The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 346: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

; : SHE MYSTERIES. elamed his Majesty. “But there’s another—more indelicate still —_—” “ Helen and Paria, sire,” said the Prinee, explain- ing the subject of this second picture against which the King levelled his objections. “Really your Majesty must be aware—hic—that there’s nothing indecent or improper in the ancient classics, any mere than there is in the Bible. Boys at scheol read about Jupiter’s amours with Europa, and Se- mele and Leda, just the same as both boys and girls read the story of Let and his daughters in the Old Teatament——” “Silence, sirrah!—silence!”’ ejaculated the King, bis puffy cheeks flushing with anger. ‘‘I know that you are a voluptuary—a seducer—a gambler—a ependthrift—and a drunkard: but [ hope that you are not an infidel likewise.” “Upon my word,” said the Prince, his own countenance glewing with a crimson deeper than éven that whieh the wine had painted upon it,— “your Majesty is highly complimentary. This is the fret time your Majesty has deigned for some years to set foot within my humble dwelling: and if your Majesty has nothing more pleasing to com- musicate than to call mea parecl of hard names, I hope that yor Majesty's visits will henceforth cease altogether.” “Ehi—what—what? This to me!” ejaculated the monareh, starting ftom his seat, and surveying his son with mingled amazement and anger. | “To you—or to any one else who unprevokedly insults me,” said the Prince of Wales, with that dogged, sullen firmness which so frequently charac- terises a state of semi-ebriety. “I give you two minutes to withdraw your ex- pressions, sirrah,’’ exclaimed the King. “T wouldn't give two damns to withdraw them at all,” observed the Prince, flinging upon his father a leek of mingled defiance and contempt. “You will tepent of this when you're sober, sir— you'll repent of it, I tell you,” cried the King, pro- feendly irritated. “Sach ingratitude, after all I've done for you ” "All yeu’ve done: for me!” echoed his Royal Highness, drawing bimeelf up to his full height and beceming almost completely sobered by the re- flections which that repreach ferced upon his mind. “ Let us examine for an instant all the wonderful ob- ligations under which I lie towards your Majesty. In the first place, my debts have been paid several times, it id true: but with what ¢” ; “With what!” exclaimed George III. * Why— With money, to be sure.” “Yes—the people’s money,” retorted the Prince. “Not yours—you haven’t a farthing of your own in the whole world. It is all very well out-of-doors to let the world and the newspapers talk of the Sove- teign’s bounty, and such like nonsense: the throne caa only be sustained by humbug of that kind. But, in-doors, between you and me, my dear father,” added the Prince, with a tone and manuer of bitter tatire,—“ there cannot be a more miserablo mockery than for you to vapour and boast of giving away the com wrung from the very vitals of an over-taxed, oppressed, and wonderfully enduring nation. So tach for the money part of the question. As fer the moral——”’ “Do you mean to affirm, sirrah,” exclaimed his Majesty, foaming with rage, “that I have ever set you a bad example?” %1 “T cannot say that yout Majesty has done thal,” returned the Prince: “but thie I will proclaim— that my education wag as wretchedly narrow, de- fective, and circumscribed ——” “Enough! enough!” cried the King. “ We shall have you announcing yourself as a Republican next, and throwing off all allegiance——” “By heaven! if every one in the country knew as much of the humbug of monarchy as you and I, my dear father,” exclaimed the Prince of Wales,— “ there would be nothing else but Republicans. But there’s no fear of my preciaiming myself a demo- crat. No—no: I wish to reign as a King—I mean to reign as a King—and I will show the English people that I look upon them as having been made to become the slaves and ministers of my pleasures. Yes—since they will have Kings, by heaven! they shall have a true King in me,—one who will grind them down with taxes—trample upon them—spurn them—treat them as lickspitties and menials——”* “You are my own son, after all!” exclaimed his Majesty, considerably softened by these evidences of a due appreciation of regal duties and royal attributes. “The people must be eoerced—never conciliated. Once grant them an inch—and they will soon require an ell. If they ask for reform—give them grape- shot : if they meet to demand a redress of grievances —disperse them at the point of the bayonet. The idea that a Sovereign can reign in the hearts of his people, is nonsense. He is their natural oppressor; and they can only be ruled by being made to re- gard the throne as something powerful, grand, awe- inspiring, and terrible. A madman alone would preach the possibility of making it loveable.” And, gasping with the exertion of having thus made one of the only connected and fluent speeches which he ever delivered in his life, the King resumed the seat whence he had started in a rage a few minutes previously. “ Well,” said the Prince of Wales, “I am delighted to think that the Jittle breeze which just now arose between us, has lulled into a calm. The truth is, my dear father, I have the highest respect for you when you don’t call me names: because there’s something particularly ignominious in applying barsh terms to the heir-apparent to the throne Moreover, at this present instant I have some claims on your Majesty’s favour and consideration—inas- much as I have consented to give my hand to Caro- hne of Brunswick, and have already sent Mra. Fitsherbert about her business——” “Then it is true that this lady has left you?” in- terrupted George III, joyfully. “Well—I’m giad of it Very beautiful, no doubt—but a Catholic, George—a Catholic! Always remember to keep up the idea that this is a Protestant throne—Protestant throne. "Tis the only safeguard of the House of Hanover—mind that! But what were we talking about? Oh! Mrs. Fitzherbert! Well—you’ve got rid of her—and I congratulate you. Your mother congratulates you, too: she is well pleased—yvyery well pleased. Pitt told us of ita day or two ago— and that is what induced me to visit you personally this morning. While Mrs, Fitzherbert was beneath | your roof, I could not cross the threshold. But now circumstances are altered—much altered. When I came just now—quite incog., mind—I would not allow myself to be introduced with. any state or ceremony. ‘ Conduct me direct, I said, ‘into she presence of the Prince:'—and I was thinking what LL a tt SP ce ee Ue esp ne renee Come bole S COMM