, that a conduct correspondent with their station should legitimate and ratify the claim. Before I proceed to the examination of tlje conduct of your Royal Highness, I shall quote, the words of an eminent constitutional writer, , v^ho says, '^ It is a mistaken idea tl^at the con- *' duct of the Heir-Apparent should be ex- <* <5tnpt from the cognizance, censure, or ob- ** gervation, of the people ; the reyerse is the ^' fact; — the character, of the Heir-Apparent ^ ^* partakes of the nature of public and pri- 33 ** vate property; it is an extended common, '* reaching from one extremity of the Empire to *' the other, in the preservation of which, every " individual has a common right and a com- " mon interest, and every deviation from the ** rule of right is a matter of public concern, *' and authorises censure and complaint in pro- *' portion to the injury or mischief that may '* result by a departure from it.^^ Your Royal Highnesses first appearance in public life was marked by an application to Par- liament for money : it was readily granted : your Royal Highness was young, and the nation was liberal. — This was in the year 1784. — In 1787, a second application was made for a far- ther and very considerable advance. The sense of the nation appeared much against this second application on account of your Royal Highnesses irregularities and expensive establish- ment of race-horses, at New-market. The House of Commons was much irritated, and a call of the Housfr upon so important an occasion was moved by Colonel Stanley, the Member for Lancashire. Your Royal Highness yielded to 3# the objections, engaged to reform your esta- bjishments, and to relinquish the lurf ; your praise resounde4% through the Kingdom, and Oaz Hundred AND Eighty-okb Thousand PouND^s were voted by Padiament, whichj witkthe retrenchments promised and ex'pectecU irai^ thought would effectually release your Kayal Highness fr^am debt^ an4 ixQm oil future enibarrassmentm^^^ rfS¥<>^i-^ e^i^vaa arfj jabnii "^his Vote was passed upon the assurance of His Majesty, that he had every reason to hope no doubt could be entertained of youi* Royal Highnesses adherence to your engagements*i(^ J h^'lo bfliidgjud Sift 2fi Q^il uof ibiriy/ ni xioiilis^j '^^^}^i'Wi must have been the public feei* irtg &|)0n the occasion of seeing, that the money you wanted, being obtained, you Very shortly resumed your former habits of expense, in so ihuch greater r Begr^ci^ thit- i tt l^^^ « space only of seven years, your debt3 amounted to nearly Seven Hundred Thousand P0t^Jr^»H It was evident at this time from the temper of ^hcl natibn> that something must be done to Satisfy them ; and, as it was f ^^esirable thing t^lSifenation that yaur ' Royal HigJinef* sJiould mlt iBtii 3IdgiW0( oJ i:>t)qdri. io. &Judnl ii. j:m marry, and get rid of a female connection which tlie world viewed with disgust, the greatest hopes were entertained by the nation of the good effects likely to result from your proposed ^ion with so amiable a personage as the Prin- cess of Brunswick. Upon your Royal High« ncss's marriage, your aflfairs were arranged, but under the severe, though necessary restrictions, in the Act passed for the occasion. What, Sir, has been the conduct of your Royal Highness since that period? Gertainly, Sir, not such a$ to realize the hopes so fondly entertained by the Country. — I shall pass over the melancholy si- tuation in which you live as the husband of aa atniable* wife, without any other remark, thaii that it is a subject (whatevern^ay be its cause) of DEEP NATIONAL E£Ga^1^j^|jj^ j^^. rnscTxs "io elidjBff Tomtol < ^3/jti shall not, however. Sir, so easily pass over your renewal of the connection you had^agrced to abandon, with a lady, whose society (from her equivocal character) one part of the fashionable world thinksir itr their duty to avoid, while the other, more polity jin compliance with ihe expectation of your Royal Highness, (as a tribute of respect to yourself, that the 36 lady should be of every party where you are invited,) sacrifice their sense of decorum to their vanity; while your Royal Highness, whp can exact such a concession, as the price of ypur company, or a tribute to jour rank, 4oes not manifest that regard to the opini<)ft of^th^ na^^ tion which they haye_ a.rigl\^ -tp ex^p^Qti ^jdai* -a3fi' to janirffifiii adl^d ,:sni8B9*£3fli^fih .^.Tlie defiance to public opinion in:, jhe^»de- parture from decency, >vhich the conduct of the lady alluded to exhibits, since the marriage of your Royal Highness, is such as cannot be reprobated with too much severity, and is very justly appreciated by the pubjiic, by whom her ^ name is never mentioned unaccompanied with . (expressions ., of ,. th^ greatesf coiitemptj, ^l ,,^,Xhe forlorn and hapless female, compelled Jt9„.se;^Jc, ,,i;9fuge from famine and despairijin , j^esources which ,^r, aching heart condemns, claims ^f once the pity and forgiveness pf the .-gnibxiaqxQ { &mija:le«y OiU no? To return, Sir, to your pecuniary situation. — JSTy^^yvithstanding your Royal Highness receive^ 37 at'thi^ time, a Iai\^er income than you ever before possessed, and that you live upon a scale of less visible expense, having, as your Royal High- ness truly says, laid aside the state and dignity due to your high station ; it is a lamentable fact, Sir, that you are now again involved in debts to an enormous amount^ whicli are every day increasing, by the immense expense of use- less buildings and 'pr»hall be permitted to lavish witK or wllf^Bt control' the property of others'i sicoRq whether the Commons of the United -Kitigdom^.; faithf»»I to themselves and their Constituents, wmvW discharge the trust reposed in tliem like B&iT:ssed and driven from state to state, without the most distant prospect of ever regaining the splendid, establishments they liave lost. - . t Not many years, Sir, are elapsed, since these wretched fugitrves lived in a- -slyie of», splendor afidif- magnificence, unknown to the-* manners df this country, ^and the ready ho**- mpge they received fnoni mill ions was more the gpmitaneous tribute of generous affQCtioiv than the servile adulation of an enslaved mulr*/ titude.— Cqnti*ast their, former glory with theiTj, present forlorn and wretched condition ! — Exa- mine dieir :unfortunate history, and seriously consider the consequences 1- Reimld .tlieicifp^F.^^ soils proscribed, by. cortmion .iconsent, through, the vast extent oflerritoi-y, in which they were, once idolized ; their claims to distinction treats ed.^ with laughter and derision ; tlieir affluenc^^ exchanged for want; th(j acclamations of ^joy»^ with which they were every where saluted, con- verted into the most poignant reproaches, and their birth, titles, and rank, treated with mock- ery and contempt 1 — Their history, Sir, should serve as a mirror to Princes; they may be-, hold, in the fate of banished and degraded roy- alty in France, what they may expect by fol- lowing so ruinous an example. 'ft is, Sir, from the adversities of others, as well as from ourb'wn, that the most instructive lessons for our conduct in life are derived ; and, whatever tends to convince mankind of the in- stability of fortune, deserves their most serious attention. The sad reverse which the French Princes have experienced ought not to be an unprofitable lesson to your Royal Highness. > Your Royal Highness has possessed an ines- timable advantage, in the example before your eyes, in the contluct of yoi\r Royal Father, of the effects to be produce<], by a cojitrary line of conduct to that pursued by the unhappy French Princes. His Majesty, through the long course of his life, having made the law of his God the invariable rule of his conduct, has 4^^ been enabled, by the benign influence of ueli- GioN, to merit and obtain the esteeni, vene- ration, and Tove, he so universally possesses. — His greatest honors, even in this world, are yet to come, in tht tjmee^f e regai-d that will ever attend his memory, and the undissembled tears whfch willv bedew liis toi»b^'^'3»^?.^^^m3i '\o \^\\jy^ viarfica- tion of my character; and, in the latter, I feci satisfied: that . I: have performed an important :ra3m£Mifi^ ta ioi^. on i^hau IjpJinoqqs 8i^ioi« l^ta^rerffielloftig^tS b^y Sir,wJdit^-r^en^ \vfcich: is unquestionably '^.'--^t ^iijJ f1j b^ ; ■ * v."j"j , lOD 0.1 S- V Court of King'S'Bench, JFesiminHer^ Fehlhfk-^' 1806. Sittings befare Lord-Chief -Just tec ^ktiiyW^ ^ipdh Special Jur I/. J Mf i ERSKINE flaKl/ hcvrta cbutwd fbr Mr. Jef&rys, who had long been an eminent jewe)ki:h> in tjiis towB^.— The Defcnd^nt^ are theCoii^mig-. sioners appointed under an Act of Parliament for-tto liquicjalion of jtke Debjta of His Royal Higbness the Pfincxc of Wale3. Undoubtedly, the subject of this Action was not at all in the contemplation of Parliament when tliis Act was made. But it was fit his Lordship should know; (for, the sooner any thing that could create a prejudice in tlie cause was removed the better;)— it was necessary that his Lordship and the Jury^ who were to try this cause, should know, that the sum of money dteroanded by Mr. Jcfferyuintbis 4-i " iBvlil consequence of any private contract entered ,; 4oto by the Prince and Mr. IJefferys, in former j>|ytjij9^§§^ .between the date of the Prince arriving at : .flii^age Q-nd ^}^' P!;^.^-^":^^P^^j?^ \ ^^ that it ^rose ;/r2i^9f|^9pnseqii.ence of the contract of if liitiage i-^i\ '^YWch took place between PIi§ Koyat Itlghhess -3d f^4/.J^^s iilustriouj reliction ; and was solely, .irtpin^ly^ and entirely, /for the jewefs^fernished insi^lfP^r Kpyal Highness,^ with the approbation, ^ ^l^ffthe ,King and Queen. They were difed'efd to '^r / be made:by the Prince, They 'W(^r6 ^lewh at •^jrn^i/^-erent times to their Klaiesties in th'e'tdurse ^jgj^^pffheir being Hiadeiig in that elegant sfyleand p ^shion, which was necessary for such a Nearer; xbun?^^ th:ey were at all tjmes sahctioried arid ap- [ ,prov^4of by His/Royal Highness; liehadreason .,^^^t^, aiipposQ Jjy hfs Royal Parents ahor 'Justice ^„p,must be done to the Defendants,'' W(V6iibpeared ;j |,tp.haye no Other interest In permitlilb^' Mr. Jcf- /.fey}«$;to bring this cause into' cduix^^tWri that s ia Tofe^i.-^"^f ^^^^^ *^*' ^^ ^^ their .piib/ic dllftj^; in or- ••*r/%^«,,Vares to . • , - . - ■ ''^- -:'>j.i.^i V'. ■^■■•' vJ l3»3ib3q«ni^ those who honored hmi with their ord^FS. ," r^ rio ib ^80il'^ mpH^ ,tuQ ; t>h£iJ ^dt ^ ..,, V. ■ .^.■';'- -]' iisvh:; 3d bino// I hav^ ri6t the honorto Be in the service of ^; tie Princfe of Wales, KutT thinVI dp him no. more' than Idstice \\hen 1 declare, that I believe ; lie w6tilc^^ be bhfe 'of the kst'mcir,^"w wpulct \ w ]SM to d^tiVS ^ ti'a^desinari who hacFfurnishpd -^ '.'. r-^^d $oaU bed xbidw ^uUn i>ori^ Yt3:rfiii^'^ him with ariy commodity in the course gf Im^ trade of dn iota of its value. It, is -.necessary, however, that I should ?ay he has the saiiie^if^fTE terest as any other man in lessening the deniamljif, where his funds are to be answerable ; for, t^ij^ii Actofrarliament mortgages part of tlie IleveH/f Bue of tlie t'rince for the payment of his debts, aiialhat revenue does not return to him till those ji; defcts'are paid. In proportion therefore as those oJ^if Mr. Erskme said- that; after JNIr. Jeflfervji . V- r'lW lo •otiiili't.uiiJ loT .^ noMU'K. ^ .r ,-. r brounjht in nif'bill before the Commissioueis o;i,,,,. J^v ^r li .lud .VllniiOO;)^;! :o :• -^ ;, . --i^ oath, he was summoned .under the authority o<; . T i!0^?Od dil^^ii U\ J«^^"- - ' '• '' ■ the statute before the Commissioners, and desired ;., ... ■ • ' ,.,.-:l -u>K: 3V4uf 8^'^U3> .-,\u. • ■ ' that the jewels should be looked at ; they were inspected by two or three persons eminent iu the trade ; but, from whose declaration, wliich would be given in evidence, he dW. not kuovr they had an opportunity to form tliat. accurate' j judgement that was necessary. ^^ Tl^;P^.said, aftei^.jQfj>j the short time they had spent in the,examination^,i « [ and not having taken tlie me^ns to asceftjjiii a^-y^ly/ curately their value which had sinc6 been taken'. 48 they only valued them at 43,700/. But they said, though that might be their value, yet they were of opinion some allowance should be made for collecting so speedily this valuable set of jewels, which must have occasioned very ex- traordinary demands on the person procuring them. The risks also which attended the case were many, and he should not lessen them by stating, that it was not from every man nor at every sale that Mr. Jeflferys could collect jewels of such magnitude and value, especially on the shortest notice, and which furnished one of the most brilliant assortments tlmt ever was wovr by any crowned head in Europe. He would venture to say, that no assortment of jewels, ei- ther with respect to brilliiincy or setting, were finer, or more beautiful. They were approved of by all whose approbation was fit to be had, dnd w^re worthy of the use to which they were iidapted. Mr. JefFerys waited for the judgement of the* Commissioners, who added 1200/. to the sup- posed value at which they had been estii;iiated^ which made 44,900/. 49 The Act of Parliament f^ave the option in this case'^to the pirty, either to abide by the judgement of the Commissioners, or to lay his claim' before a Jury of his coiihiry, as Mr. Jefferys had clone. I^othing but an arbitrary ^^' Parliament could have deprived the subject of ^ the right of bringing his claim before a jury of ' his country ; and, therefore, this Act did not take away that right, but allowed him to come in ib a Court of Justice to h^ve the cause tritd in the common fofm ; and the only principle oft ^'' wJiich "this caim e6u!cl be tried was, wh%^^' these jewels 'were 'fairty worth to the wearer; an^'wiiat tlicy oQglit^to be estimated at to such a wearer, "attencf^ wltl> all the circumstances of inconvenience^ rUfci ani e.vpensty to him who furnished the commodity.— That was'th^ prin-''' ciisle bit Xvhich the law of England would as-' certain a question of this sort. ■\.: ...ft.,. Mr. Jefferys had an interest not to enter into any contrbversy, not to stir up any dispute, bil't to abide by the judgement of the Commis- sioners. But a man, who had engaged in trade, arfd had various difficulties, must tafc^ care they so did not turn out to be an incumbrance to him by his not having a fair profit, by which alone he could stand. No man could be supposed to go through the drudgeries of trade to oblige others, however illustrious they might be* Every man went into trade to make his own for* tune, and to give independence to those that fol- . lowed him, and who might not have the same means of procuring it for themselves ; and, there- fore, what he asked for Mr. Jeflferys was, that he should have what these jewels were fairly worth. SJr^.Jefferys consulted his friends, and those who knew the various difficulties he had been put to on that short notice, which was. recog- nized b} those gen tlenien who were called in by the- Cofiimissioners. He consulted the most eminent persons in the trade, and the result was, that there was a great difference between the real value of these jewels and that at which they had been estimated by the Gentlemen who had been called in by the Commissioners. They would inform the Jury, that they were estimated at Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred and. Ninety-Seven Pounds Ten Shillings, without iakins into their consideration any of the il circumstances or difficulties under which they were procui^ed. It was very material that this estimate had been made on the bare inspection of the jewels, jndgrngby their weight and ac- cording to their brilliancy, of which they were qualified to judge from their skill in the trade. That estimate was formed without taking in- to their consideration the particular circum- stances attending this case. If then, effect was given to the judgement of the Commissioners, by adding Twelve Hundred Pounds for the difficulties attending this particular contract} and if that sum were added to the former, it would amount to Fifty-Two Thousand One Hundred and Ninety-Seven Pounds Ten Shil- lings. Besides that, Mr. Jefferys had been obliged to pay out of his pocket Two Thou- sand Pounds in hard money, as interest upon the securities he had given to those persons from whom he had purchased the diamonds : and no man living could possibly exist upon the dia- monds that were in his shop, till they were converted into money. Mr. Jefferys was exa- mined as to what were the particular profits of his trade* He said that wa3 a question which 52 tradesmen in general were not disposed to an- swer ; he, however, had no secrets ;— -he stated what his profit was, and it was no more than that of others who dealt in the same commo- dity. A man who deals in diamonds must have a different profit from one wke deals in brooms. In the first place, it requires an im- mense capital to furnish raw materials for the manufacture and trade. Secondly, it requires persons eminent for their skill and of fine taste, who must be paid great salaries. Tradesmen in the situation of Mr. Jeflcrys must also have persons on whom he could safely repose the greatest trust. He was obliged to live in the most expensive part of the town, and must have a house fitted up for people of fashion to call on him in the line of his business. — That was necessarily attended with heavy rents and the expenses of servants. It was also necessary to take into calculation the various drawbacks to which all trades were subject, but to which a trade of this descrip- tion was peculiarly subject. Besides that, Mr. Jefferys, by the form of the late Act of Par* liament, was not to be paid in the same man- ner as if he had received a judgement in tlii^ common form. Here he could sue out no execu- •53 tion : he would receive prompt payment In part, and for the remainder he must take debentures out of the Exchequer, which bore a discount. AH these circumstances were to be taken into consideration. To conclude, (said Mr. Erskine,) I wish to state Mr. JefFcrys to be an honorable and re- spectable tradesman, and I trust he will go out of this court so. It is a most flattering and sa* tisfactoiy thing to me to be able to state that so he is considered by all those vvho are concerned ia this contract. Gentlemen, Mr. JefFerys desires to- have no- thing but that which the fair profits of the trade entitle him to haVe. "If there was the smallest difficulty in ascertaining the real weight and value of any one of these jewels, and if a cloud were to be thrown over your ver- dict by any man of rank or skill in this tmdc* (these jewels being set,) I believe Mr. Jeffcrys would have no objection to its being unset; and, if there was found the smallest defalcation or the least impropriety in his conduct, he would be glad to have it .corrected by your verdict. 51 The first witness on the pSrt of the Plain tiff wa* Mr. jW. Sharp, iji^ho said he had been a Diamond-Broker these twenty years; he believed he was more largely concerned in the purchase <^f diamonds than any man; he had seen the jewels that were purchased for Her Koyal Highness, and had accurately examined them for the space of five hours; he examined them stone by stone, and apprehended po man could collect such an assortment of jewels without pyrchasing a number of stones, which could not afterwards come into the assortment; he estimated their value, with- out taking into consideration any of those clrcumbtances that had been stated, at Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety- Seven Pounds Ten Shillings. On cross-examination he said, that jewels were now higher by Ten or Fifteen per Cent, than when Mr. Jef- ferys received this order ; it being known so many dia- monds were to be purchased, it raised the price in the market. If he had had this order to execute he did not know what he should have charged per Cent. He did all his business by commission ; he believed jewellerjs had sometimes a very large, and at other times, a very small, profit ; he did not know whether Twelve, Fifteen, or Thirty-Five per Cent, was a sufficient profit; if the price of the commodity was raised in the market in consequence of the publicity of the order, the profit would rise in the s^ame ratio. The other three Gentlemen, who were called on behalf of the Plaintiff, were Mr. D. Eliason, Mr. Z. Levi, and 66 jMr. R. I>ugdale, two of whom are Diamond-Merchants, ia a very great way of business, and the third a Jeweller ; they had examined these jewels, and all agreed in the esti- mate which we have stated. Their evidence was very nearly the same with that given by Mr. Sharp. Their valuation was made ou the 13th of January last, then diamonds were estimated at the price this commodity bore at the time they were purchased. Mr. Eliason said he would not have undertaken such an order unless he had been per- mitted to charge whatever he thought proper, because the market would rise. If the order were now to be executed, it could not be done for less ; and it would be a difficult matter, and aliHost impossible, to execute that order at the present moment, Mr. Garrow, as Counsel for the Defendants, on the re- cord said, there were very fiw causes that came for dis- cussion under circumstances similar to the present, because the defendants had no more interest in the subject ihaa any one of the Jury. Tiiey had a public duty of the last importance cast upon them ; and, however painful and dis- tressing the discharge of it might be under certain circum- stances, yet they were bound to meet their situation man« fully, and to perform their duty under all its difficulties. Their anxiety was to lay before the Jury in evidence those grounds upon which they were to form their judgement, and when it was formed the Defendants would be most perfectly satisfied. He had no instructions, and it would bave been extraordinary if he had had any, considering the .quarter whence they came, reflecting on the 6& COXJJCCT or CHARACTER of Mr. Jefferj s. He was not ra- stracttd to atat«i to tlie Jury that he forfeited bi» preteriMons to the charucteir ^f a FAIH aud iioNoaikBl>& tradesman. •r es&, »uch a demaud as eowUl possibly be sustained in a Court of Justice ? He siiid, be, for c^ni^i \\fk^ no difficulty in stating, ootouly tbat be th<>»ught the Cotntiki&sioiiiers justified in talong the opiuioi* of the Jury on that question, bi^t that they woold hairtir; Ijeen totally unde^rving of that conit- deaocv. wLit-h -the Legislature had thougtHi ; tliey might safely «"j>o«e in them, if they had not |>l>fe it into the state of jtjfjnrry which that day had produced. His Learned Friend be^j» Iwts. address^ |jy o^^emng, that it ivas fit in ti»e0ulaetio rt^ntHte any prejudice ^^hat- flight .hare crept iato thtsi b%ti^he&$, and he said this .question was by no xneaos in contempIaHon at the time the Act of Parhament took place. Mr. Garrow said he did not agree with him in that, btcaiis© the ^Pt of Parhament intended to mnke a suitable provision for the Illustrious Personages who were thie ol»jei'ts of it; aiul, to remove these embarrassments* which tiae ^eufroisi^y of His Koyal Highness had subjected him to, hu had been giaciously pleased to desire, that a certain fund miglit be appropriated in the hands of those Trustees for tlie payment of any debts that might be brought forward, and such as His Royal Highness ought to be lairjy and honestly called on. to pay. Under these circnmstauceB^ what was the duty of these Comuiis^oner^^^ S7 To receive the claim of Mr. Jeffierj'S and of all otiiers, to examine its extent, to judge of its propriety, and if they approved of it to put it in a course of pajTnent. On thfe contrary, if they had such grounds as to induce them to tliink it exorbitant, then to tender to Mr. JefFerys what they thought an ample compensation, and if he was not satisfied with thaty to do what they had done that day. The four persons, who had been examined before them, were cognizant in this branch of trade. Of them> as of Mr. Jefferys he should say nothing disrespecfful; but it was a flitter fit to be observed, without the least stain on the credit of Mr. JefTerySjthat all of those persons were employed ill the market for procuring those sort of articles. He did not 5U|)pose the verdict of the jury would pass, on the suppoTiition that they came there to misrepresent facts. He should state what the conduct of the Commissioners had beent &ud what they would do after the Jury hadgivea their verdict. His Learned Friend had observed, that the persons, who bad been examined by the Commissioner^ had themselves stated that, accordmg to a cursory examination^ they had formed their estimate. He said there never was an estimate taken under circumstances more auspicious, because it 'was not originally taken with a view to pare down Mr. JefFerys's demand; but it w-qs made for the satisfaction of the Conqimissioners, that they might kitr>w how to go to Parliament. These Gentlemen would inform the Jury of the precise volue of all the jewels, and of the profit they H 6S bad allowed to the PlalntifF<^ They had examined theiw all, stone by stone. When they had exainuied the size and weig^lit of a stone, they had not got to the end of their journey, It was also necessary to examine its briUiancyr to detect its flaws, and find out its specks. His Learned. Friend had told the Jury (and he dared to say it was true) that these jewels had given the iiiost ample and perfect satisfaction to all to whom satisfaction ought to be given en the subject. It was not a pleasant thing for him to state, that every part of these jewels was not as perfect as every body would wish they had been. They were not then in a Court of GompIiment$, but in a Court of Law, where justice and truth were to be their guides. He was bound to state to them, because he should prove it, that on comparing some of these jewels furnished by Mr, JefFerya. with Bome others, they were in many instances vastly su- perior to those of Mr. Jeiferys, and in one instance he had va» lued a stone at 806/. which another Gentleman would have been willing to furnish for 600/. and have given twelve months credit» and should have thought h^ had made a tolerable bargain. The Commissioners had dealt with Mr, Jefferys as they had done with every other tradesman*. •JThey had submitted his bill to persons of skill and ^jxperience in his trade, and they had selected the most eminent and- most skilful. But they had taken another course to satisfy their own consciences, and the Jury might be «}ii:pri9^d, and very much satisfied, to ^seie the tw*^ modes they had pursued, and which came to be prettjr much the same in the result. He wished the Jury to give j\Ir. Jefferyp a fair and honorable profit for the commodity he had fur jiishcd^ 69 Mr. Len, ob^ of the witnesftes called on the part of tlj« Plaiutiff, said, that if he had gone to market and pur. chased these jewels, and immediately delivered them over td the person for whom ti>ey were purchased, as waa the case with the Prince of Wales's orders. Ten per Cent, wi^ ' ^ profit which would have satisfied him. *Mr. Garrow said, whatever dropped from Mr. Emkine fell with great weight. He believed, witli him, that what liad been laid out on tliat rao»t superb assortment of jewels was one of the ia^t cxpensea high-spirited Englishmen would wish to save,. I|^ did not desire the Jury to abate one sliilliu-j of whatever was necessary for the comfort, the splendor, and dignity, of the Illustrious Personages for whom these articles were furnistied. All that he was '^^' anxious about was, that this demand might tiot be mtade^ i subservient to the private interests of a private individuaK ' His witnesses had allowed to Mr. JeffVrys a profit of 1 6 per Cent.; and, after all, there would be a deduction of 10,000^, from Mr. Jefferys* demand of 54,(>S5/. lie asked whether, if the Commissioners had complied with that draiand, they would not have been guilty of a totkl derelictioR of their duty ? whether they would not have been unworthy of any confidence? and whether they ought not to have been stignatized by all honest men ? They would certainly have merited every opprobrious epithet if they had submitted to the payment of that demand, when persons moat emi- nent for their skill, honor, and integrity, told theai 10,000/. ought to be deducted, and that after aU they would leave a profit of 16 perCent. to Mr. Jefferys on his cemmodiiy. 60 The Jury would leave out of the question all drcuinstanee* of risk, payment, and of the probability of a delay in pay- xn^nt, because they did not belong to it. In whatever situation Mr. Jefferys might have been with other contracts* 25,000/. was at his call frorn th6 hour thcsfe jewels wer« purchased, had his charge been of a size to have autho» rized the Commissioners to have paid it; and he would also have had debentures carrying interest for the re» mainder of his deoiand. It ivas one of the imperfections of the Act of Parliament, (and it had more than one,) that it did not authorize the Commissioners to make a ten- der; but the moment this cause was decided, Mr. JefFerys might go to the Exchequer and receive 25j66o7. in htrd casli. The witnesses for the Plaintiff were shy respecting the pro- fits of this trade; but Mr. Jefferys himself, when examined upon oath before the Commissioners, had declared, the -usual profits of his trade were 12 per Cent. Was that the profit he had charged on this order ? He had charged 30 per Cent.* Mr. G arrow here stated some figures, but did not wish the jury to decide the cause upon them ; he only meant to use them by way of argument, to shew tlie' difference between the profit that had been asked in this case and the ordinary profits of .l||e^ tnd^*^ i^The suin charged to His Royal Highness to Mr. Jefferys for this a»r sortment of jewels, ^as 54,685/. ; from that sum be proposed to subtract 30 per cent, and afterwards he could add what was fit to be added. Thirty per Cei>t. amounted to 16^405/. lOj. If that sum was deducted from Mr. Jefferys's >i^ The groif profits, independent of at^y deductions for interest ef money insursiice on the Prince*! life, and other coBttogent expenses. 61 demand, it would leare the shtd 6,562/. and which, being added to the prime cost, would amount to 44,S4l/. 14f« which sum, when deducted from the Pkiutiff's demand, left 9,843/, 6s. These figures stand thus: L s. Mr. Jeffer^'s demand -----* 54,685 Thirty per cent, deducted - - - - l6,405 10 Leaves th^ jUpirae cost -ft, • ^. • - 38,279 10 Twelve p^i^ cent, added - ... - 6,562 4 1 Makes the sum of ..... 44,8^1 14 Difference ^between Mr. Jefferys's demand and a profit of twelve per cent. 9*843/. 6s» • Helnd'^nlyiised these figures 5j/ loaif ofargttmenU and did not consider them as the most proper basis upon wliich the Jury ought to forni their judgement, though they weiit a great way to shew, that the deductions, which had been made by those gentlemen who had been called in by the Commissioners was right, Mr, Garrow concluded with the character and situation of the witnesses he should call, and the nature of the evi- dence they would give, Ab he had before observed, he said, the Commissioners had only wished to satisfy the Jury they bad acted properly in the arduous and difficult ^tua^ tian \n Mf\i\ch tli'ey werd phced. Not prete»(?i«g' to infalli* brlity* Iwtt knowing t!irey w^e subject to error, they did not dbsife to have thd judgement of thft'^jwiry on other or diiFt* rent materials than those that sliouid be t^d before them. He might observe, without offence, that the Jury, a» repre^ seiiting the country, were under the piofit solemn obhga* tions of an oath to decide betweeu Mi*. Jeiferys and the public. If they should be of opinion, that Mr, Jefferys, as a fair aud honotiible tradesman, waft^Hifeitled to the last shilling of the demand he had made, the Commissioners would feel no chagrin; they would experience no disap- pointment; and he was certain, whatever their verdict might be, it w^uld be most satisfactory tb^ alt concerned. M. J. Cripps was the first witness called! on the part of the Defendants. He said he had been fifty years in the jewelfery tfade, andiiad examined the jeweU in (juestion with Mr. Bu Val anci ilf. Frauciilon in May last. They examined them article by article, and their estimate a- mountcd to 43,7007. Ks nowle of exanjination was by taking the largf stores oi the ear^riugsand tbe-centrestone$i ^ , ^f the necIUace* Tliese were capital ston^s^ and not easily procuredj They then Wient on exan^iningall the other ca» pital diamonds. A» to some of, the otirer 8toneft> they w^re very fine, and he hud some diamond:, of the same descrip- tion »tith them, andl^ith which he compared them, and by thatniiean'iHh^y Were able to ascertain their value as nearly as could possibly be d'oat*. Jii' their cfstiAiate, they allowed Mr. J«ff<»rjt* aboiir i'e>/;'j)iE^^^rtt^''nifeyih eluded in that the price cf -setting, which in the trade was called the fashion* 69' On Cross-examuiatloDi he said he thought he could exe- cute a large order a^ easily fis » small one. He had u« doubt but the marriage of the Prince of Wales had aii effect upon the market. Except tive stones, be should n^t have thought it diflfLcult to have executed that order, lliir did not see any necessity for purchasing jewels which were not wanted. No mm in England eier reaiied en ordtr ' like this. He had always thought some allowance ougltt to be fnade fur eylleating suck an, assorirnent of Jewels in so tkort a timet and which must have occasioned iciy exor^ hitant demands on the person procuring them. He thought that allowance should be j^l^OO. He should be glad t<> furnish such an assortment of jewels at the amount at whicb they had estimated the jewels in question* They had ex* amined them for nearly fire hours. The evidence of Mr. Pu. Val and Mr, FrancJUon .w^% very nearly to the same effect with^^h^t of JVfr.^ (L^rij»|)s^ ^ • ■'■-1'' *'-' '^ • , . .-,-.1,1- . ^ ■ . hut they thought U^ Commissioners, o^i^ht have ^iyg^.,.^ ]Vlr.'Jeifery» if40,000 as m^ act of, libcpality, in orfief^^i^^^^^ prevent litigation. But tliey all three agreed iti opinion^ that the fair reasonable value of the jewels, without taking into account any ealkkteral circuuis ancc, was i.'43,7 they had compared some of them ^7. with some of tlieir own that were similar, and by that means had judged of their value. He conceived, by such a mode of proceedings, their judgement was abundantly apt to be deceived. It was among the infirmities of hnman nature to consider what was our own as better than that which belonged to any other. God Almighty had so made man, and we could not chaiige him. These Gentlemen, on tooting at these jewels, found certain specks in them ; and he had no doubt, but if they had been ordered to examine the most glorious of all the bodies in the solar system, — the sun hiniserf,— they woulcl also have found fault with him for having specks. His next observation was, that Mr. Jefferj-s was never called in to disprove what were alleged to be the imperfec- tions in his Jewels. He submitted whether it would not "have been candid to have given Mr. Jefiferys notice, that they were about to examine the defects of these Jewels^ that he also might have sent men of skill to attend the ex- amination. In that case, judgement would have been op- posed tojudgement, and skill to skill, and justice would have held the balance between them. He said, he wished to speak of the Defendants* witnesses with respect, and he hoped it would be understood, that he was retained in that cause to depreciate no man. But who were these witnesses ? They were arbitrators picked out by the Defendants ; they wer« called in exparte, — not approved of by Mr. Jefferys, pot called in by him. 68 xhe Lcamecl Counsel submitted to tlie Jury that there was a gross contradiction between the certificates, signed by the witnesses for the Defendants, and the evidence they had that day given. They said, in their certificates, '* We have inspected the Jewels furnished for Her Royal ttigbness the Princess of Wales, and now in Her Royal Highnesses possession, and, as far as we are able to judge in the short time we have had to form our opinion, we think their value 43,700/." '^ ^rhe'first remark he should make on that ccriifitafe was this : It happened rather singularly that on the first blub'h of the thing, without weighing, without particular exami- nation, without setting their eminent skill to work, they should come to a specific value; and thit afterwards, ■when they did set their wits to work, and examined all these Jewels, their (estimate should he exact h/ the ^dmt^'^ If a man's judgement was not fastened down fey' dny preju- dices, and if he did not consider himself as a party, what were the chances against his coming to the sarne value of these Jewels, when he looked at them superficially, and af- ter examing them with the greatest care and accuracy?— r Yet the second time these^'gentlemen made the estimate, they made it amount to the satne as they did at Jirst,. The witnesses for the Defendants had said, that some allowance should be made for collecting so speedily so valuable a set of Jewels, which must have occasioned very extraordinary demands on the person procuring them. This„ they s^id, we are unable to estimate, as well as the risk that may have attended the order. These gentlemen now said, in their 69 examination before his Lordship and the gentlemen of the Jury, that they meant that allowance as a mere douceur, a« aa act of liberality, to prevent litigation. But the Jury weuld recollect his Learned Friend had told them, that es- timate was originally take^, not with a view to pare dpwi^ Mr. Jefferys's demand, but in order to ascertain the valine oi those JeweU to the Commissioners, that they might know how to go to Parliament. After many other inojenious remarks on the testimony of the Defendants' witnesses, Mr. Erskine concluded his i:«ply wjjtjl^ tl*?j/'Q)iWwing observations ;— .. .ri Still i:etaji^f»r tjie Prince of Wa^les the same affectiott I ever h*d ip the earlier part of my life. As to thpse irye^ gularities which have led him into debt, I have uo doubt but he will one day most amply repay the People of Eng^ ^laad by the protection of their just rights and liberties. It ^ was for the defence of the British Constitution that the House. ^ 4>f . Jl«^npyer wa» first called to the Throne of these King- doms ; and, therefore^ the people of this country have a re- Ijo-ipus right to expect, that the Princes of that House will .ever continue the faithful guardians of their rights and yri* ^ t^i H The Lord-Chief-Justice, in his excellent sum- •tningup tothe Jury, observed, thesingle question ttiey were to ascertain by tlieir verdict was, — what ^hese wares and merchandizes were reasonably 70 worth?Whatever became of thiscause, he thouo-ht the Commissioners, who were men of the highest honor, and had a public duty cast upon them, were entitled to the thanks of every individual. His liOrdship next directed the attention of the Jury to the most material parts of this cause ; after which they withdrew for a short time, and then brought in a Verdict for the Plaintiff for Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred ai^d Nikety-Seven Pounds Ten Shillings. Mr. Jefferys's other claims on the Prince, of S4,700l. for Bond-debts, and 9,331/. 9^. for Jewels sold to His Royal Highness, as presents to the Queen and Royal Family, were admitted by the Commissioners, and Verdicts taken accordingly. TFie amount of the Verdicts together were 85,028/. 19^. Gel.; 25,000/. of which was paid in cash, and the residue was, after being subject to a deduction of 10 per cent, paid by deben- tures, due at such distant periods as to be sub- ject to a discount on an average of 20 per cent, fnakino- together a deduction of nearly 30 per cent. 71 Copy of a Letter leceived from Mr. Erskine (now Lord Erskine) in answer to Mr. JefFerys's Letter of Thanks for the exertion of Mr. E's talents. -vv Serjeants-Inn, Feb, I9, 179?. Sir, I return you mauy thanks for your very obliging Letter.— I spoke to the jur]^ my own sentiments, and I de- livered them warmly, because I felt an extreme disgust at the evidence by which a just and honorable claim was attempted to be resisted. If Counsel, upon proper occasions, do not shew that they are in earnest, not only private injustice may be suo- tessful, but the freedom of English courts may be lost. I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, THO. ERSKfNE To Mr, Jt/eryi. 72 Statement of the accounts of Mr. Jefferys, in the affairs of His lioyal Highness the Fkince of Wales; shewiiig the amount of the claims of Mr. JEFFEii-f s, as established by the verdicts of a jury before Lord Kenyon, and those admitted by the Commissioners fo'f the management of the Prince's affairs ; to^^ether with the deductions and deficiency of payment, from tlie Biode adopted by the Commiasionerj** for the settle- ment of the said clajms. Amount of verdict obtained in the Court of King's Bencli, Claims. Ket Receipts* for jewels oa tlie marriage of L s» d. L £. d, the Prince 50,997 iO IirccivedofLordCholmondely,t 2^000 4 tliM'wctiou was made on the balance, of ten per cent, and / the amount paid in deben- tures^^, which sold on au aye- rage discount, at twenty per cent. loss, producing - - 18,7IS 4 lleficiency ------ 7,279 6 « 50,997 10 -50,997 10 * The Right Honorable WiUiant Pitt. Chancellor of the Excljequer; the ilight Honorable Henry Addington, Speaker of the House of Commons ; Henry Strachey, Esq, IVl. P. Master of the King's Household; John Fordyce, Esq. M.P. Surveyor of tijc ('rown Lands; and Mr. Ser- jeant \V alker, Accouiptant-General ; Commissioners named in the Act for tiie bettlemcat of thtt atiairs of the Prince Df Wales. f The sum voted for jewels. J Ti)e debentures were sold to the best advantage, iUrcwgii the house of Messrs. Cuutts and other baukcrij* 73 Bond-debts, for which (being admitted by the Commis'- sioners) a verdict was taken, 24,700 Ten per cent, deducted, and the batance paid in deben- tures, which at an average loss of twenty per cent, pro- duced 17,78+ Q •Deficiency 6,9l6* 24,700 d 24,700 -An account, including pre- sents of jewels made by the Prince, on his marriage, to ^4*lxt*.f»'»li* the Queen and the Royal Family 9,331 9 6 This account, also admitted by the Commissioners ; and, a verdict being taken, was settled by a deduction of ten per cent, and the ba- lance in debentures, at twenty per cent, discount, produced 6,7 18140 Deficiency 5,^1 2 15 6' 9,331 9 6 9,331 9 6 L s. d. Total amount of claims - , 85,028 I9 G Ditto of net receipts - - - 68,220 18 Total deficiency - - l6,803 1 6 K. n Copy of a Letter to the Prince of Wales, in- cluding the preceding Statement of Ac- counts, 8zc. Pall Mall, June 25y 160U SIR, From the difficulties I have experienced for the lastfpur years to provide for my family, arising from the mistaken idea of the public that my misfortunes did not originate from the cause I state, but my own improper conduct; an^ the sanction this idea has unfortunately received, from your Royal Highness totally withdrawing from me that pa- tronage I had formerly the good fortune to enjoy, and which I am not conscious of ever having deserved to forfeits 1 am most forcibly called upon to take some method pub- licly to vindicate my character in the opinion of the world* to whom I am ultimately to look for support. The cruelty of ray situation has seldon^, I believe, been experienced by any man : my fortune has been ruined, my character discredited, and my health broken with excessive Anxiety. All this has been produced by placing an unli- mited confidence in a quarter, where a doubt of its rectitude would have been insult. The injury I individually complain of. Sir, is not con- fined to me, it extends to the public: a sacred principle of our Constitution, — th« Verdict of a Jury, — has been rendered of no effect. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your Royal Highnesses obedient Servant, NATH. JEFFERYS. His Royal Highness fht t^riuce of IV ales, SfC. wM^^yi'r'u/V^, though 5 from their abilities unqueflionably of more value than mine, in it's quantity and in it's duration was not to be mentioned with it. But I never could drive a hard bargain in my life, concerning any mat- ter whatever ; and leafl of all do I know now to haggle and huckfter with merit. Penfion for myfelf I obtained none ; nor did I folicit any. Yet I was loaded with hatred for every things that was with-held, and with obloquy for every thing that was given. I was thus left to fupport the grants of a name ever dear to me, and ever venerable to the world, in favour of thofe, who were no friends of mine or of his, againll the rude attacks of thofe who were at that time friends to the grantees, and their own zealous partizans. I have never heard the Earl of Lau- derdale complain of thefe penfions. He finds nothing ( 32 ) nothing wrong till he comes to me. This is impartiality, in the true modern revolutionary ftyle. Whatever I did at that time, fo far as it regard- ed order and ceconomy, is (table and eternal ; as all principles muil be. A particular order of things may be altered ; order itfelf cannot lofe its value. As to other particulars, they are va* liable by time and by circumftaiices. Laws of reguladcn are not fundamental laws. The pub- lick exigencies are the mafters of all fuch laws. They rule the laws, and "are not to be ruled by them. They who exercife the legiflative power at the time mufl judge. It may be new to his Grace, but I beg leave to tell him, that mere parfimony is not cecono- my. It is feparable in theory from it ; and in fad it may, or it may not, be 2ipart of oeconomy, according to circumllances. Expence, and great expence, may be an eflential part in true oecono- my. If parfimony were to be confidered as one of the kinds of that virtue, there is however ano- ther and an higher oeconomy. CEconomy is a diftributive virtue, and confifts not in faving, but in feleftion. Parfimony requires no providence, no fagacity, no powers of combination, no corn- par ifon, ( 33 ) parifon, no judgment. Meer inftinci:, and that not an inftind of the nobleft kind, may produce this falfe oeconomy in perfecllon. The other ceconomy has larger views. It demands a difcri- niinating judgment, and a firm fagacious mind. It fhuts one door to impudent importunity, only to open another, and a wider, to unprefuming merit. If none but meritorious fervice or real talent were to be rewarded, this nation has not wanted, and this nation will not want, the means of rewarding all the fervice it ever will receive, and encouraging all the merit it ever will produce. No flate, fince the foundation of fociety, has bsen impoveriflied by that fpecies of profufion. Had the oeconomy of feledion. and proportion been at all times obferved, we ihould not now have had an overgrown Duke of Bedford, to opprefs the induftry -of humble men, and to limit by the ftandard of his own conceptions, the juflice, the bounty, . or, if he pleafes, the charity of the Crown. His Grace may think as meanly, as he will of my deferts in the far greater part of my conduct in life. It is free for him to do fo. There will always be fome difference of opinion in the value of political fervices. But there, is one merit of mine, which he, of all men living, ought to be F the ( 34 ) the I'dll to call in queflion. I have fupported with very great zeal, and I am told with fome degree of fuccefs, thofe opinions, or if his Grace likes another expreffion better, thofe old preju- dices which buoy up the ponderous mafs of his nobility, wealth, and titles. I have omitted no exei:tion to prevent him and them from finking to that level, to which the meretricious French fadion, his Grace at lead coquets with, omit no exertion to reduce both. I have done all I could to difcountenance their enquiries into the for- tunes of thofe, who hold large portions of wealth without any apparent- merit of their own. I have flrained every nerve to keep the Duke of Bed- ford in that fituation, which alone makes him my fuperior. Your Lordfliip has been a wit- nefs of the ufe he makes of that pre-eminence. But be it, that this is virtue ! Be it, that there is virtue in this w^ell felefied rigour ; yet all vir- tues are not equally becoming to all men and at all times. There are crimes, undoubtedly there are crimes, which m all feafons of our exiPcence, ought to put a generous antipathy in adion ; crimes that provol^e an indignant juftice, and call forth a warm and animated purfuit. But all things, that concern, what I may call, the preventive police of morality, all things mere- ( 35 ) ly rigid, harlli and cenforial, the antiquated mo- raliils,^ at whofe feet 1 was brought up, would not have thought thefe the fitteft matter to form the favouritevirtues of young men of rank. What might have been well enough, and have been re- ceived with a veneration mixed with awe and 'terrour, from an old, fevere, crabbed Cato, would La've wanted fomerhing of propriety in the young Scipios, the ornament of the Roman Nobility, in the flower of their life. But the times, the mo- rals, the mafler's, the fcholars have all under- gone a thorough revolution. It is a vile ilhbe- ral fchool, this new French academy of the fan culottes. There is nothing in it that is fit for a Genileman to learn. Whatever it's vogue may be, I flill flatter myfelf, that the parents of the growing ge- neration viil be fatisfied with what is to be taught to their children in Weflminfter, in Eaton, or in Winchefter : I (till indulge the hope that no grown Gentlesnan or Nobleman of our time will think of finifliing at Mr, Thehvall's ledure whatever may have been left incompleat at the old Univerfities of his country. I would give to Lord Grenville and Mr. Pitt for a motto, what was faid of a Roman Cenfor or Prastor (or F 2 what ' (.36 ) what v/as he), who in virtue of^ a Seuatus con- fiihuni Ihut up certain academies, " Cludere Ludum Impudentias juffit." Every honefl father of a family in the kindom will rejoice at the breaking up for the holidays, and will pray that there may be a very long va- cation in all fuclx fchools. The awful Hate of the time, and not myfelf or my own juftification, is my true object in what I now write ; or in what I fliall ever write or fay.. It little fignihes fo the world what becomes of fuch things as me, or even as the Duke of Bed- ford. What I fay about either of us is nothing more than a vehicle, ae you, my Lord, will ea- fily i>erceive, to convey my fentiments on matters far more worthy of your attention. It is when I Hick to my aparent firll: fubjed that 1 ought to apologize, not v/hcn I depart from'it. I there- fore ?nufi; beg your Lordfhip's pardon for again refuming it after this very Ihort digrefllon; . aiTuring yoij thatl fliall never altogether lofe fight of fuch matter as perfons abler than I am may turn to fome- profit. . The ( 37 ) The Duke of Bedford conceives, that he is obliged to call the attention of the Houfe of Peers to his Majefly's grant to me, which he confidtrs as exceilive and out of all bounds. I know not how it has happened, but it really feems, that, whilft his Grace \va« meditating his well-confidered cenfure upon me, he fell into a fort of fleep. Homer nods ; and the Duke of Bedford may dream ; and as dreams (even his golden dreams) are apt to be ill-pieced and in- congruoufly put together, his Grace pr^ferved his idea of reproach to me^ but took the fubjed- matter from the Crown-grants to his own fa- Tilly. This is *' the fluff of which his dreams are made/' In that way of putting things toge- ther his grace is perfcdly in the right. The grants to the Houfe of Ruffel were fo enormous^ as not only to outrage oeconomy, but ev^n to ftagger credibility. 'J'he Duke of Bedford is the Leviathan among all the creatures of the Crown. He tumbles about his unwieldy bulk ; he plays and frolick<; in the ocean of the Royal bounty. Huge as he is, and whild "he lies floating many a rood," he is flill a creature. His ribs, his fins, his whalebone, his blubber, the very fpiracles thrpugh which he fpouts a torrent of brine againfl his origin, and covers ine all over with ( 38 ) the fpray, — every thing of him and about him is from the Throne. Is it for him to queftion the diipenfation of the Royal favour ? I really am at a Ipfs to draw any fort of pa- rallel between the publick merits of his Grace, by which lie juflifies the grants he holds, and thefe fer vices of minc^ on the favourable conflruciioa of which 1 have obtained what his Grace fo iimch diilipproves. In private life, I have not at all the honour of acquaintance with the noble Duke. But I ought to prefume, and it cofls me nothing to do .fo, that he. abundantly de- ferves the eileem and love of all who live with him. But as to publick fer vice, why truly it would not be more ridiculous for me to com- pare myfelf in rank, in fortune, in fplendid de- fcent, in youth, flrength, or figure, with the Duke 6f Bedford, than to make a parallel betvv'een his fervices, and my attempts to be ufeful to my country. It would not be grofs r.dulation, but uncivil irony, to fay, that he has any publick merit of his own to keep alive the idea of the fervices by which his vafl landed Penfions were obtaiived. My merits, whatever they are, are original and perfonal ; his are de- rivative. It is his anceftor, the original pen- fioner, that has laid up this inexhauflible fund of ( 39 ) of merit, which makes his Grace fo very deli- cate and exceptlous about the merit of all other . grantees of the Crown. Had he permitted me to remain, in quiet, I fhould have faid 'tis his eftate ; that's enough. It is his by law ; what have I to do with it Qr it's hiftory ? He would naturally have faid on his fide, 'tis this man's fortune. — He is as good now, as my anceflor was two hundred and fifty years ago. • I am -a young man with very old penfions ; he is an old man with very young penfions,— that's all ? Why will his Grace, by attacking me, force me reludlantly to compare my little merit with that which obtained from the Crown thofe pro- digies of profufe donation by which he tramples on the m.ediocrity of humble and laborious indi- viduals ?" I would willingly leave him to the He- rald's College, which the philofophy of the Sans culottes, (prouder by far than all the Garters, and Norroys and Clarencieux, and Rouge Dragons that ever pranced in a proceiiion of v/hat his friends call ariftocrates and defpots) will aboliili with contumely and fcorn. Thefe hiftorians, re- corders, and blazoners of virtues and arms, di^tr wholly from that other defcription of hiftorians, who never afTign any ad of politicians to a good motive. Thefe gentle hiflorians, on the contrary, dip . ( 40 ) dip their pens in nothing but the milkof huma'ti kindnefs. They feek no further for merit than the preamble of a patent, or the infcription on a' tomb. With them every man created a peer is firft an hero ready made. They judge of every man's capacity for office by the offices 'he has filled ; and the more offices the more ability. Every General-officer with them is a Marlbo- rough; every Statefman a Burleigh; every Judge a Murray or a Yorke. They, who live, were laughed at or pitied by aU their acquaintance, make as good a figure as the beft of them in the pages of Guillim, Edmonfon, and Collins. To thefe recorders, fo full of good nature to the great and profperous, I Would willingly leave the firft Baron RufTel, and Earl of Bedford, and the merits of his grants; But the aulnager, the weigher, the meter of grants, v/ill pot fuffisr us to -acquiefce in the judgment of the Prince reign- ing at the time when they were made., They are never good to thofe who earn them. Well then ; fmce the new grantees have v/ar made on them by the old, and that the word of the^So- verelgn is not to be taken,' ht us turn-out eyes to hiftory, in which great nien-have always a pleafure in contemplating the heroic origin of their houfe. The C 41 ) The firfl ' peer of the name, the firil pur- chafer of the grants, was a Mr. Ruflel, a per- fon of an ancient gentleman's family - railed by being a minion of Henry the Eighth. As there generally is feme refemblance of chara6ler to create thefe relations, the favourite was in all likelihood much fuch another as his mafter. The fir ft of thofe immoderate grants was not taken from the ancient demefne of the Crown, but from the recent confifcation of the ancient nobility of the land. The lion having fucked the blood of his prey, threw the offal carcafe to the jackall in waiting. Having tafted once the food of confifcation, the favourites became fierce and ravenous. This worthy favourite's firfl grant was from the lay nobility. The fecond, in- finitely improving on the enormity of the firft, was from the plunder of the church. In truth his Grace is fomewhat excufable for his dif- like to a grant like mine, not only in its quan- tity, but in it's kind fo different from his t>wn. Mine was from a mild and benevolent fove- relgn \ his from Henry the Eighth. G Mine ( 42 ) Mine had not it's fund in the murder of any innocent perfon of Illuftrious rank*, or in the pillage of any body of unoffending men. His grants were from the aggregate and confolidated funds of judgments iniquitoufly legal, and from poireffions voluntarily furrendered by the lawful proprietors with the gibbet at their door. The merit of the grantee whom he derives from, was that of being a prompt and greedy inftrument of a levelling tyrant, who oppreifed all defcriptions of his people, but who fell with ' particular fury on every thing that was great and noble. Mine has been, ;n endeavouring to fcreen every man, in every clafs, from oppreffion, and particularly in defending the high and eminent, who in the bad times of confifcating Princes, confifcating chief Governors, er confifcating Demagogues, are the moft expofed to jealoufy, dvarice and envy. The merit of the- original grantee of his Grace's penfions, was in giving his hand to the work, and partaking the fpoil with a Prince, who plun- * See the hiftory of the melancholy cataftrophe of the Duke of Buckingham. Temp. Hen. 8. dered ( 43 ) dere^d a part of his national church of his time and country. Mine was in defending the whole of the national church of my ov/n time and my own country, and the whole of the national churches of all countries, from the principles and the examples which lead to ecclefiaftical pil- lage, thence to a contempt of all prefcriptive titles, thence to the pillage of all property, and thence to univerfal defolation. The merit of the origin of his Grace's fortune was in being a favourite and chief advifer to a Prince, who left no liberty to their native coun- try. My endeavour was to obtain liberty for the municipal country in which I was born, and for all defcriptions and denominations in it. — Mine was to fupport with unrelaxing vigilance every right, every privilege, every franchife, in this my adopted, my dearer and more compre- henfive country ; and not only to preferve thofe rights in this chief feat of empire, but in every nation, in every land, in every climate, language and religion, in the vaft domain that ftill is under the prote£lion, and the larger that was once under the prote(^ion, of the ^ritilh Crown. G 2 His ( 44 ) ■ His fouader's merits were, by arts in which he ferved his mafler and made his fortune, to bring poverty, wretchednefs and depopulation on his country. . Mine were under a benevolent Prince, in promoting the commerce, manufac- tures and agriculture of his kingdom ; in which his Majefty (hews an eminent example, who even in his amufements is a patriot, and in hours of l^ifure an improver of his native foil.- His founder's merit, was the merit of a gen- tleman raifed by the arts of ^ Court, and the proteftion of a "Woifey, to the eminence of a great and potent Lord. His merit in that eminence was by inftigating a tyrant to in- jurtice, to provoke a people to rebellion. My merit was, to awaken the fober part of the country, that they might put themfelves an their guard againft any one potent Lord, or any greater number of potent Lords, or any combination of great leading men of any fort, if ever they fhould attempt to proceed in the fame courfes, but in the reverfe order, that is, by inftigating a cor- rupted populace- to rebellion, and, through that rebellion, introducing a tyranny yet worfe than the tyranny which his Grace's anceftor fiip- ported, and of which he profited in the manner ' ' we ( 45 ) we behold in the defpotifm of Henry the Eighth. The political merit of the firfl penfioner of his Grace's houfe, was that of being concerned a? a counfellor of flate in advifing, and in his perfon executing the conditions of a difho. nourable peace with France ; the furrendering the fortrefs of Boulogne, then our out guard on the Continent. By that furrender, Calais, the key of France, and the bridle in the mouth of that power, was, not many years afterwards, finally loft. My merit has been in refilling the power and pride of France, under any form of it's rule ; but in oppofing it with the greateft zeal and earneftnefs, when that rule appeared in the worft form it could afiume ; the worft indeed which the prime caufeandprincipleof all evil could poflibly give it. It was my endeavour by every means to excite a fpirit in the houfe, where I had the honour of a feat, for carrying on with early vigour ahd decifion, the moft clearly juft and neceffary war, that this or any nation ever carried on ; in order to fave my country from , the iron yoke of it's power, and from the more dreadful contagion of its principles ; to pre- ferve, while they can be preferved pure and un- tainted, the ancient, inbred integrity, piety, good C 46 ) good nature, and good humour of the people of England, from the dreadful peftilence which beginning in France, threatens to lay wafle the whole moral, and in a great degree rhe whole phyfical world, having doiie both in the focus of it's moit intenfe malignity. The labours of his Grace's founder merited the curfes, not loud but deep, of the Commons of England, on whom he and his mafler had efFeded 2iC07npleat Parliamentary Ref or 711^ by making them their flavery and humiliation, the true and ade- quate reprefentatives of a debafed, degraded, and undone people. My merits were, in hav- ing had an active, though not always an often- tatious fhare, in everyone ad, without excep- tion, of undifputed conftitutional utility in my time, and in having fupported on all occafions, the authority, the efficiency, and the privileges of the Commons of Great Britain. I ended my fervices by a recorded and fully reafoned alTer- tion on their own journals of their conftitutional nghts, and a vindication of their conftitutional conduQ. I laboured in all things to merit their inward approbation, and (along with the affift- ants of the largeft, the greateft, and beft of my endeavours) I received their free, unbiafled, publick, and folemn thanks. Thus C 47 ) Thus ftands the account of the comparative merits of the Crown grants which compofe the Duke of Bedford's fortune as balanced againfi: mine. In the name of common fenfe, why fhould the Duke of Bedford think, that none but of the Houfe of RufTel are entitled to the- favour of the Crown ? Why fhould he ima- gine that no King of England has been capable of judging of merit but King Henry the Eighth? Indeed, he will pardon me; he is a liftU^ mif- taken ; all virtue did not end in the firft Earl ot Bedford. All difcernment did not lofe it's vi- fion when his Creator clofed his eyes. Let him remit his rigour on the difproportion between merit and reward in others, and they will make no enquiry into the origin of his fortune. They will regard with much more fatisfadion, as he will contemplate with infinitely more advantage, whatever his pedigree has been dulcified by an expofure to the influence of heaven in a long flow of generations, from the hard, acidulous, metallick tindure of the fpring. It is little to be doubted, that feveral of his forefathers in that long feries, have degenerated into honour and virtue. Let the Duke of Bedford (I am fure he will) rejedl with fcorn and horror, the counfels of the lecturers, thofe wicked panders to avarice and ambition, who would tempt him in the trou- bles f 48 ) bles of hb country, to feek another enormous fortune from the forfeitures of another nobihty^ and the plunder of another church. Let him (and I truil that yet he will) employ all the energy of his youth, and all the refources of his wealth, to crufh rebellious' principles, which have no foundation in morals, and rebellious movements, that have no provocation in ty- ranny. Then will be forgot the rebellions, which, by a doubtful priority in crime, his anceftor had provoked and extinguifhed. On fuch a condud in the noble Duke, many of his countrymen might, and with fome excufe might, give way to the enthufiafm of their gratitude, and in the dafhing flyle of fome of the old declaimers, cry out, that if the fates had found no other way in which they could give a *Duke of Bedford and his opulence as props to a tottering world, then the butchery of the Duke of Buckingham might be tolerated j it might be regarded even with cbmplacency, whilft in the heir of confifcation they faw the fympathizing comforter of the martyrs, who fuffer under the cruel confifcation of this day ; whilft they beheld with admiration * At fi non aliam yenturo fata Neroni, &:c. This ( 49 ) his zealous protedion of the virtuous and loyal nobility of France, and his manly fupport of his brethren, the yet Handing nobility and gentry of his native land. Then his Grace's merit would be pure and new, and fliarp, as frefh from the mint of honour. As he pleafed he might re- flect honour on his predecelTors, or throw it for- ward on thofe who were to fucceed him. He might be the propagator of the flock of honour, or the root of it, as he thought proper. Had it pleafed God to continue to me the hopes of fucceilion, I fhould have been, ac- cording to my mediocrity, and the mediocrity of the age I live in, a fort of founder of a family; I Ihould have left a fon, who, in all the points in which perfonal merit can be viewed, in fci- ence, in erudition, in genius, in tafte, in honour, in generohty, in humanity, in every liberal fenti- ment, and every liberal accomplifliment, would pot have fhewn himfelf inferior to the Duke of Bedford, or to any of thofe whom he traces in his line. His Grace very foon would have wanted all plaulibility in his. attack upon that proviiion which belonged more to mine than to nie. He would foon have fupplied every deficiency, and fymmetrized every difproportion. It would not have been for that fucceflbr to refort to any ilag- H nant ( 50 ) iiant wafting refervoir of merit in me, or in any anceftry. He had in himfelf a falient, living fpring, of generous and manly adtion. Every day he lived he would have re-purchafed the bounty of the crown, and ten times more, if ten times more he had received. He was made a pubhck creature ; and had no enjoyment what- ever, but in the performance of fome duty. At this oxigent moment, the lofs of a finilhed man is not ealily fnpplied. But a difpofer whofe power we are little able to reiift, and whofe wifdom it behoves us not at all to difpute ; has ordained it in another manner, and (whatever my querulous weaknefs might fug- geil) a far better. The ftorm has gone over me ; and I lie like one of thofe old oaks which the late hurricane has fcattered about me. I am ftrip- ped of all my honours ; I am torn up by the roots, and lie proftrate on the earth I There, and prof Irate there, I moft unfeignedly recognize the divine juftice, and in fome degree fubmit to it. But w^hilft I humble myfelf before God, I do not know that it is forbidden to repel the attacks of unjuft and inconliderate men. The patience of Job is proverbial. After fome of the convullive ftruggles of our irritable nature, he fubmitted himfelf, and repented in duft and afhesr ( 51 ) afhes. But even fo, I do not find him blamed for reprehending, and with a confiderable de- gree of verbal afperity, thofe ill-natured neigh- bours of his, who viiited his dunghill to read moral, political, and oeconomical lectures on his mifery. I am alone. I have none to meet my enemies in the gate. Indeed, my Lord, I greatly deceive myfelf, if in this hard feafon I would give a peck of refufe wheat for all that is called fame and honour in the world. This is the appetite but of a few. It is a luxury; it is a privilege ; it is an indulgence for thofe who are at their eafe. But we are all of us made to fliun difgrace, as we are made to fhrink from pain, and poverty, and difeafe. It is an inllindt ; and under the direction of reafon, inftindt is always in the right. I hve in an inverted order. They who ought to have fucceeded me are gone be- fore me. They who fliould have been to me as pollerity are in the place of anceilors. I owe to the deareft relation (which ever mufl fubiiil in memory) that adl of piety, which he would have performed to me ; I owe it to him to fhew that he was not defcended, as the Duke of Bed- ford would have it, from an unworthy parent. The Crown has confidered me after long fer- vice : the Crown has paid the Duke of Bedford by H 2 advance. ( 5-- ) advance. He has had a long credit for any fervice which he may perform hereafter. He isfecure,and long may he be fecure,in his advance, whether he performs any fervices or not. But let him take care how he endangers the fafety of that Conftitution which fecures his own utility or his own inlignificance ; or how he difcourage;? thofe, who take up, even puny arms, to defend an order of things, which, like the Sun of Hea- ven, fhines alike on the ufeful and the worth- lefs. His grants are engrafted on the public law of Europe, covered with the awful hoar of innumerable ages. They are guarded by the facred rules of prefcription, found in that full treafury of jurifprudence from which the jejunenefs and penury of our municipal law has, by degrees, been enriched and ftrength- ened. This prefcription I had my ihare (a very full Ihare) in bringing to it's perfection *'. The Duke of Bedford will ftand as long as pre- fcriptive law endures ; as long as the great liable laws of property, common to us with all civilized nations, are kept in their integrity, and without the fmalleft intermixture of the laws, maxims, principles, or precedents of the Grand Revolution. They are fecure againft . * Sir George Savllc'a Ad, called the NuUum Tmput Aft. all ( 53 ) all changes but one. The whole revolutionary fyftem, inftitutes, digeft, code, novels, text, glofs, comment, are, not only not the. fame, but they are the very reverfe, and the reverfe fundamentally, of all the laws, on which civil life has hitherto been upheld in all the govern- ments of the world. The learned profeflbrs of the Rights of Man regard prefcription, not as a title to bar all claim, fet up againft old pofleflion — but they look on prefcription as itfelf a bar againft the pofleiTor and proprietor. They hold an immemorial pofleflion to be no more than a long continued, and therefore an aggravated injuftice. Such are their ideas ; fuch their religion, and fuch their law. But as to our country and our race, as long as the well compared ftrudure of our church and ftate, the fancluary, the holy of holies of that ancient law, defended by reve- rence, defended by power, a fortrefs at once and a temple *, fliall ftand inviolate on the brow of the Britifli Sion — as long as the Britifli Mo- narchy, not more hmited than fenced by the orders of the State, fliall, like the proud Keep * Templum in modum arcis, Tacitus of the Temple of Jcrufalein of ( 54 ) of Windfor, riling in the majefty of pro- portion, and girt with the double belt of it's kindred and coeval towers, as long as this awful Itrudlure fhall overfee and guard the fubjecled land — fo long the mounds and dykes of the low, fat, Bedford level will have nothing to fear from all the pickaxes of all the levellers of France. As long as our Sovereign Lord the King, and his faithful fubjeds, the Lords and Commons of this realm, — the triple cord, which no man can break ; the folemn, fworn, conftitu- tional frank-pledge of this nation ; the firm gua- rantees of each others being, and each others rights ; the joint and feveral fecurities, each in it's place and order, for every kind and every quality, of property and of dignity — As long as thefe endure, fo long the Duke of Bedford is fafe : and we are all fafe together — the high from the blights of envy and the fpoliations of rapacity ; the low^ from the iron hand of oppref- fion and the infolent fpurn of contempt. Amen ! and fo be it : and fo it will be, Dum domu8 iEneae Capitoli immobile faxum Accolet ; imperiumque pater Romanua habebit. — But if the rude inroad of Gallick tumult, with it's fophiftical Rights of Man, to faliify the ac- count, i 55 y count, and it's fword as a makeweiglit to throw into the fcale, iliall be introduced into our city by a mifguided populace, fet on by proud great men, themfelves blinded and in- toxicated by a frantick ambition, we fliall, all of us, periih and be overwhelmed in a com- mon ruin. If a great itorm blow on our coall, it will caft the whales on the llrand as well as the periwinkles. His Grace will not furvive the poor grantee he defpifes, no not for a twelvemonth. If the great look for fafety in the fervices they render this Gallick caufe, it is to be foolifh, even above the weight of privi- lege allowed to wealth. If his Grace be one of thefe whom they endeavour to profelytize, he ought to be aware of the character of the fed, whofe doctrines he is invited to embrace. With them, infurredion is the moll facred of revolu- tionary duties to the ilate. Ingratitude to bene- factors is the firft of revolutionary virtues. Ingratitude is indeed their four cardinal vir- tues compadled and amalgamated into one ; and he will find it in every thing that has hap- pened fince the commencement of the phi- lofophick revolution to this hour. If he pleads the merit of having performed the duty of infurre6lion againfl the order he lives in (God forbid he ever lliould), the merit of others will ( 56 ) will be to perform the duty of infurrec* tion againft him. If he pleads (again God for- bid he fhould, and I do not fufped he will) his ingratitude to the Crown for it's creation of his family, others will plead their right and duty to pay him in kind. They will laugh, indeed they will laugh, at his parchment and his wax. His deeds will be drawn out with the reft of the lumber of his evidence room, and burnt tcn,^ the tune of j:a ira in the courts of Bedford (then JEquality) Houfe, Am I to blame, if I attempt to pay his Grace's hoftile reproaches to me with a friendly admoni- tion to himfelf? Can I be blamed, for pointing out to him in what manner he is like to be affedled, if the fed: of the cannibal philofophers of> France fhould profelytize any coniiderable part of this people, and, by their joint profelytizing <'irms, fhould conquer that Government, to which his Grace does not feem to me to give all the fupport his own fecurity demands ? Surely it is proper, that he, and that others like him, fhould know the true genius of this fedl ; what their opinions are ; what they have done : and to whom ; and what, (if a prognoftick is to be formed from the difpofitions and adlions of men) it is certain they will do hereafter. . He ou^ht ( 57 ) dught to know, that they have fworn affiflance, the only engagement they ever will keep, to all in this country, who bear a refemblance to themfelves, and who think as fuch, that The whole duty of man conlifts in deltrudiion. They are a miiallied and difparaged branch of the houfe of Nimrod. They are the Duke of Bed- ford's natural hunters ; and he is their natural game. Becaufe he is not very profoundly refledl- ing, he lleeps in profound fecurity : they, on the contrary, are always vigilant, active, en- terprizing, and though far removed from any knowledge, which makes men eftimable or ufe- ful, in all the inflruments and refources of eVil, their leaders are not meanly inflrudted, or in- fufficiently furnifhed. In the French Revolu-. tion every thing is new ; and, from want of pre- paration to meet fo unlooked for an evil, every thing is dangerous. Never, before this time^ was a fet of literary men, converted into a gang df robbers and alTaffins. Never before, did a den of bravoes and banditti, aflume the garb and tone of an academy of philofophers. Let me tell his Grace, that an union of fuch charadlers, monflrous as it feems, is not made for producing defpicable enemies. But if they are formidable as foes, as friends they arc X dreadful C 58 > dreadful indeed. The men of property in Franctf' confiding in a force, which feemed to be irre-^ filtible, becaufe it had never been tried, ne- glecled to prepare for a conflid with their enemies at their oWn weapons. They were found in fuch a fituation as the Mexicans were, when they were attacked by the dogs, the ca- valry, the iron, and the gunpowder of an hand- ful of bearded men, whom they did not know to exift in. nature. This is a comparifon that fome, I think, have made ; and it is juil. In France they had their enemies within their houfes. They were even in the bofoms of many of them. But they had not fagucity to difcern their favage characler. They feemed tame, and even carefling. They had nothing but douce humanite in their mouth. They could not bear the punifliment of the mildeil laws on the greatefl criminals. The flightell feverity of juftice made their fleih creep. The very idea that war exifted in the world difturbed their re- pofe. Military glory was no more, with them, than a fplendid infamy. Hardly would they hear of felf defence, which they reduced within fuch bounds, as to leave it no defence at all. All this while they meditated the confifcations and mafla- cres we have feen. flad any one told thefe vm- fortunate Noblemen and Gentlemen, how, and by e 59 ) by whom, the grand fabrick of the French mo- narchy under which they flouriflied would be fubverted, they would not have pitied him as a vifionary, but would have turned from him as what they call a nmuvais plaifant. Yet v/e have feen what has happened. The perfons who have fuffered from the cannibal philofophy of France, are fo Uke the Duke of Bedford, that nothing but his Grace's probably not fpeaking quite fo good French, could enable us to find out any difference. A great many of them had as pompous titles as he, and were of full as illuftrious a race : fome few of them had fortunes as ample ; feveral of them, without meaning the lead difparagement to the Duke of Bedford, were as wife, and as virtuous, and as valiant, and as well educated, and as compleat in all the lineaments of men of honour as he is : And. to all this they had added the powerful outguard of a military profeilion, which, in if s nature, renders men fomewhat more cautious than thofe, who have nothing to attend to but the lazy enjoyment of undiflurbed poffef- fions. But fecurity was their ruin. They are dallied to pieces in the ftorm, and our fliores are covered with the wrecks. If they had been aware that fuch a thing might happen, fuch a thing never could have happened. I 2 I alTpre C 60 ) I afTure his Grace, that if I flate to him the deiigns of his enemies, in a manner which may appear to him ludicrous and impoflible, I tell him nothing that has not exadly hap- pened, point by point, but twenty-four mile from our own fhore. I affure him that the rienchified faction, more encouraged, than others are warned, by what has happened in France, look at him and his landed pollef- iions, as an objedl at once of curiofity and rapacity. He is made for them in every part of their double character. As robbers, to them he is a noble booty : as fpeculatills, he is a glorious fubjed: for their experimental phi- lolophy. He aftbrds matter for an extenlivc analyfis, in all the branches of their fcience, geometrical, phyfical, civil and political. Thefe philofopheirs are fanaticks ; independent of any mterelt, which if it operated alone would make them much more tradable, they are carried with fuch an headlong rage towards every def- perate trial, that they would facrifice the whole human race to the flightell of their experi-, raents. I am better able to enter into the cha- racter of this defcription of men than the noble Duke can be. I have lived long and varioufly in the World. Without any conliderable pre- tenfions to literature in myfelf, I have afpired to ( 6i ) to the love of letters. I have lived for a great many years in habitudes with thofe who profef- fed them. I can form a tolerable eilimate of w^hat is likely to happen from a charadler, chiefly dependent for fame and fortune, on knowledge and talent, as well in it's morbid and perverted Hate, as in that which is found and natural. Naturally men fo formed and finifhed are the firfl gifts of Providence to the World. B.ut when they have once thrown off the fear of God, which was in all ages too often the cafe, and the fear of man, which is now the cafe, and when in that Hate the3r-6ome to underftand one another, and to ad in corps, a more dreadful calamity cannot arife out of Hell to fcourge mankind. Nothing can be conceived more hard than the heart of a thorough-bred meta- phylician. It comes nearer to the cold malig- nity of a wicked fpirit than to the frailty and pafRon of a man. Jt is like that of the prin- ciple of Evil himfelf; incorporeal, pure, un- mixed, dephlegmated, defecated evil. It is no eafy operation to eradicate humanity from the human breaR. What Shakefpeare calls " the compundious viiitings of nature," will fome- times knock at their hearts, and proteft againll their murderous fpeculations. But they have a means of compounding with their nature. Their ( 62 ) Their humanity is not dilTolved. They only give it a long prorogation. They are ready to declare, that they do not think two thoufand years too long a period for the good that they purfue. It is remarkable, that they never fee any way to their projedled good but by the road of fonie evil. Their imagination is not fatigued, with the contemplation of human fufFering thro' the wild wafte of centuries added to centuries, of mifery and defolation. Their humanity is at their horizon — and, like the horizon, it always flies before them. The geometricians, and the chymiils bring, the one from the dry bones of their diagrams, and the other from the foot of their furnaces, difpofitions that make them worfe than indifferent about thofe feelings and habitudes, which are the fupports of the moral world. Ambition is come upon them fuddenly ; they are intoxicated with it, .and it has rendered them fearlefs of the dan- ger, which may from thence arife to others' or to themfelves. Thefe philofophers, con- fider men in their experiments, no more than they do mice in an air pump, or in a recipient of mephitick gas. Whatever his Grace may think of himfelf, they look upon him, and every thing that belongs to him, with no more regard than they do upon the whifkers of that little long- tailed C 63 ) Jailed animal, that has been long the game of the grave, demm'e, inlidious, fpring-nailed, velvet-pawed, green-eyed philofophers, whether going upon two legs, or upon four. His Grace's landed pofleflions are irrelillibly inviting to an agrarian e:xperiment. They are a downright infult upon the Rights of Man. They are more extenlive than the territory of many of the Grecian repubhcks ; and they are without comparifon more fertile than moll of them. There are now republicks in Italy, in Germany and in SwiiTerland, which do not pof- fefs any thing like fo fair and ample a domain. There is fcope for feven philofophers to proceed in their analytical experiments, upon Harington's feven different forms of republicks, in the acres of this one Duke. Hitherto they have been wholly unproductive to fpecvdation ; fitted for nothing but to fatten bullocks, and to produce grain for beer. Hill more to ftupify the dull Englifh underftanding. Abbe Sieyes has whole nefts of pigeon-holes full of conltitutioas ready made,., ticketed, forted, and numbered ; fuited to every feafon and every fancy ; fome with the top of the pattern at the bottom, and fome with the bottom at the top ; fome plain, fome flowered ; fome diltinguiihed for their fimplicity i ( 64 5 [i'mplicity ; others for their complexity ; fom4 of blood colour ; fome of boue de Paris ^ feme with diredlories, others without a dire(5tion ; fome with councils of elders, and councils of youngflers ; fome without any council at all. Some where the electors choofe their reprefenta- tives; others, where the reprefentatives choofe the eled:ors. Some in long coats, and fome in lliort cloaks ; fome with pantaloons ; fome with- out breeches. Some with five Ihilling qualifica- tions ; fome totally unqualified. So that no con- •ftitution -fancier may go unfuited from his {hop, provided he loves a pattern of pillage, oppreffion, arbitrary imprifonment, confifcation, exile, revo- lutionary judgment, and legalifed premeditated murder, in any fhapes into which they can be put. What a pity it is, that the progrefs of ex- perimental philofopliy fhouid be checked by his Grace's monopoly I Such are their fentiments, I aflure him ; fuch is their language when they dare to fpeak ; and fuch are their proceedings, when they have the means to ad. Their geographers, and^ geometricians, have been fome time out of pradice. It is fome time fince they have divided their own country into fquares. That figure has lofl; the charms of its novelty. ( 65 ) novelty. They want new lands for new trials; It is not only the geometricians of the repub- lick that find him a good fubje6t, the chymifts have befpoke him after the geometricians have done with him. As the firft fet have an eye on his Grace's lands, the chymifts are not lefs taken with his buildings. They confider mor- tar as a very anti-revolutionary invention in it's prefent ftate ; but properly employed, an ad- mirable material for overturning all eftablifh- ments. They have found that the gunpowder of ruins is far the fitteft for making other ruinsy and fo ad infinitum. They have calculated what quantity of matter convertible into nitre is to be found in Bedford Houfe, in Woburn Abbey, and in what his Grace arid his truftees have ftill fuffered to ftand of that foolifh royalifl Inigo Jones, in Covent Garden. Churches, play-houfes, cofiee-houfes, all alike are deftined to be mingled, and equalized, and blended into one common rubbifh ; and well fifted, and lixi- viated, to chryftalize into true democratick ex- plofive infurredionary nitre. Their Academy del Cimento (per antipharlin) with Morveau and Haflenfrats at it's head, have computed that the brave Sans-cullotes may make war on all the ariftocracy of Europe for a twelvemonth, out of K the C 66 ) the rubbifh of the Duke of Bedford's build- ings *. While the Morveaux and Prieftleys are pro- ceeding with thefe experiments upon the Duke * There is nothing, on which the leaders of the Repiib- lick, one and indivifible, value themfelves, more than on the chymcial operations, by which, through fcience, they con- vert the pride of Ariftocracy, to an inftrument of it's own de- llrudlion — on the operations by which they reduce the magni- ficent ancient country feats of the nobility, decorated with the feudal titles of Duke, Marquis, or Earl, into magazines of what they call revolutionary gunpowder. They tell us that hitherto things " had not yet been properly and in a ** revolutionary manner explored." — '• The ftrong cha- ** teausf thok feudal forireffes, that ivere ordered to be demO' ** li/hed^ attraded next the attention of your Committee. *' Nature \htrt. hsidfecretly regained her rightSf and had" pro- ** ducvd falt-petre for the purpofe, as it fhould feem, offacili' •* tating the execution of your decree by preparing the means of de- *^ JruBion. From thele ruins, which Jlill frown on the «♦ liberties of the R publick, we have extracted the me.an8 ** of producing good ; and thoie piles, which have hitherto <* glutted the pride of Defpots^ and covered the plots of La <* Vendue will foon furniih wherewithal t PRIVATE LIFE. DEDICATED TO THE RIGHT HO.V. LOUD MORPETH. 1 11 r SECOND EJ jiHUxV . ^ lonlion: PRINTED rOR, MESSRS. JORJiAl* AND MAXWELL, 331, STRAIN D, OrPOSlTE SOMERSET HOUSE, By W,M«DowaU, No, 4, Pemberton Row, Gough-square, Fleet-su«tt. ISO6. [Price Two Shillings and Siicpence.'] ABVERTISEBfENT. THAT the reader may not expect from the following sheets what the author never intended, it may be neces* sary previously to inform him, that the contents of these pages are expressed with precision in the title. It is a circumstantial detail of the long illness and last moments of a Statesman, whose sentiments and sufferings cannot but awaken general interest. The public life of Mr. Fox be- longs to more important works. Of his private life we have given detached sketches, which will facilitate the knowledge of his character. It was the advice of one who had an unusual insight into human character, not to judge of a man till he was dying or dead. Let me see him in his hour of pain, when the soul is in its state of contest, and I see and know the man. In the following pages, the reader will see Mr. Fox in this point of view. Let him form his conclusion ; we wish not to bias him. TO THE RIGHT HON. I^OMB MORPETH. MY LORD, THE subject of the following sheetjSy unhappily hut too near the heart of your Lordship, redeems even an unauthorized dedication from the necessity of excuse. If your Lordship felt less, it might be necessary for me to say more. The purpose of these pages ^ my Lord, is to give the public afaithfid detail of the last mo- ments of your friend — your instructor, Iliad almost added, my Lord, of your father. If in the ordinary sense of that sacred zvord, the peerage would not here bear me out, I zvould make my appeal to the Roman philosopher, — '' Si 6 " Si animus, et non corpus, homo est; et *' Plato is est qui cogitat, et scribit, et do- ** cet, et non qui ambulat^ dormit et edit, " pater ille verus est, qui animum format et " instruit ad virtutem et sapientiam." // was, indeed, the peculiar praise of Mr, FoXy that he took peculiar delight in those acts zvhich united public and private good. He communicated what he had learned with as much aviditi/, as that with which he had learned it. In this sense of the zvord, he had the spirit of proselytism. What Dry den sai/s of the libertinism of Charles the Second, zvith a kind of courtly irony, that he took a peculiar delight " To multiply his image through the land," Was true in a better sense of Mr. Fox. Per- haps no statesman has ever formed more young men. He zvas never iveary of this patriotic be- nevolence : he had learned it of Mr. Burke. If 7 If any one should here object that Mr. Fox may have had private and less generous mo^ tivcs in this exercise of his friendship, your Lordship may vindicate him. Your ample for- tune — your noble alliance — your peculiar feli- city and moderation of temper— induced you at a very early period, to make your election^ and to shun the troubled deep of power and place. Yet to tohom has Mr. Fox been a more attentive instructor ^ Who has been a more beloved pupil than one from whose active co- operation he had to hope nothing. J have nothing to add but to acknowledge myself Your Lordships s obedient. Humble Servant, THE AUTHOR. CIKCUMSTANTIAL ©ETAILS^ 4fc. ^c. ^c. 1^ O life has confessedly been more active than that of Mr. Fox. Whatever may be the difference of opinion as to the character of his politics, as to his views, and their pro- bable event — there can be but one sentiment as to the occupation of his life. Every one must unite in opinion, that his life has passed in no ordinary manner. That Mr. Fox was not one of those men who are bom fruges consumere, to spend their estates, and go out of the world with as little consequence as they came in, Mr. Fox was not one of these B cyphers — 10 cyphers' — ^hc had not as yet attained those li- mits, at which the laws of the land, forming their estimate according to the ordinary course of the human mind, permits the power of action, when he became at once an actor on the public stage, and entered at the same moment into manhood and the public service. It was the custom amongst our barbarous an- cestors, in common with the ancient Ger- mans, to hold solemn assemblies for the ad- mission and enrolment of their youths into the class of men; at which assemblies, such as had attained the suitable age, presented themselves, when a spear and shield was put into their hands, and they were thus, in the same moment, enrolled into manhood, and the service of their country. It was the same with Mr. Fox. He took the spear and shield, and stood forth, almost in the same moment, a man and a legislator. If the life of such a character cannot be indifferent, surely the death— the last glow of the embers of expir- ing life, cannot but equally interest. If there is a moment in which the natural generosity of 11 of the human mind more tenderly loves its friends, and forgets every thing in its sym- pathy even for its enemies, it is that in which aJl their power of good or harm must be alike extinguished in the grave. There is some- thing peculiarly sacred in this word, — it ani- mates love, deadens enmity ; and, calling the mind to consider the common lot of all, ex- alts it above the transitory passions of the day. It is by such feelings that we have been actuated in the following pages. We have hence concluded, that even the slight circum- stances here related could not but be grate- ful to the public, as in many respects render- ing a public character more known, and correcting errors which malice had spread, and ignorance incautiously adopted. The friends of Mr. Fox will here learn, that he died as he lived, with magnanimity and con* fdence. The adversaries of Mr. Fox will be com- B 2 pelled 12 pelled to acknowledge one important truth, that Mr. Fox loved his country, and thought anxiously upon its interest in his last mo- ments. These are the limits and purpose of the following short narrative : many of the friends of Mr. Fox were unhappily remote from him in the last part of his mortal career. Many, though exhorted to hasten up, if they had any desire to see their friend once more, flat- tered themselves that the danger was less im- minent, and that the delay of a few days was immaterial. Some of these arrived in the actual moment of his death. It will be rea- dily conceived that the daily detail of the progress of Mr. Fox, could not but be mat- ter of the most lively interest to these gen* tlemen. The writer of these pages, as in some degree connected with the person of Mr. Fox, was known to most of his more im- mediate friends ; he was moreover on the spot, and as such was requested by many of these gentlemen 13 gentlemen to write by every post the course and progress of the disease. It will be seen that he very early expected, what to the pub* lie misfortune has now occurred. This ex- pectation induced him to keep copies of one or more of his several letters. From these copies is the detail now before the public compiled. He hopes that it will not be objected to him that what he has related as spoken by Mr. Fox, was private, and should not have been published by a casual hearer — he has only to reply, that he is not aware of any con- sequences which the publication can have. What he has communicated relates to sub^ jects assuredly harmless, though from the im- portance of their object, necessarily inte- resting. My personal knowledge of Mr. Fox com- menced about seven years since, a period of his life in which he was seen to most advan- tage. Domestic circumstances threw me at that J4 that time, into his immediate neighbourhood. As I had not there obtained that success in my profession, to which I flatter myself my industry and long study under a master, cer- tainly not the least celebrated, had in some degree led me to expect, I had become al^ most weary of it, and turned my thoughts to a very different and more attractive pursuit—-^ dramatic literature. This was the circumstance that introduced me to Mr. Fox. This eminent statesman resided at that period at St. Anne's Hill, Chertsey ^ from which no invitations of his friends could tempt him to any long absence. — My house was about two miles from St. Anne's. In my walks I daily and al- most hourly met Mr. Fox. Between Staines and Chertsey is the village of Laleham; froml St. Anne*s Hill to this village is a delightful walk, by a path across the fields. Mr. Fox was almost daily in this walk. I knew there- fore where to meet him, and it was some sa- tisfaction 15 tisfaction to gain even a passing glanee at a man of Mr. Fox's reputation. I had scarcely finished my first drama, be- fore I began to doubt that I had mistaken my talent, and, in disgust of my profession, adopted a kind of laborious idleness, which would be less profitable to me than even my own narrow business. I thought my drama somewhat too sombre for a comedy. I wished much for the opinion of a good critic — ^To whom should I apply — I knew no one — ^The reader will smile — I sent my drama to a celebrated physician now deceas- ed ^ the worthy patron of my earlier years. — I was not satisfied with the opinion of this excellent man — He gave it as his decided sentiment, that my drama was too grave, and would not be tolerated— A sudden thought suggested itself, and I sent it to Mr. Fox, who at that time was unacquainted even with my name. I am the more particular in these circum- stances. stances, as they bear a reference to the private life of Mr. Fox, and throw som« light on his character, as a man and a gen- tleman, it is from these circumstances, cir- cumstances in the privacy of domestic life, circumstances which were never intended, and never expected to meet the public view — that character must be inferred ; the deco- rum of life and manners requires some res- traint* some dress and preparation, all which disguise the man, and veil him from the eye. In these smaller circumstances of pnvat<^ life, there is no disguise, no masque, the mind acts from impulse, and shews itself in its natural features. I give the letter which accompanied my drama, as necessary to explain the trans^ action. Ta ihe Hon, Charles James Fox, Sir, I KNOW not how to excuse the trouble of the present application, ex- cept i7 cept by imputing it to its true cause — a con- fidence in your goodness, and general syn\- pathy in the interest of others. The Drama which accompanies this, is written by a man who is unused to the drama, but from long habit and education, has a passionate attachment to letters in general. May I presume, Sir, to request your perusal — may I advance one step far* ther, and humbly solicit your opinion. I am. Sir, With profound respect. Your devoted humble servant. I accordingly sent my drama, accompa- nied with this letter, to Mr. Fox, to St. Anne's Hill. In the course of the afternoon I received an answer by one of Mrs. Arm- ted's servants. " Mr. Fox's compliments to Mr. , and in his present leisure has to thank Mr. — ~ for the perusal of his drama." C This This note needs no comment. The deli- cate benevolence by which an almost inex- cusable liberty on my part was converted into a favour, as furnishing him with occu- pation in his present leisure, exhibits at once an image of the man both in disposi- tion and manners. Mr. Fox accordingly read my drama, and according to the usual candour of his cha- racter, gave me his opinion ; which, as nearly as I can now recal to my memory, was, that he saw proofs of such ability in it, that he recommended me to throw it into the fire in revenge for its having occupied so much time. I literally took his advice, and by his desire gave up all thoughts of the drama. From this day I enjoyed the acquaintance of Mr. Fox 5 and I believe it has been my own fault, that in point of pecuniary af- fairs it has not turned out more to my ad- vantaged Thus far I think it necessary to add, that 19 that Mr. Fox, some years since, often atix^ iously inquired into the state of thy affairs, and more than once offered me a loan of some amount. Mr. Fox at that time lived almost solitarily. I have been at St. Anne's Hill day after day without seeing the arrival of a single visitor ; I had almost forgotten here to except the late Duke of Bedford, arid his brothers, who seldpm missed a day> one or the other of that noble family making it a point of duty to make these daily visits* The limits of these pages will not admit me to enter into the public life of Mr. Fox, but I will here and there correct some mis- representations, and add some particulars, which may not be uninteresting to his friends and the public. No part of the life of Mr. Fox has been so much a subject of misrepresentation as the period of his separation from Mr. Burke* I can take upon myself to say, that Mr. Fok C2 felt 30 felt this to the last day of his life. Mr. Fox, both before and after the public declaration of Mr. Burke's resolution, spared no efforts, and scarcely any submissions to effect a re- conciliation, but Mr. Burke constantly replied ^'— "Will he pronounce the renunciation?" This referred to a most singular paper, drawn up by Mr. Burke, and containing a formal renunciation of the principles of the French revolution, with a promise that he would never again propose a reform in Parliament, or the abolition of the Test. This paper Mr. Burke insisted that Mr. Fox should make a part of his speech in a full House, Mr. Burke was moreover under some pretext to procure a call of the House, that nothing might be wanting to the impossibility " of future apostacy.'* Mr. Fox could of course not submit to this indignity j but though the mutual friends of both continued to interpose ; though the late excellent Dutchess of Devonshire followed followed Mr. Burke as his shadow with this benevolent purpose ; though Mr. Windham, the favourite, and almost -adopted son of Mr. Burke, was here said to have united his ef- forts ; all was in vain, Mr. Burke was inflex- ible. To one of these applications he re- plied in these words : '* My separation from Mr. Fox is a prin- ciple and not a passion ; I hold it as a sacred" doty to confirm what I have said and written, by this sacrifice ; and to what purpose would be the re-union of a moment ; I can have no delight with him, nor he with me,** Mr, Burke accordingly adhered to his pur- pose. This great man, indeed, carried every thing to excess. It is not generally known that he entertained the most passionate ab- horrence of Mr. Sheridan. It would be in- decorous to repeat what he has said of this gentleman. Suffice it to say, that for the ten latter years of his life he made it an inva- riable 22 liable rule to leave not the apartment — but even the tovi^n, w^hen he heard that Mr. She- ridan had entered it. To the late Duke of Bedford Mr. Burke was, perhaps, equally hostile. He once said of him in a public company, that he gave the lie to the line of Pope — ^That an honest man was the noblest work of Heaven. " There is the Duke of Bedford,** said he, " who is ho- nest as a Duke, and what is perhaps more, would be honest even as a labouring thresher, yet is he a man without religion — without one dignified sentiment. He purchased the cha- teaus and forfeited lands of the nobility in France, and then supported revolutionary principles at home. He is thought an ex- emplary man, because he is of an even temper,, which has not substance enough to be ruffled 5^ and you call him a patriot, because, having that cunning which understands and pursues his own interest, he pulls down the house la- which he vras born ; ploughs up the garden in 23 in which the spirit of his father still flitted, that he might improve his fortune by build- ing streets." These conversations and remarks of Mr. Burke were invariably reported, or transmit- ted to Mr. Fox ; but so permanent was his attachment to Mr. Burke, thr.t nothing could eradicate it. The friends of Mr. Fox knew this so well, that with the exception of Mr. Sheridan they spoke of Mr. Burke at St. Anne's with temper and respect. One gentleman, I cannot now recal his name, said, in the pre- sence of Mr. Fox, there being a private din- ner party at St. Anne's — that Mr. Burke was a sophist, and would be thought nothing of but for his dazzling eloquence. Mr. Fox immediately replied, that he thought very dif- ferently. " The eloquence of Mr. Burke,*' said he, " rather injures his reputation; it is a veil over his wisdom : remove his eloquence, reduce his language, and withdraw his images, and you will find that he was more wise than he was eloquent s you will have your your full weight of the metal, though you should melt down the chasing." Lord Holland, I believe, was present at this conversation, and going out of the room, brought in one of Mr. Burke's pamphlets, and asked Mr. Fox to produce a passage which justified this remark. Mr. Fox turned over a few pages, and then taking a pen^ scratched out a few words, and substituted others. I do not now remember the passage. He read it, however, and every one assented to the justice of his observation. I do not wish to trespass upon w^hat may bq thought confidential, and therefore, for the most part, will avoid living characters; his opinion, however, of one or two, I will venttire not to pass over. The conversation at St. Anne's once turned upon Mr. Windham. Mr. Adair was pre- sent, and I believe introduced;it by * * * *> Mr. Fox said, " That Mr. Windham was indeed 26 indeed a Irery singular character ; that he was almost the only man whom he had ever known who was a thinking man without be- ing a grave man — (he explained this word grave by the Latin term vir gravis et con* stans); a meditating man, with so much acti* vity ; and a reading man, with so much prac* tical knowledge. He is so absent that She* ridan once betted that he would introduce the Dutchess of Devonshire to him, and say, I met Mrs. Windham by the way. Sir, and took a seat' in her carriage home, and Mr. Wind* ham would not know the difference. Mr. Sheridan's bet was not taken, or I am per- suaded that he would have won it. I once saw him &tir the fire, and take the poker out of the room at St. James's." Even during the period of separation of Mr. Fox and Windham, the former always sp6ke of the latter in the same manner. — He sometimes indeed lamented, when he heard that Mr. Windham was uninterrupt- edly at Beaconsfield, The attachment of D this this gentleman to Mr. Burke was indeed af-* dent, and the latter re-paid it with the same "Warmth. It is indeed not difficult to con- ceive that these two great men should be thus united. During this period, that is to say, between his first separation from Mr. Burke, to the death of that venerable man, Mr. Fox was .daily pestered with the most insulting letters, with the signature of " An Elector of West- minster.** There was no remedy for this vex- ation, Mr. Fox upon receiving the letters, would throw them on the table — "there, are another score of electors.*' He would then open them, and look at the subscription ; if he saw the word Elector^ — "Here's more paper for the cook,** said he, and throwing it on the ground, proceeded in the same manner with all the others. "Lord North,** said he, "read every thing that was written against him, and rewarded those w^ho wrote wittily ; I cannot imitate him, for I could wish to be- lieve that I have no enemies.*' Mr. Mn Fox particularly excelled in giving the characters of those with whom he had lived and acted; he used to say, Lord N was sensible only to one argument, and that was drawn from domestic life; Lady North possessed him under the most passive obe-' dience. A trick was once played him by Colonel Barre, during the debates on the American War; the Colonel had a valet, who possessed a surprising dexterity in the imitation of hands. The opposition were eager to defer a debate^ which the ministry- were ajs anxious to bring on. The House had accordingly met, and Lord North was on the Treasury Bench, when a note was put in his hand. The debate was immedi- ately deferred upon some pretext, which is never wanting to a Minister. The contents of the note were merely. My Lord, I MUST beg you to make a point of being home at five o'clock, as I expect my mother to dinner. D 2 The The hand-writing of Lady North was so well imitated, that Lord North was eiFec- tualJy deceived, and the opposition carried their point. Mr. Fox has repeatedly said, that he never saw Lord North out of temper but once, and that was, when a gentleman of some importance in his party demanded of him in the first place an appointment for himself, which was readily granted. There is still another favour, said the gentleman, that 1 have to ask of your Lordship, the appointment of . Why, you are mad surely, said Lord North. Is it necessary to inform you, that that place must be held by a wpnian ? Well, my Lord, replied the gen- tleman, I want it for my wife ; what your Lordship has been pleased to give me is a liberal provision for myself, but if I have to make out of it any allowance for my wife and seven children — Allowance to your wife and children. Sir! what, don't you live with them, then f said Lord North. No, said the other, smiling. 29 smiling, surely your Lodship knew that I live with Fanny D . Indeed, Sir, I knew no surh thing, replied Lord Nortii^ and I must beg you to permit our acquaintance to drop litre. I regret that, having passed my word for the appointment, it is pai^t recaL Lord North^here opened the door, and con- tinued bowing till the gentleman had left the room, and never admitted him into his house afterwards. It always appeared to me that Mr. Fox had a very lively regard for Lord North, as he never mentioned him but in a strain of eulogy. He said that he was the most ac- complished wit he had ever known; and in domestic life, in the circle of friends and followers, when collected at his table, ' . had all the candour of Walpole without the grossness. He appeared as if he never felt an insult, so immediately did he forgive it. His face was very plain, and his features coarse, hut his smile was heavenly. You could not see him without becoming at- tached 30 tached to him. He left all his cares and arts in the House of Commons, and was no longer a Minister than whilst on the Trea- sury Bench. Mr. Fox received the first intelligence of the last illness of Mr. Burke in a* letter from Lord Fitzwilliam. Mr. Fox was sensibly affected. When he afterwards learned that it must necessarily terminate fatally, he was agitated as with the expectation of a great calamity ; in this state of mind he wrote to Mrs. Burke, expressing his intention of passing through Beaconsfield ; to this letter he received by an express the day following the answer which follows : *' Mrs. Burke's compliments to Mr. Fox, and thanks him for his obliging inquiries. Mrs. Burke communicated his letter to Mr. Burke, and by his desire has to inform Mr, Fox, that it has cost Mr. Burke the most heartfelt pain to obey the stern voice of his duty in rending asunder a long friendship, but St but that he had efFected this necessary sa- crifice ; that his principles remained the same ; and that in whatever of life yet re- mained to him, he conceives that he must continue to live for others, and not for him- self. Mr. Burke is convinced that the prin- ciples wrhich he has endeavoured to main* tain, are necessary to the good arid dignity of his country, and that these principles can be enforced only by the general persuasion of his sincerity. For herself, Mrs. Burke has again to express her gratitude to Mr., Fox for his anxious inquiries." Thus terminated for ever the connection of Mr. Burke and Mr. Fox. Mr. Fox v^ept bitterly when he learned the death of this venerable man. He continued to preserve during his life his early veneration for this great man. — When Lord Lauderdale once said in his presence, that Mr. Burke was a splendid madman, Mr. Fox said, " it was difficult to say 32 say whether he was mad or inspired ; whe- ther one or the other, every one must agree that he is a prophet." Is he not an enemy to the liberty of mankind ? There is the point in dispute, said Mr. Fox ; I know that he loves mankind, and has no limits to his.ber nevolence. Mr. Fox entertained a very high regard for Lord Stanhope, till it was entirely done away by"an incident which it i^ not within the purpose of these pages to mention. He used to say of him, that had he applied his talents to finance, he would have been the first financier in Europe. The character of a man is best collected from his domestic life. I had at this period an opportunity of seeing him every day, and seldom neglected it; there wa& much uni- formity in his life ^ he .was a very early risen On the western extremity of St. Anne's Hill is a solitary beech-tree growing on a narrow platform, elevated above the general surface of S3 of the Hill. From this point is a most ex- tensive view of the Vale of the Thames from Chertsey to Windsor, This was a favourite spot with Mr. Fox ; he had caused a seat ta be made around the tree. This was his walk before breakfast. He was so attached to study, that he had formed to himself a certain daily plan, to which he adhered so inflexibly, that he was^ sometimes even impatient when necessarily interrupted. I cannot give the particulars of this plan, though from the frequent recur- rence of many parts of it, I can assert that he had formed one, and adhered to it rigidly. An hour before his breakfast he always de- dicated to one study, the acquisition of a new language, or the recollection of one in some degree obliterated; he was learning Spanish at the time of which I am speaking. His method of learning a language was very , singular; after one week^s labour at his grammar, getting by memory the declinable parts, the verbs, substantives, and adjectives, E he S4f 1 he proceeded immediately to some classic author of the language, and he laboured at his dictionary till he had read him. The syntax he learned by reference as the exam- "jjles occurred. After his breakfast he usually read till two o'clock : his reading was in a certain method i he was reading the history of the latter empire, and comparing . Gibbon •with the writers whom he has quoted as his authorities. He used to say of this author and Hume, that the one so loved a king, and the other so hated a priest, that they were neither of them to be depended upon^ where either a priest or a king was con- cerned. ■ Gibbon, said he, moreover, has quoted many books as authority of which he had only read the preface. He produced a singular instance of this, where Gibbon has quoted a passage as being in the third book of a writer whose work is divided into twa books only. Gibbon was led into this error by the transcriber of the preface of the boolc ^5 book quoted, who, in transcribing the pas- sage, has made the same error, Mr. Fox disliked the florid stile and ver- biage of Gibbon as much as he approved his historic concentration. He thinks like Ta- citus, said he, and w^rites like Curtius. In many parts of the Gibbon, which he used, he had obliterated the unnecessary words with a pen ; this was a practice very frequent with him. His Gibbon would be. curious and interesting to the public. I believe it is in the possession of Lord Lau- derdale. Mr. Fox's bookseller sent Godwin's Po- litical Justice to him ; Mr. Fox read about half a dozen pages in the middle of the book j his practice with regard to modern books before he gave them a reading. Godwin did not suit himj he did what he had seldom done before, returned it tQ his bookseller. E2 Adam 96 Adam Smith was likewise a favourite elemental book ; but he used to observe of him, that he was tedious, formal beyond the necessity of his work, and too fond of deduc- tion where there was nothing to deduce ; he proves where no one can doubt ; and enters upon, a chain of reasoning to produce a most unmeaning result. He used to say, that how- ever close; and dry he had written, one half of his book might be omitted with much be?- nefit to the subject. He spoke with conr tempt of the works of Turgot. He said that the French had not liberty enough to under- stand finance and political economy. He spoke with respect of Henry's History of England, but often expressed his surprise at Belsham's G eorge the Third— " That a man with his eyes open would write in this man- ner!" said he. Mr. Fox was not a modern philosopher: however singular, he held them in hearty contempt 3 a contempt most significantly ex-» pressed by never reading their works, Mr. Fox 37 Fox was not an infidel, but he had his own religion. He once said of Dunning, that he was the most profligate Christian, and Chris- tian profligate, that had ever lived. Dunning used to say, that no such written evidence of acts so remote existed as the Four Gospels 5 that they would be good evidence in a court of justice, and before a common jury. When the difference of the narrative of the same events was objected, Mr. Dunning said, let two persons relate the circumstances of the battle of Minden^ one just coming from the battle, and one who was equally present at the battle, and related it ten years afterwards, and reconcile them if you can. Mr. Fox^aid that Dunning had the strongest head of any lawyer within his memory. It was at this period that Mn Fox received ^n admonitory letter from one of the most ce- lebrated men in England. The subject of this letter was very singular. The letter was very long ; I should think that it will be pub- lished. Mr. Fox returned rather a short and laconic 36 laconic answer — " It Is written with sincerity and good meaning," said he. Mr. Fox said that he had to reproach ■ • with nothing but his want of sincerity. He had insinuated, and carefully cultivated in the mind of the King, a suspicion of Mr. Fox, and then produced this aversion of his Majesty, as the cause of his conduct. — Mr. Fox, however, we have reason to be- lieve, was here unjust. It is certain, that the King at one time had a most decided aversion even to the person of Mr. Fox. Mr. Fox had every paper morning and evening 5 the Chronicle, of course, was his favourite. I cannot say that he ever wrote any thing in this journal, though I have occa- sionally read his very words, and frequently thought that I could recognise his stile. The morning passed away in this manner. Mr. Fox usually walked to Chertsey, and thence to Laleham, across the fields, and when 39 when weary, returned to dinner. There was very seldom any company. The Duke of Bedford was sometimes at table, but most frequently no one but Mr. Fox and Mrs. Armsted. The dinner was invariably very simple, that of a private country gentleman* I do not think that Mr. Fox lived at the ex- pence of seven hundred per annum. Wine indeed cost him nothing, as at the earnest request of one of his ardent admirers, a wine merchant, he permitted him to supply his table, and the merchant could never be per- suaded to produce his bill. Mr. Fox enjoyed his tea, by his own con- fession, more than hrs breakfast or dinner. — A novel was invariably on his tea-table; sometimes Mrs. Armsted read, sometimes the Duke of Bedford, and sometimes Mr. Fox. I was present when Camilla arrived from London ; Mr. Fox was at dinner, and was eager to begin the book immediately; Mrs. Armsted took it from him, laughing, and said that he must be reguhr, and wait till tea.-^ The The books were accordingly given to a ser- vant, and ordered to the tea-room. The wished-for moment arrived, Mrs. Armsted commenced : it was pleasing to see the in- terest with which Mr. Fox heard this work^ He would here and there, however, say, ** That's a vile word — that's used in the wrong sense — that's an ungraceful imitation of Dr. Johnson." In this manner passed away day after day in tranquil retirement. I have reason to bew lieve that Mr. Fox wrote very little, and can almost take upon me to assert, that his history of the Revolution, as it has been called, ex- isted only in idea. Mr. Fox certainly said that no reign was so unsatisfactorily written as that of William the Third. But 1 do not be- lieve that he ever entertained any intention of writing it himself. Mr. Fox did not retire to his bed till a very late hour. In summer he walked much in the evening. He bathed daily, plunged at once into 41 iato the river, and reniained for a very short time. He was an excellent swim- mer, and bathing from a schoolboy was his delight. Mr. Fox had a kind of singular taste for music ; in this alone he was totally without judgment. Old tunes were such as alone pleased him. He said that no Opera was equal to Inkle and Yarico. Some one hap- pening to mention the Beggar's Opera, he said, certainly, I will except that. The Beggar's Opera is the wittiest drama on the stage: the wit is simple, intelligible, and appeals alike to every one. Mr. Fox said that Mr. Burke had once written a tragedy, and that he had seen two or three speeches. The imagery was in the character of Mr. Burke, splendid and just, but the structure of the versification was heavy, and the diction rather rhetorical than poetical. Mr. Fox asked Mr. Burke whe- ther Garrick had ever seen it? Mr. Burke F said;, 4i «aid, « No,— that he had the folly indeed t^ write it, but the wit to keep it to himself." The intimate connexion between Mr. Fox and the late Marquis of Lansdown, was only within about two years of the death of that nobleman. The late Marquis then sedu- lously cultivated the acquaintance of Mr. Fox. Previous to this period, notwithstanding their seeming concurrence, there was something of distance between them. The Marquis had some jealousy of Mr. Fox, and Mr. Fox had certainly not the best opinion of the sincerity of the Marquis. The late Marquis of Lans- down was indeed any thirig but an amiable character. Let it be here observed, that we. do not speak of him in amoral point of view ; but as he was in domestic life. He was amost singular mixture of the courtier and the philosopher : of the dilettanti and statesman. With great pride he was occasionally as familiar, and ostentatiously condescending, as a. French petit 7?iaitre ; and at other times he was ndt to be seen for days together. He was alternately 43 -alternately an oracle and a plinchtnello. He purchased books which he never read, aild lived only to execute a design which he never began : he was any thing but a great man. We speak not this to offend, but to correct a prevalent error. As to Lord Henry Petty, he has nothing of his father but his formality; he has much in- dustry, sufficient gravity, and a clear and so- lid judgment; but somewhat too much pom- posity, elevating little things into import- ance ; he will doubtless improve, as he is not without the principles of excellence. Mr. Fox was much attached to him as a pupiL Mr. Fox held an opinion of Bonaparte, in which not many will agree with him. I hexe speak with regret. Mr. Burke, speaking of the French revolution, said that it had not only shaken all Europe, but almost every /j.nn in- dividually; that it had shaken Mr. Fox till it had shaken his heart in the wrong place. — Perhaps this was somewhat too severe, but F 2 the 44 the best friends of Mr. Fox, without the slightest suspicion of his loyalty, cannot deny that he had this French bias. Mr. Fox said of Bonaparte, that he was a man as magnificent in his means, as in his ends ; that he was a most decided character, and would hold his purpose with more con- stancy, and through a longer interval, than was imagined; that his views were not directed to this kingdom; that he looked only to the continent. That his commercial enmity was but a temporary measure, and never intended to be acted upon as perma- nent poHcy. It IS not, however, within the purpose of these sheets, to enter into any political dis- cussions : suffice it here to say, that Mr. Fox had become passionately attached to peace. If there are some of the readers of these pages who should deem this- anxiety to restore the peace of nations to be a shade in his character, we must refer them for his rea- son j- 45 sons to his parliamentary speeches. It may be remarked here, however, that the natural disposition of Mr. Fox, had probably some part in this pacific propensity. The peace of Amiens enabled Mr. Fox to visit France, and he eagerly seized the op- portunity. His arrival at Paris was notified in the Moniteur. Every one hastened to hail the English patriot. On the day after his arrival, he received a note from General San- terre, of which the following is a literal tonslation :-— To Mr, Fox. '* GENERAL Santerre has the honour of expressing the emotion with which he has now learned the arrival of Mr. Fox. Gene- ral Santerre requests the permission of per- sonally testifying his respect for the patriot of England, and, by example, the benefac- tor of the human race •.*' Mr. Mr. Fox, in Paris, was as good a French* nlan as General Santerre. He returned therefore an immediate answer: « To General S ant err e. " MR. FOX has the honour of expressing to General Santerre the emotion of satisfac- tion with which he has learned the esteem of a man such as General Santerre. Mr. Fox flatters himself that General Santerre will pardon his abruptness, if Mr. F. should call at the General's hotel in the course of the morning." Mr. Fox had scarcely received and an- swered the note of General Santerre, when he received another from Barrere, with ex- pressions of equal esteem, veneration^ &c.. This was followed by addresses from all the learned and public bodies, all hailing him by the same term — the benefactor of the hu- man race, and English patriot. It would have been no reasonable subject of surprise, if such ^ general 4> general flattery had even elevated Mr. Fox from his self-recollection j but Mr. Fox took it all in good part, and valued it at its real worth. He visited every one to whom he was invited, and as he was invited every where, his circle of acquaintance was very extensive. He has since frequently men- tioned with much satisfaction the opportu- nity he thus possessed of seeing and studying many of the most eminent characters of the revolution. Mr. Fox was received at the French Court with the same distinguishing homage to his genius and patriotism. The First Consul, now Emperor, said in public, that if the then English ministers had been such men as Mr. Fox, England and France might remain at eternal peace, and mutually con- cur to the happiness of each other. It is not to our present purpose to question this po- sition of His Imperial Majesty. Bonaparte had certainly a very superior esteem for Mr. Fox, 4a Fox, and seized with ostentation every op- portunity of publicly testifying it. Mr. Fox had thus an opportunity of ac- quiring a kind of knowledge which he turn- ed to much advantage upon his return to England, and had he lived longer, the pub- lic might have reaped the benefit of his intimacy with the details of the French ad- ministration. I can assert it as a fact well known to many gentlemen at that time at Paris, that Mr. Fox was himself concerned hi many of the internal arrangements of the French government. He explained to the French ministry the English law of the Li- berty of the Press, and assisted them in the formation of the civil code, to adapt it to the circumstances of France at that period. It was indeed at that period the fashion to talk of Mr. Fox ; his dress, his manner of speaking, even his dinners were imitated; and the beaux of Paris exhibited a curious contrast 49' contrast between what they were, and what they endeavoured to appear. It was the fashion to be a thinking man, to think like Fox ; the Parisian coxcombs therefore en- deavoured to model their faces and features to this character. Mr. Fox always recalled this period of his life with satisfaction ; he used to say that he had learned more of the French character during this short tour, than in his former longer travels: perhaps he not only saw more, and in different points of view, but, possessing a greater maturity of judgment, formed more solid estimates. It is doubtless one thing to travel from puerile curiosity, and another to form the mind. It was not only amongst Generals and Statesmen that Mr. Fox was received with these flattering distinctions. He attracted every eye at the Opera, and was followed as a spectacle through the streets. His picture was in every window, and no medal- G lions 5d lions had so ready a sale as those which bore the head of Mr. Fox. The artists alone felt some discontent that he refused to ait for his portrait. I have heard an anecdote of some humour ; that a celebrated statuary sent his respects to Mr. Fox, and begged to inform hirti that, from his desire to partake of his immortality, he had it in purpose to take a statue from the person of Mr. Fox : he would call on Mr. Fox the following day, when he flattered himself that Mr. Fox would have no objection to sit half an hour in his shirt whilst he took the exact contour of his body. I must leave Mr. R— A to an- swer for this anecdote; 1 repeat it as I have heard it related in the presence of Mr. Fox, who laughed at it heartily. Madame Recamier was constant in her attentions to Mr. Fox; she called for him one day in her carriage, when Mr. Fox he- sitating — " Come," said she, "I must keep my promise. 51 promise, and shew you on the promenade. The people of Paris must always have a spectacle ; before you came, I was the fa- shion; it is a point of honour, therefore, that I should not appear jealous of you. You must attend me. Sir.** Two or three days after this appeared in in the Clef du Cabinet, an Ode of some wit> but what in England would have given of- fence to the subjects of it. Mr. Fox and Madame Recamier were Jupiter and Venus. The author, according to the French modes- ty, standing in the lobby of the Opera, put a copy of his Ode into the hands of Mr. Fox, and another into those of Madame Recamier, whom Mr. Fox was attending. Mr. Fox was confused upon reading the subject ; Madame Recamier laughed. " Let them say what they please," said she, ^' as long as Monsieur Recamier possesses his senses, and laughs at them as I do. This is a first rate writer, and author of the Opera which 18 to be represented to night; he writes in G 2 Italian 52 Italian almost as well as French; and, as I am informed, has written an English comedy, and sent it by express to the manager of one of your theatres. Paris is not however pleased with him for this last trick ; it con- siders it as a kind of infidelity.'* Mr. Fox always entertained the highest opinion of Madame Recamier ; he said that she was the ofily woman in France who united the attractions of pleasure to those of modesty. When her dress was objected to, Mr. Fox said, that it was the fashion in France, and had lost its indecency in its generality. Mr. Fox entertained an axalted opinion of the talents of Barrere; he said that he re- minded him of Mr. , that *^ in his ac- tivity by starts, in his general indolence, in his dexterity at shifts, in his alike suiting himself to every party, without attachment to any; a man of honour himself, but without difficulty connecting and adhering to men of 53 of the most perfect infamy; Barrere was the complete counterpart of Mr. , who in the same situation would be found to act in the same manner." Mr. Fox said, that Bar- rere had more sagacity than any of the French ministers^ that his designs were more comprehensive, and his practical means best conceived. Barrere had an equally exalted opinion of Mr. Fox; circumstances of course did not allow the free cultivation of this ac- quaintance. Bonaparte had frequent private interviews with Mr. Fox. It will be allowed that these, opportunities enabled him to form a just estimate of the character of this celebrated man. Perhaps here was the great value of the services of Mr. Fox, and here was the great point in which the public will most feel his loss. We have before mentioned, that he entertained a very peculiar opinion of Bonaparte; that he said that he had a proud candour, which, in the confidence of his success in whatever he had resolved, scorned 54f scorned to conceal his designs. " I never saw so little indirectness in any statesman as in the first Consul. He made no secret of his designs." .-"^ After seeing what there w^$ to be seen, not the face of the country, but the face of man- ners, which had arisen, as it were, out of a chaos, Mr. Fox returned to England. In a letter to a Noble Lord, which has passed much from one to another, Mr. Fox wrote his reflections upon French manners at some length. This letter was occasioned by the observation of Lord Fitzwilliam — that the revolution had found them — " A nation of coxcombs, and left them a nation of black- guards ; that manners, the civility of man to man, and the chivalrous homage to woman, which softens and gives a picturesque splen- dour to life, had wholly vanished, and a nation of citizens had replaced a nation of gentlemen." Mr. Fox maintained " that the same gallantry continued to exist, though the foundation was gone ; and that the distinction of 55 of ranks, sufficient for the purposes of social order, still remained. That the revolution had doubtless effected much mischief, but the ferment had ceased, and the sediment gone to the bottom, never to re-appear. That the French Government, a century hence, would exhibit a most interesting spectacle : that of a Government not founded on feudal principles.'* It has been a matter of some surprise to me that this letter has not been published. • We now arrive at another period of Mr. Fox's life, that in which he appeared in stre- nuous opposition to Mr. Addington. What he said of this gentleman at a large party — (I do not conceive, under these circum- stances, that it- can be considered as said in private) will not soon be forgotten. " My Lord Salisbury would make a better minister, only that he is wanted for court-dancing- master.'* When he was asked what Mr. Ad- dington would do after he had made peace ? " I cannot say," said he, '' but it will be something H9 something which will render him ridiculous to the end of time. If Mr. Addington wishes for supreme authority, let him be King ojt Bath, if he has interest enough at the rooms; he will find it more pleasant, and I am persuad- ed, more to his reputation.'* This was report- ed to Lord Sidmouth ; I know^ not with what effect. I remember only that the union of the parties excited much astonishment in me, in common with the whole kingdom. Mr. Fox understood from the commence- ment, the motives of Mr. Pitt in the substi- tution of Mr. Addington. It is not perhaps generally known that H M had be- come impatient of the long continuance of the war, and that this concurred with other causes to the decision of Mr. Pitt. Mr. Ad- dington undertook the vacant office — no- thing loath. The mediator was singular — the late Archbishop of Canterbury. Mr. Ad- dington certainly had Mr. Pitt's most positive assurance of support. Mr. Pitt at first did nothing for him, and after a short interval, found 57 found it necessary to act with more decision against him. Mr. Addington was durhb with astonishment. The state of parties at that time was well known. The was not in a condition of health either to speak or act j yet was he made to do both in the formal proposals of the several parties. It was said that the — — had expressed an invincible dislike to Mr, Fox. Mr. Fox spoke of Mr. Pitt*s conduct in this transaction with a liveliness of indig- nation not usual with him. Mr. Pitt again resumed the place which he conceived to belong to him as a kind of birth- right. Mr. Addington bowed submissively, and passed gracefully into a peerage. Mr. Fox did justice to" Mr. Pitt; he said that he was almost the only man who had ever subdued such great talents under such complete subjection to official formality. H Uponk 58 Upon the death of Mr. Pitt, the conduct of Mr. Fox was thought wanting in genero- sity. It is not my purpose to enter into his vindication. Mr. Fox certainly here acted with his usual candour. He did not pretend to what he did not feel. In his speech in the House he did not withhold his acknowledg- ment of the undoubted virtues of Mr. Pitt; he allowed him to have been the Minister of the cleanest hands of any that had ever held the helm of State. He applauded his finance — reprobated his wars, and voted to pay hi& debts. This was something, though perhaps more might have been wished. We now come to the period of that mortal illness which terminated the career of this illustrious statesman, and that at a point of time when his talents were undoubtedly much wanted. His disease. — ^The first seeds of it commen- ced about the beginning of last winter. In the month of December last, Mr. Fox was on a cpuntry 5^ a country visit with the Earl of A , Mr. Fox during; this perTod was very unwell. He found his constitution rapidly giving way. He was able neither to take the same exer- cise or the same diversions as formerly. He laid aside his habit of early rising, and fre- quently slept after dinner. His friends ob- served the change with a presentiment of the consequence. Mr. Fox himself was not blind to this advancing weakness. The see^ds of his disease began daily to develope them- selves, and Mr. Fox was himself conscious that he would not live long. " My life has been active beyond my strength, I had almost «aid my duty. If I have not acted much, you will allow that I have spoken much, and I have felt more than I have either acted or spoken. My constitution has sunk under it. I find myself unequal to the bu- siness upon which you have written ; it must be left to younger men. I think moreover that it will be a thankless labour. I expect -nothing from . 'Tis a sword of state, which is b©rne in procession on solemn days, H2 ' but 60 but is never allowed to be employed ; it is too old and rusty to cut. This is what W said at Lord — 's, and I perfectly agree with him." I have been permitted to make this extract from a letter now before me. One of the friends of Mr. Fox had applied to him for his concurrence and active support in an af- fair of some importance, and which has since proved a bone of contention between the dif- ferent members of the party. It would not be pardonable, to speak more fully upon this subject ; suffice it to say, Mr. Fox declined any active support, any leading concur- rence in this business, from the 'State of his health. Mr. Fox was confined to his bed many days during December, and was once very seriously indisposed, his legs swelled, and he took largely of decoction of the woods, under the impression that he was suffering .under the scurvy. €1 It was peculiar to Mr. Fox, that he hai formed in his own mind a kind of philoso-r phic theory of medicine. He referred every- thing to two causes, impurity of blood, and the habit of the stomach. He seldom, there- fore, consulted a physician; for the most part prescribing to himself, and even mix- ing his own medicines. Paytherus in Bond- street was his chemist, and his annual bills for drugs, &c. amounted to a very consider- able sum; rhubarb and vegetable decoc* tions were his favourite medicines. I have heard him however say, that the best pur- gative in the Materia Medica was fruit with thin skins, currants, raspberries, &c. He had no suspicion that he was drop- sical, and perhaps by this error contributed to confirm and aggravate his disease. He entered on a course of medicine, as if for the scurvy; and feeling very early in the period of his complaint an uncommon weak- ness of stomach, he imputed it to an insuf- ficient 62 - ficient digestion. This erroneous manage- ment had certainly very bad effects. He was in this state when he returned to town early in January. Political affairs. — The situation of his party began to wear an im- portant aspect. Mr. Pitt was declared irre- coverable so early as the beginning of January, and in a consultation about the 10th, it was announced that his death might be daily expected. The necessary activity of such a time ba- nished from Mr. Fox every sense of his weakness; he exerted himself in a manner which of itself would have ruined his con- stitution. Once, and once alone, he em- ployed a very remarkable expression; Pitt has died in January, — perhaps I may go off before June. Mr. Fox said this walking up Pall Mall, as he entered the door of Nichols the bookseller. A gentleman who was with him, Mr. T , said something in reply. Nay, said Mr. Fox again, I begin to 63 to think that my complaint is not unlike Pitt's, my stomach has been long discom- posed, I feel my constitution dissolving. It is known to the friends of Mr. Fox, that in the interval of the death of Mr. Pitt, and the appointment of the new ministry, Mr. Fox experienced much vexation and great anxiety. His health suffered so much under these fatigues, that his appetite sensibly decreas- ed, and his legs alternately swelled, and became reduced. He was insensible to it whilst inaction, but was seated but for a short time before he was seized with a sick- ishness of the stomach : no medicine could relieve him of this most uneasy sensation. He was often compelled to retire from table and recline upon a sopha. He refused to consult the faculty; he endeavoured to im- pute these alarming symptoms to temporary ^nxiety, which would pass over with the cause. This 6i This state of health continued through the month of March, when the progress became so visible, that, in the language df the turf, his most immediate friends pro- nounced him breaking fast ; Mr. Fox still most unaccountably insisted that his disease was but a temporary habit; a physician, however, was now called in, but perhaps from the unintentional misrepresentations of Mr. Fox himself, his complaint was not as yet understood. Mr. Fox happened about this time (in May) to recover an interval of strength, ati event which confirmed his error. This, however. Continued but a very short time, the symptoms returned with redoubled force, and irt the latter end of June he was already declared in a rapid state of certain decay. His disease, however, was not publicly declared to be the dropsy before the com- mencement 65 mencement of the month of July. The symptoms were then no longer doubtful^ the lethargy was alarming, the tumors daily increasing. All efforts to enable the vessels to discharge the water by natural process failed; the former weakness of the stomach was the gradual decay of all its powers. It was now generally agreed amongst the at- tendant physicians, that there was little hope of any favourable termination. On the 29th of July a consultation was held, when it was generally agreed to try the operation of another powerful medicine, and if it failed of an immediate diuretic effect, that he should be tapped. No alter- native remained but this last resource. The medicine failed, the powers of the absorbent vessels were extinguished, and the physicians resolved upon the immediate execution of the last resource. On the Tuesday and Wednesday previous to the operation, Mr. Fox swelled most alarmingly, I it 66 it was wished to defer the operation till Sunday, but it was found impossible. It was accordingly resolved, and the resolution announced to Mr. Fox. For the seven days previous, Mr. Fox had become persuaded of the necessity of this operation, and entreated that it might be performed. Mr. Cline, by his own desire, explained to him the course of medicine which had been pursued, and their nature and quality. Mr. Fox was satisfied, but re- quested that if the medicines should fail of their expected effect, as he foretold they would, from the increased weakness of his stomach, they would not delay the tap- ping, and would inform him previously of the appointed time. On Thursday, August 7th, the operation was performed; about five gallons were taken from him. The water followed the stab with great violence ; it was very fetid and discoloured, and as it were, a mass of blood, which, G7 which, on being exposed to the air, coagu- lated within half an hour. The weakness im- mediately consequent was such as to excite a general alarm that he would not long survive it. He was for a long time speechless, and this at a moment when the newspapers of the day announced " that he was in most excellent spirits, and laughed and talked with Mrs. Fox and several others, after the operation." In Spirits indeed I — he was prostrate on the bed, and with scarcely any appearance of life. His eye was half closed, and the light of life as it were extinguished. These were his spirits, and gaiety, and conversation. On the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, his state^ continued very dubious; the night of the tenth it was particularly so; but from that period he continued to gain in strength and spirits, though this amendment itself was unfortunately but symptomatic. He now breakfasted with one or two of his more in- timate friends by his bedside, and talked I 2 • with 68 with them as long as his physicians per- mitted. It was during one of these morning con- versations, that he first expressed his persua- sion that his disease would terminate fatally. Lord said, that he had made a par- ty for Christmas, in the country, and had taken the liberty to include Mr. Fox in it without his knowledge. But it will be a new scene. Sir, added he, and I think you will approve of it. I shall indeed be in a new scene by Christmas next, said Mr. Fox. " My Lord, what do you think of the state of the soul after death?" Lord , (con- founded I believe by the unexpected turn which Mr. Fox had given to the conversa- tion) made no reply. Mr. Fox continued — " That it is immortal, I am convinced. The existence of the Deity is a proof that spirit exists 5 why not therefore the soul of man.? and, if such an essence as the soul exists, by its nature it may exist for ever. I should have i59 have believed in the immortality of the soul though Christianity had never existed 3 but how it acts as separated from the body, is beyond my capacity of judgment. This, however, I shall know by next Christmas." Mrs. Fox here took his hand and wept. Mr. Fox was much moved — " 1 am happy,*' said he, " full of confidence, I may say of certainty." Mr. Fox had so far recovered from the operation of the seventh, that he was de- clared in no immediate danger from the ef- fect of it. This opinion of the physicians was strangely mistaken, as referring to the disease itself, and not to the operation. I can take upon myself to say, that the phy- sicians had by this time given up all hopes of Ms recovery. If any such expectations were indulged, they must have vanished the day after this consultation, when Mr. Fox again began to swell. Lord Holland, from his ardent and anxious 70 anxious affection, endeavoured to persuade himself that this swelling was the mere ef- fect of weakness, and the over exercise of the limbs. It had indeed some appearance of it, as it sunk again without any appli- cation. On the 20th, Mr. Fox was in a long lethargy, and the physicians acknowledged their alarm. On the day following, the return of the water was evident. On the two following days there was an almost entire stoppage of the urine; the physicians publicly announced that they were unable to restore the action of the stomach, and of course could neither check the accumulation of the water, nor procure any evacuation for it. On the 25th, they announced to Mr. Fox that another tapping would be necessary* Mr. 71 Mr. Fox said, I know that I cannot survive this general dissolution of my constitution. Tell me how long you think I may live ; I d^ not ask you it my recovery is even pos- sible. Mr. — . — said, that some instances had occurred. Never at my period of life, and with my constitution, said Mr. Fox. I entreat you to inform me how long you think I can remain in my present state. The phy- sicians here consulted, but were still silent. I will consent to be tapped, said Mr. Fox, but it is upon express condition, that I shall be previously removed to St. Anne's HilL It is nearest to my heart to breath my last there. — The physicians declared with one voice that this was impossible ^ that he was in a state of too much weakness. Mr. Fox was with difficulty tranquillized. Upon a subsequent consultation, the same day, it was agreed that his wish should be so far complied with, that he should be re- moved to Chiswick, as part of the way to St. Anne's Hill. The change of air, it was thought. 72 thought, might operate favourably on his sto-^ mach, when discharged of the water which it had again collected. With this purpose the resolution was taken to remove him on the day following, the 27th of August, and to tap him a second time on the following day. He was accordingly removed to Chiswickj but on the day following, and even the se- cond and third day after his removal, was so \veak, that it was judged expedient to defer the operation. This was thought a very un- lucky circumstance, as much had been ex- pected from the immediate effect of a change- of air. If the water should be immediately discharged for the second time. He was not therefore tapped till the Sun- day, the fourth day after his removal. The effect of this tapping is well known. The substance of the stomach was evidently more injured than before. The water was more fetid and putrid. Mr. Fox was so extreme- ly weak during the operation, that it was judged 1$ ^dged necessary to stop before the water wa$ drawn off. It seemed the general opinion, that if the operation had been continued, he could not have survived it ; he recovered some strength on the following day, and re- ceived a visit from the Duke of Devonshire^ who congratulated him on his amendment. Mr. Fox, however, shook his head with an air of resignation. On the following Wednes- day, the operation of the Sunday was finish- ed, the water exhausted, and a liew course of medicine tried. On the two following days Mr. Fox was apparently recovering in health and spirits, his urine began to return, and — with the exception of the physicians, who had told Lord Holland, so early as the middle of July, that it was not reasonable to expect any favourable termination — some hopes were indulged in London and Chiswick. I think it necessary however to say, that Mr. Fpx himself never encouraged any such hopes upon the return of the water after the first operation. From this perigd he gradually K prepared prepared liimself ' for the awful event, and evidently thought of it most seriously. On the Sunday evening, his physicians re- cognized the symptoms of approaching disso- lution. Mr. Fox had entreated them to give him previous notice. The physicians, how^- cvcr, did not consider it their duty to speak as yet. It was notified,, however, to Lord Holland, but Mrs. Fox was not informed of it till the following day. On Monday the symptoms had so aug- mented, the returning swelling, longer in- tervals of lethargy, and the langour of the pulse, that after a consultation it was decided to inform Mr. Fox, that he would most pro- bably not survive twenty-four hours, and that his recovery, or the continuance of his life during fourteen days longer, was not within the possibility of things. The com- munication was accordingly made to him in those words. Mr. Fox replied, '' God's will be 75 be dorte, I have lived enough, and shall die happy ', he then turned his head on his pil- low^, closed his eyes for about half a minute, and Lord Holland having entered in the mean time, he opened the palm of his hand as a sign for Lord Holland to give him his hand. Lord Holland took the hand of his uncle, but was unable to repress his tears. My dear, my beloved nephew, said Mr. Fox, much moved. Mrs. Fox, supported by Lady Holland, and Lady E. Forster, the latter however only coming to the door of the apartment, now entered ; every one but the physicians and the family, now left the roomi the scene of distress was past description. It Xvas to the surprise of every one that Mr. Fox survived the night. Tuesday he conti- nued in the same state, neither amending nor becoming worse. His pulse at intervals, flut- -tered. Towards the Wednesday morning, it was again announced to Lord Holland, that he could not survive the day. No sleep — restless — lingering — becoming momentarily K 3 more 16 more exhausted ^ his hands clammy, his feet with the coldness of death ; in a word, dyino- ! Such was his state on Wednesday, and till about ^ve o'clock on the Thursday morning. On Thursday the change was surprising, and to thos€ who had not been accustomed to the bed of death, excited the most lively hopes. The clamminess of death had disap- peared ! he slept, and^ppeared easy at inter- vals ; his pulse became regular 5 his speech returned. He was in perfect possession of his senses. General Fitzpatrick was trans- ported with joy, and some indignation was felt at the, apparent coldness of the physicians, who, in announcing all these changes, seemed to offer but httle value on them. On Friday, early in the morning, all ap- pearances of amendment vanished. The fa- tal symptoms of Monday and Wednesday re- turned, and it was a third time announced to Mr. Fox, that he could not survive many hours. His friends were again permitted to takQ 77 take leave of him; but when they were a- bout to leave the apartment, Mr Fox waved them back again, and expressed signs of im- patience, when the physicians advised them to withdraw. Mr. Fox was able to speak at intervals. Lord Henry Petty approached his bed. Mr. Fox said, this is all in the course of nature. I am happy — Your labour is diffi- cult, do not despair. Mr. Fox would, have said more, but Lord Henry Petty, un- able to repress his emotions, and by the desire of the physicians, retired to another part of the room. Mrs. Fox was fixed motionless with grief. A sudden burst of tears defeated all her precaution. Mr. Fox who had hold of her hand, looked piteously at her ; his back was turned, and he had to raise his head. Do not, do not, said he to Mrs. Fox. He was now evidently much exhausted ; the physicians insisted that every one should leave the room, and were obeyed. Mr. Fox fell into a kind of stupor. In the evening his friends were again ad- mitted^ 75 mittcd. Lord Holland and Mrs. Fox seem- e4 almost wholly to occupy the attention of Mr. Fox; he talked to them at intervals, and finding himself exhausted, put Mrs. Fox*s hand into that of Lord Holland, and then solemnly imposed, as It were, a silent blessing, by raising his own, and suffering it to fall gently on the united hands of his wife and nephew. Mr. Fox passed the night restless and alternately in a stupor. In the morning he Hi^zs evidently approaching nearer to his end. He again solicited by signs and half word$ th^ presence of his friends, who were in th^ spartmcnt,. but beyond his view : they ap-r proachcd his bed about noon, he made a sign for the hands of Mrs. Fox and Lord Holland, they were given him, he again imited them, and silently blessed them with the same slow descent of his hand as on the preceding day i this herrepeated three times. He then endeavoured to turn himself, his bai^k being stitt towards them, and his head only 19 only bent forwards; he was too weak, how- ever, for this effort. Mrs. Fox and Lord Holland went round to the other side of the bed; it was then he pronounced the last words he was able to speak: God bless you — bless you — and you all. I die happy. — I pity you. He sunk again into a stupor, recovered about three o'clock, became weaker, look- ed for a moment fidli/ upon all in the room, hung upon the countenances of Lord Holland and Mrs. Fox, closed his eyes, and opened them not again. He expired about 20 minutes before six o'clock by a watch regu- lated by the sun. FINIS, P'-r. 14 DAY USE ^^^TODESKHCOMWHICHBOKKOW) LOAN DEPT. [TSENTWIILL "R^^"^ Uj,aBERKELEY___ LOAN DEPT.lnJL_2_BJ99k — .^,H ^--^ OCT 1 n ^ LD 2lA-60m-3.'65 (F2336sl0)476B General Library University of CaUforma Berkeley ivi80694 2)/?r l^ff' >?/J4 M THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY , . V