ing boy; to which Stikeman replied, What, do you mean Billy Austin? Cole, said, Yes. Pray do the old man and woman come to see the child as usual? Stikeman said, "Old man and woman! they are not old; we have not seen them much lately; they live at Deptford;" but he appeared to avoid any conversation on the subject. Cole says, that the account of the correspondence between the Princess and Captain Manby was communicated to him by Fanny Lloyd, but she never mentioned any such correspondence having taken place through Sicard, since Cap. tain Manby went abroad. Cole says, that he has not been in the company, or presence, of the Prince alone, or had any conversation with him on this, or any other subject, since the Princess went to live at Charlton, which is near nine WM. COLE.

years ago.

was a misunderstanding between Lady Douglas and the Princess; and one day he saw Lady Douglas leave the house in tears, and afterwards she has not visited the Princess. Mr. Bidgood's wife has lately told him, that Fanny Lloyd told her, that Mary Wilson told Lloyd, that one day, when she went into the Princess's room, she found the Princess and Sir Sidney in the fact; that she (Wilson) immediately left the room, and fainted at the door.-In the winter of 1802, and the spring of 1803, Captain Manby became a visitor at Montague House; his frigate was fitting out at Deptford, and Bidgood has reason to believe, that the Princess fitted up his cabin, for he has seen the cotton furniture brought to the Princess to chuse the pattern, which was sent to Blake, her upholsterer, in Londonstreet, Greenwich. When Captain Manby was about to sail, he was walking in the anti-room, 23d February, 1806.-William Cole. to let Captain Manby out: and, as he stayed, Says, that a Gentleman and Lady were sitting some time, Bidgood looked into the room, and close together on the sofa; but there was no- from a mirror on the opposite side of the room thing particular in their dress, position of legs or to where Captain Manby and the Princess stood, arms, that was extraordinary; he thought it im- he saw Captain Manby kissing the Princess's proper that a single Gentleman should be sitting lips; and soon afterwards he went away. He quite close to a married Lady on the Sofa; and saw the Princess, with her handkerchief to her from that situation, and former observations, he face, and go into the drawing-room, apparently thought the thing improper. The person who in tears.- -In 1803, was not with the Princess was alone with the Lady at late hours of the at Margate.--In 1804, was with the Princess night (twelve and one o'clock), and whom he at Southend. We went there on the 2d of left sitting up after he went to bed, was Mr. May: Sicard was constantly on the look-out for Lawrence the painter, which happened two dif- the Africaine, Captain Manby's ship: and about ferent nights at least. As to the observation a month afterwards, Sicard descried the ship, made about Sir Sidney having a key of every before she came to the Nore. The instant the door about the gardens, it was a gardener, who ship cast anchor, the Captain came on shore in was complaining of the door of the green-house his boat to the Princess. The Princess had two being left open, and the plants damaged, and houses, Nos. and 9. She lived at No. 9: and who made the same to Mr. Lampert, the ser- on Sicard seeing Captain Manby come on shore, vant of Sir John Douglas, and which he men- he ran down the shrubbery to meet, and shewed tioned at Cheltenham to Sir John and Mr. Low-him into the house, No. 9; Captain Manby was ten. Lampert said he should know the gardener again.

Temple, 4th April, 1806. ROBERT BİDGOOD. Have lived with the Prince 23 years on the 18th of September next, and have been with the Princess since 21st of March, 1798. In 1802 we were at Blackheath, and did not go to any other place: in 1801 Sir Sidney Smith left his card at Montague House, and he was afterwards invited to dinner; and, in the spring of 1802, Lady Douglas came to reside at the Tower, where she stayed about three weeks. During this time Sir Sidney was frequently at the House, both morning and evening, and remained till three or four o'clock in the morning. He has seen Sir Sidney in the blue parlour early (by ten o'clock) in the morning: and, on inquiring from the footmen how he came there without his knowledge, they said, they had not let him in, and knew nothing of his being there. He does not know of Sir Sidney being alone till three or four o'clock in the morning, as there were other ladies in the house. During the year 1802 the Princess used to ride out in her phaeton, attended by Mrs. Fitzgerald, and took out cold meat, and went towards Dartford, where she spent the day, and returned about six or seven in the evening,Williams, the coachman, always attended the Princess.—Lady Douglas, during the year 1802, was constantly at Montague House, and was admitted at all times. The Princess was used frequently to go to Lady Douglas's House, where Sir Sidney resided; at the end of that year there

constantly at No. 9; and used to go in the evening on board his ship, for some weeks; but afterwards he did not return on board the ship in the evening, and Bidgood had seen him in the morning, by ten o'clock, in the House, No. 9; and, from the circumstance of towels, water, and glasses, being placed in the passage, he had reason to believe that Manby had slept there all night.--In 1805, Bidgood was not with the Princess in Hampshire.——After the Princess returned from Hampshire, Captain Hood used to visit the Princess at Blackheath alone, without his wife. Captain Hood used to come about twelve o'clock, and was shewn into the blue room, where luncheon was ordered; and the Princess and the Captain were alone together, without a lady or other attendant. He used to stay dinner, and sometimes in boots; about an hour afterwards coffee was ordered; after which the Princess retired, and Captain Hood had also left the room, and had not been let out of the house by any of the servants. Bidgood has not seen Captain Hood since about Christmas last.Bidgood has strong suspicions that Mrs. Sander used to deliver letters to Sicard, which he conceived to be from the Princess to Captain Manby, as Sicard used to put the letters into his pocket, and not into the common bag for letters.

-Mrs. Sander must be fully informed of all the circumstances above alluded to. Mary Wilson and Miss Mielfield must also know all the circumstances.-Bidgood has seen the mother (as she is called) of the little boy frequently at Montague House; the child was about three weeks old when he first saw it. The mother

About six months ago, in a conversation with Fauny Lloyd, respecting the general conduct of the Princess, she said, that whilst Sir Sidney visited the Princess, that Mary Wilson had gone into the bed-room to make up the fire, and found the Princess and Sir Sidney in such an indecent situation, that she immediately left the room, and was so shocked that she fainted away at the door.

(This witness was not examined before the Commissioners; at least, no Copy of such Examination, if there was any, was transmitted with the other Papers. The first paragraph in her examination is, however, stated above, as it is observed upon in the Princess's answer; but the remainder, not being adverted to, either by the Commissioners' Report, or by the Answer, and being all hearsay, is omitted.

Temple, 12th May, 1806.

Frances Lloyd,From Ripley in Surrey. To the best of my knowledge, Mary Wilson said, that she had seen the Princess and Sir Sidney in the blue room; but she is so close a woman, that she never opens her mouth on any occasion; never heard Mary Wilson say she was so alarmed as to be in a fit.Heard the gardener at Ramsgate say one day, at dinner, that he had seen Mr. Sicard and Captain Manby go across the lawn towards a subterraneous passage leading to the sea. When Her Royal Highness was going to the launch, Sir Andrew Hammond and his son came the day before, and dined with her, and in the next morning, about four o'clock, after the doors of the house were open, she saw Captain Manby sitting in the drawing-room of the adjoining house to Her Royal Highness, which room belonged to her. -One morning, about six o'clock, she was called to get breakfast for Her Royal Highness, when she saw Captain Manby and her walking in the garden, at Ramsgate.-Heard from Mrs. Lisle's maid, that the Princess, when at Lady Sheffield's, went out of her bed-room, and could not find her way back; but nothing more. -About four years ago, as I think, Mr. Mills attended me for a cold, and, in conversation, he asked me if the Prince visited at our house? I said, not to my knowledge. He said the Princess certainly was with child.

A trne Cepy.

FRANCES LLOYD.

(Signed) J. Becket. Whitehall, 29th August, 1806.

properly informed of various circumstances,
which must, for a feeling and delicate-minded
woman, be very unpleasant to have spread,
withont having the means to exculpate herself.
But I can, in the face of the Almighty, assure
your Majesty that your Daughter-in-law is inno-
cent, and her conduct unquestionable; free from
all the indecorums and improprieties which are
imputed to her at present by the Lords Commis-
missioners, upon the evidence of persons who
speak as falsely as Sir John and Lady Douglas
themselves. Your Majesty can be sure that I
shall be anxious to give the most solemn denial
in my power to all the scandalous stories of Bid-
good and Cole; to make my conduct be cleared
in the most satisfactory way for the tranquillity
of your Majesty, for the honour of your illus
trious family, and the gratification of your af
flicted daughter-in-law. In the mean time I can
safely trust your Majesty's gracious justice to
recollect, that the whole of the evidence on
which the Commissioners have given credit to
the infamous stories charged against me, was
taken behind my back, without my having any
opportunity to contradict or explain any thing,
or even to point out those persons who might
have been called, to prove the little credit
which was due to some of the witnesses, from
their connexion with Sir John and Lady Doug-
las; and the absolute falsehood of parts of the
evidence, which could have been completely
contradicted. Oh! gracious King, I now look
for that happy moment, when I may be allowed
to appear again before your Majesty's eyes, and
receive once more the assurance from your Ma-
jesty's own mouth that I have your gracious pro-
tection; and that you will not discard me from
your friendship, of which your Majesty has been
so condescending to give me so many marks of
kindness; and which must be my only support,
and my only consolation, in this country. I re-
main with sentiments of the highest esteem,
veneration and unfeigned attachment, Sire, your
Majesty's most datiful, submissive, and humble
Daughter-in-law and Subject,
(Signed) CAROLINE.

To the King.

Aug. 17th, 1806

Sire, Upon receiving the copy of the Report, made to your Majesty, by the Commissioners, Blackheath, Aug. 12, 1806. appointed to inquire into certain charges against Sire, With the deepest feelings of grati- my conduct, I lost no time, in returning to your tude to your Majesty, I take the first opportu- Majesty, my heartfelt thanks for your Majesty's nity to acknowledge having received, as yester- goodness in commanding that copy to be com day only, the Report from the Lords Commis- municated to me.I wanted no adviser, but sioners, which was dated from the 14th of July. my own heart, to express my gratitude for the It was brought by Lord Erskine's footman, di- kindness, and protection which I have uniformly rected to the Princess of Wales; besides a note received from your Majesty. I needed no cauenclosed, the contents of which were, that Lord tion or reserve, in expressing my confident reErskine sent the Evidences and Report by com-liance, that that kindness and protection would mands of His Majesty. I had reason to flatter not be withdrawn from me, on this trying oce myself that the Lords Commissioners would not casion; and that your Majesty's justice would have given in the Report before they had been not suffer your mind to be affected, to my dis

Wales. He made the promise of other copies, your Majesty's presence for seven months, pendwithout any communication with the other Coming an inquiry which your Majesty had directed missioners, wholly from a desire to shew every kind of respect and accommodation to Her Royal Highness, in any thing consistent with his duty, and not at all from any idea that the papers, as originally sent, (though there might be errors in the copying), were not sufficiently authenticated; an opinion, which, he is obliged to say, he is not removed from; nevertheless, the Lord Chancellor has a pleasure in conforming to Her Royal Highness's wishes, and has the honour to euclose the attested copies of the Depositions, as he has received them from Earl Spencer.

taken place. His Royal Highness the Duke of
Kent, on the 7th of June, announced it to me.
He announced to me, the Princess of Wales, in
the first communication made to me, with re-
spect to this proceeding, the near approach of
two attorneys (one of them, I since find, the so-
licitor employed by Sir John Douglas), claiming
to enter my dwelling, with a warrant, to take
away one half of my household, for immediate
examination upon a charge against myself. Of
the nature of that charge I was then uninformed.
It now appears, it was the charge of High Trea-
son, committed in the infamous crime of adul-
tery. His Royal Highness, I am sure, will do
me the justice to represent to your Majesty, that
I betrayed no fear, that I manifested no symp-
toms of conscious guilt, that I sought no excuses
to prepare, or to tutor, my servants for the ex-
amination which they were to undergo. The
only request which I made to His Royal Highness
was, that he would have the goodness to remain
with me till my servants were gone; that he
might bear witness, that I had no conversation
with them before they went. In truth, Sire, my
anxieties, under a knowledge that some serious
mischief was planning against me, and while I
was ignorant of its quality and extent, had been
so great that I could not but rejoice at an event,
which seemed to promise me au early opportu-
nity of ascertaining what the malice of my ene-
mies intended against me. It has not been,
indeed, without impatience the most painful,
that I have passed the interval, which has since
elapsed. When once it was not only known to
me, but to the world (for it was known to the
world), that Inquiry of the gravest nature had
been instituted into my conduct, I looked to the
conclusion with all the eagerness that could be-
long to an absolute conviction, that my innocence
and my honour, to the disgrace and confusion of
my accusers, would be established; and that the
groundless malice and injustice of the whole
charge would be manifested to the world, as
widely as the calumny had been circulated. I
knew that the result of an ex parte inquiry, from
its very nature, could not, unless it fully asserted
my entire innocence, be in any degree just.
And I had taught myself most firmly to believe,
that it was utterly impossible that any opinion
which could, in the smallest degree, work a pre-diate notification of the fact that it did acquit
judice to my honour and character, could ever be.
expressed in any terms, by any persons, in a
Report upon a solemn formal Inquiry, and more
especially to your Majesty, without my having
some notice and some opportunity of being
heard. And I was convinced that, if the pro-
ceeding allowed me, before an opinion was ex-
pressed, the ordinary means which accused per-
sons have, of vindicating their honour and their
innocence, my honour and my innocence must,
in any opinion which could then be expressed,
be fully vindicated and effectually establislied.
What then, Sire, must have been my astonish-
ment and my dismay, when I saw, that notwith
standing the principal accusation was found to
be utterly false, yet some of the witnesses to
those charges which were brought in support of
the principal accusation,-witnesses whom any
person, interested to have protected my cha-
racter, would easily have shewn, out of their
own months, to be utterly unworthy of credit,
and confederates in foul conspiracy with my false
accusers, are reported to be "free from all sus-
"picion of unfavourable bias;" their veracity,
"in the judgment of the Commissioners, not to

"be questioned;" and their infamous stories and
insinuatious against me, to be "such as deserve
"the most serious consideration, and as must be
"credited till decisively contradicted."- -The
Inquiry, after I thus had notice of it, continued
for above* two months. I venture not to com
plain, as if it had been unnecessarily protracted.
The important duties and official avocations of
the Noble Lords, appointed to carry it on, may
naturally account for and excuse some delay.
But however excusable it may have been, your
Majesty will easily couceive the pain and anx
iety which this interval of suspense has occa-
sioned; and your Majesty will not be surprised
if I further represent, that I have found a great
aggravation of my painful sufferings, in the de-
lay which occurred in communicating the Report
to me. For though it is dated on the 14th July,
I did not receive it, notwithstanding your Ma-
jesty's gracious commands, till the 11th of Au-
gust. It was due unquestionably to your Ma-
jesty, that the result of an Inquiry, commanded
by your Majesty, upon advice which had been'
offered, touching matters of the highest import,
should be first and immediately communicated
to you. The respect and honour due to the
Prince of Wales, the interest which he must ne-
cessarily have taken in this Inquiry, combined
to make it indisputably fit that the result should!
be forthwith also stated to His Royal Highness.
I complain not, therefore, that it was too early:
communicated to any one; I complain only (and
1 complain most seriously, for I felt it most se-
verely), of the delay in its communication to
me.--Rumour had informed the world, that
the Report had been early communicated to your
Majesty and to His Royal Highness. I did not
receive the benefit intended for me by your Ma-
jesty's gracious command, till a month after the
Report was signed. But the same ruinour had、
represented me, to my infinite prejudice, as in
possession of the Report during that month; and
the malice of those, who wished to stain my ho
nour, has not failed to suggest all that malice
could infer, from its remaining in that possession
so long unnoticed. May I be permitted to say,
that if the Report acquits me, my innocence en-
titled me to receive from those, to whom your
Majesty's commands had been given, an imme-
me. That if it condemned me, the weight of
such a sentence should not have been left to set-
tle in any mind, much less upon your Majesty's,
for a month, before I could even begin to pre-
pare an answer, which, when begun, could not
speedily be concluded; and that, if the Report'
could be represented as both acquitting and con-
demning me; the reasons, which suggested the
propriety of an early communication in each of!
the former cases, combined to make it proper
and necessary in the latter.And why all con-
sideration of my feelings was thus cruelly neg**
lected; why was I kept upon the rack, during
all this time, ignorant of the result of a charge,
which affected my honour and my life; and why,
especially in a case where such grave matters
were to continue to be credited, to the preju

*The time that the Inquiry was pending, after this notice of it, is here confounded with the time which elapsed before the Report was communicated to her Royal Highness. The Inquiry itself only lasted to the 14th or 16th of July, which is but between five and six weeks from the 7th of June.