The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 219: what you’re looking at

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and often impertinent. Th»t she is ill-mannered, familiar, and at times utterly oblivious of her rank and station, I myself could perceive during the few hours that I have this day passed in the company of her Royal Highness. She talks indiscreetly— gives utterance to anything that comes uppermost in her mind—and frequently rattles away with a marvellous affectation of wit and humour. On such occasions, Mrs. Harcourt assures me, she will giggie in the most childish manner; and, what is worse, she of course expects that every one will smile at her bad jokes and obscure jocularities. Nor is she very particular as to the language she makes use of; and she certainly said two or three things in my presence this morning which savoured of downright indelicacy. Her Ruyal Highness was brought up, it is generally understood, with much severity: indeed, her own father the Duke said to Lord Malmesbary a few weeks ago at Brunswick, ‘ She te not a fool; but she has no discretion: she has been closely looked after—and I can assure your lordship it was necessary.' What this could possibly mean,” continued Lady Jersey, “I must leave you, my dear George, te conjecture: but | ; { © The following extracts are from Malmesbury’s work mentioned in a preceding note :—“ Mademoiselle Hertz- feldt, the Duke of Brunswick's mistress, takes me aside and says nearly these words: ‘I conjure you to induce the Prince of Wales to make his bride live a retired lifo at the commencement. She hasalways been kept within bounds and had a, ght hand held over her; and this was absolutely necessary. If she finds herself altogether in the worul without any restrictions she will not keep her footing sure. She has not a depraved heart—she has never done ansthing wrong—but her specch is always chead of her reflection: she abanduns herself heart and soul tothose ithwhom she is conversing ; and thence it follows, sven tn this little Court, that meanings and iutentionsure attriba to her which never could hare been really her own. Itis absolutely necessary that the Prince keepsa tight hand over ber ; or she will go astray.’" (Page 169, Vol. IIl.) “She has no stability; no fixed , character, alightand gighty mind, but meaning well and well disposed; and my eternal theme to her is to think , Oefore she speaks, and recollect herself.” (Pase 179.) “I } regret the apparent facility of the Princess Car one’s character; her want of reflection and substance: with | different description there are great risks.” (Page ‘32.) a steady man she would do vastly well, but with one of a | “ The Princess talked of her aunt the Abbess; seid she had endeavoured to inspire her with a diffidenceand mis— truet of me—that I was a dangerous man. I tried to get rid of this sort of conversation; but the Princess scuck by it ; and I was forced to say that I believed ber aunt had forgotten that twenty years had elapsed since she ' had seen me, or heard of me; and that, besides, such an == . ishiy anprincipied. insinvation was a tacit accusation of my being very fool. She said she meant well; that she perbaps thought too partially of me herself, and was afraid for her. It was in vain to attempt to turn the subject: she went on during the whole supper—was in high spirits, and laughed unmercifully at her aunt and her supposed partiality for me.” (Pages 183 and 1894.) * The Duke of Brunswick takes me aside, and says that the only reason why he wished Mademoiselie Rozenweit to be with the Princesse was that his daughter writes very ¢li and apelis ili, and he was desirous this should not ap-— pear.” (Page 187.) “Mademoiselle Hertzfeldt again talks to me as before about the Princess Caroline. She must be governed by fear, even by terror. ‘She will kick Over the traces if you don’t take care.” (Page 189.) “ Princess Caroline shows me an anonymous letter re- ceived from London about Lady Jersey: its object was to frighten the Prinesss with the idea that she would SE pean wwe OM ———— a eee S&S —_ wi PEA. Cie and inquisitiveness.” joke and can make one.” this to her after, as what I could not approve.” THE MYSTERIES. very certain it is that the ideas and language of your future wife are somewhat loose, despite of the severity of her réaring.” “ This is a picture well calculated to gladden me,” observed the heir-apparent bitterly. “ ete it, my dear Frances—complete it, I pray you.” “Lord Malmesbury communicated to Mrs. Har. court the opinion which the Duke of Brunswick had expressed concerning his daughter,” con- tinued the Countess of Jersey; “and dear ing Mrs. Harcourt has not hesitated to réveal everything tv me. But would you believe it, my dear George, that the Princess is positively of dirty habits———” * What!” ejaculated his Royal Highness, now contemplating his artful companion with dismay. “It is as I tell you,” persisted Lady Jersey, every instant growing bolder and less scrupulous in her allegations against the unfortunate altivgs of Brunswick. “Lord Malmesbury was positi compelled to remonstrate with her Royal ness upon the slovenliness of her habits, the filth of her apparel, and the disgusting neglect of her person, which was but too evident.* He plainly e lead her into an affair of gallantry and be ready te be convenient on such an occasion. This did soft frighten the Princess, although it did the Duke and Dachcess; andon my perceiving this, I told her Lady Jersey would be more cautious than to risk such an audacious measure; and that moreover it was death to presume to approach s Princess of Wales, and no man would be daring enough to think of it. She asked me whether I was tn carnest. I said such was our law; that any body who presumed to love her was guilty of Aigh treason and punished with death, if she was weak cnough to listen to him: so aleo would she. Thisstartled her.” (Pagel89.) “Roads in good order. Princess wanted me to be in the same coach with her; I resisted it as being impossible, from Its being improper. She disposed to laugh at the matter : I discountenance it.” (Page 190.) “Her character could not distinguish between giving as a benevolence aid flinging away the money like a child. ° She thought thac the act of getting rid of the money, and not seeming to zare about it, constituted the merit.” (Page 193.) “ Princess Caroline very awkward at cards; speaks with- out thinking ; gets too easy; calle tho ladies she never | saw befure, ‘My love, my dear, my little one.” I notices this and reprove it strongly. The Princess for the first tinse disposed to take it amiss.” (Page1l93.) “On sum ming up Prin cess Caroline's character to-day, it came out to my mind to be that she has quick psrta, without s eound or distinguishiug uOderstanding ; that she hase ready conception, but no judgment; caught by the first impression; led by the first imptlse; tarned away by appesrances or by pleasure; Joving to talk, and prone to confide and make missish ips tha last iwenty- four hours. Some natura: but no acquired morality: and no strong innate ideas of its value and nece Sity: warm feclings and nothing to ccunterbalance them great good humour and much good-nature—no appear- ance of caprice—ratber quick and vivacious, but nota grain of rancour. From her habits, from the life she was allowed and eren compelled to live, forced to dis- semble; fond of gossiping ; and this strengthoned greatly by the example of her good mother, who is all curiosity (Page 196.) “ At supper Princess Caroline very cheerful, and pleasantly so ; understands a (Page 197.) @ Princess Caro- line affects to dislike Madame Walmoden and oalls hers bore. I say she ought to ask her to play with her: she does it, but reluctantly, and during the party whispers and giggies with some of the young women. I notices (Page 198.' “ Princess Caroline very missizh at supper to COM ElOOO® SS co