Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill: (Georgian Series) (30 page)

It was a pleasant summer villa, the Prince decided; not ostentatious, but suited to his present mode of living. His passion for building made him dream of what alterations might one day be made to the Pavilion – but for the time being, with its two wings on either side of the rotunda, it must be adequate.

Maria, who had refused to live openly with him, took a little house very near Marine Pavilion – just a small villa, made charming by its green shutters, and it was particularly convenient because only a narrow strip of garden separated it from the Prince’s house.

During that winter while Fox was urging loyal Whigs to support the Prince’s request that his debts be considered a State matter and he be enabled to maintain an establishment suitable to his rank, he lived as simply as he could. Since living at Carlton House was too expensive he accepted the loan of several country houses. Lord North lent him his at Bushey and his uncle the Duke of Gloucester wrote from abroad that his mansion at Bagshot was at His Highness’s service.

Maria was delighted with his economies and he delighted in pleasing Maria. Brighton took to her; she never gave herself airs, but at the same time had such a regal presence that she won immediate respect. All the well-known hostesses received her as though she were indeed the Princess of Wales. The Duchesses of Cumberland, Devonshire and Rutland, Ladies Clare, Clermont and Melbourne, were all at Brighton – they must be if they would be fashionable; there they entertained and unless they could induce the Prince and Mrs Fitzherbert to head their guests they were most despondent. The Prince was seen going everywhere with Maria. Martha Gunn openly called her Mrs Prince; and people took up the name. It was clear that they accepted Maria as the wife of the Prince of Wales, and the stories that a marriage had taken place between them as true.

The good people of Brighton would not have had it otherwise. The building of Marine Pavilion had brought prosperity to Brighton builders. Everyone was wanting villas put up – and grand ones too.

The people of Brighton cheered the Prince wherever he went. They did not forget what they owed to him – and of cours to Mrs Prince.

The popularity of the Prince was never so high as it was during that summer. His extreme affability and his free and easy manners won the hearts of the people of Brighton. He was sorry he had run up such debts, they said; and how had he? On setting up home for Mrs Fitzherbert. A reasonable and romantic reason. What right had the King to be so hard on his son? They remembered that the Parliament had paid the King’s debts before this. And why was that? How did he run up debts with
his
cheeseparing. They knew. It was because the Queen was spending money abroad on her needy family, that was
what it was! And in the meantime the charming Prince of Wales – who it was admitted had lived extravagantly but understandably so – had to live in penury.

Penury was scarcely the word to describe the way of life at Marine Pavilion – but the Prince was undoubtedly economizing.

Under the influence of Maria, he drank less and that made him more affable still. He was interested in his servants; when a boy was dismissed for dishonesty the Prince found him weeping bitterly and asking the cause, and discovering it, said to the boy: ‘If I give you another chance would you promise me never to steal again and be my good and faithful servant?’ The boy swore it and the chance was given and ever after no one dared say a word against the Prince of Wales in his hearing. Thus he was popular with the townsfolk and particularly in his own household. It was said of him that no one was ever adored so wholeheartedly by his servants as he was. He could always be relied on to help anyone in financial difficulties. It was true that he had no notion of money but quite a proportion of his debts had been incurred through his generous help to those in distress.

Maria, knowing this, rejoiced in her Prince and she declared more than once that economizing in Brighton was no real hardship. In fact she had never been so happy in her life.

The Due d’Orléans, that lover of Grace Elliott and all things English, was naturally at Brighton. He was known to be out of sympathy with his cousin the King of France and the enemy of the Queen of that country; he loved the English way of life. He was always to the fore at any race meeting; he gambled extravagantly; and he declared himself to be one of the best friends of the Prince of Wales.

One day when he found himself alone with the Prince he broached the subject of the Prince’s financial difficulties and told him that it grieved him very much to see such an elegant gentleman, such a natural leader of fashion, forced to submit himself to such a bourgeois state as economy.

The Prince laughed. ‘Oh, I am not so extravagant as I believed myself to be.’

‘I don’t like it, cousin. In fact I feel ashamed to have so much and to see you with so little.’

‘Monsieur le Due, you have a kind heart, I see.’

‘I should have a happy one if you would allow me to offer you a loan which would wipe out a good proportion of your debts.’

The Prince thought how pleasant it would be to snap his fingers at his father and Mr Pitt and avail himself of this offer.

He hesitated and Orléans was quick to see this.

‘Come! What is a little money, between cousins?’

‘I would not wish to inconvenience you in the least.’

‘Inconvenience! It would give me the greatest pleasure.’

Sheridan came riding down to Brighton to call on Maria.

‘Did you know that the Prince is about to accept a loan from the Due d’Orléans?’

‘Why, no!’ cried Maria.

‘I see that you realize the importance of this. He must be persuaded not to accept this. It’s a political move on the part of Orléans.’

‘The Prince will be calling shortly. Wait here and see him with me.’

When the Prince arrived he was pleased to see his dear friend Sherry and glad that he got on better with Maria than Fox did.

‘Sherry is anxious about this money you are proposing to borrow from the Due d’Orléans,’ said Maria.

The Prince laughed. ‘Is it not an excellent idea to allow the Frenchman to help me out of my difficulties? Imagine my father’s rage when he knows that I have not to beg to him any more.’

‘Your Highness,’ said Sheridan, ‘this is a member of the French royal family. I have already heard of the money he is now raising in France. This would be taken to amount to a loan from France. Your Highness will see that it would be quite impossible for you to take it.’

The Prince was startled and Maria, watching, thought he looked like a child who has had a promised toy suddenly snatched from him.

‘Why?’ he demanded.

‘Because, sir, the Due of Orléans is a political figure. He does not offer you this money entirely out of friendship. There is a great deal of unrest in France at this time and it would seem
that there is trouble ahead. It may be that the Due has plans … plans which might involve this country. Your Highness is apt to forget, if I may be so bold as to say so, the importance of your position. I must tell Your Highness that both Fox and Portland consider it most unwise of you to accept this loan.’

‘So it is being discussed already?’

‘In France, Your Highness, as well as in this country. I know now that with your sound good sense you will see the danger of putting yourself so deeply in debt to France through the Duc d’Orléans.’

Maria said: ‘Sherry is right, I feel sure.’

The Prince smiled and nodded. ‘Of course. I see it all. But …’

‘Your Highness,’ said Sheridan hastily, ‘Charles has sent a message to you. Be patient for a little longer. He plans to bring your affairs up in Parliament very shortly. He is ready for the attack and he says the signs are good. There is victory ahead.’

‘I will write at once to Orléans and thank him for his generosity while I tell him that I shall be unable to take advantage of his goodness.’

Sheridan sighed with relief.

The Prince was amenable. He would get to Chertsey without delay and tell Charles that Maria Fitzherbert was the best possible influence the Prince could have and that he, Charles, and she should lose this distrust they had for each other.

Betrayal in the House

CHARLES JAMES FOX
had been doing his best to persuade the Whig Party to support the Prince in his plea to Parliament for a settlement of his debts; but, with the exception of Sheridan, he had found little support. There was one question which Fox knew was making his friends hold back, and that was the all-important one of the Prince’s marriage.

Only those who had actually been present when the
officiating clergyman had pronounced the Prince and Maria Fitzherbert man and wife could swear that the marriage had taken place. These were the Prince and Maria, her brother, her uncle and the Reverend Robert Burt; all these had pledged their secrecy; and in any case by assisting at such a ceremony they were guilty of the vague but serious crime of præmunire. So no one could be absolutely certain.

Fox believed he was, however, because he had in his possession a letter from the Prince categorically denying that the marriage would ever take place; and it was on this that he based his case.

He wanted to bring up the matter in Parliament because he was certain that he could win. The Prince’s debts must be paid; the Prince’s allowance must be increased; and the King must be shown up for the mean old skinflint that he was. The country must understand that the King was a foolish and disagreeable old gentleman who quarrelled with every member of his family. The Prince was the hope of the future. Pitt was the King’s man; Fox was the Prince’s; and a wise electorate would choose the gay and charming Prince with Fox, rather than Pitt and the stupid unpleasant old King.

Never had the King been so unpopular. This was the time to strike; and Fox believed he was ready.

He knew, of course, why Portland and the others were holding back. They were unsure whether or not the Prince was married. If it came out that he was – and since his financial affairs would be under discussion it might well do so – then the Prince’s popularity would be immediately lost. At the moment the affair was wrapped in mystery and the people loved a mystery. The papers were full of the love affair between Maria and the Prince. But what if it were admitted that the Prince of Wales had in fact married a lady, twice widowed, six years his senior … well, that might be accepted. But she was a Catholic; and ever since the Smithfield fires the people of England had determined never to have a Catholic on the throne. James II had lost his crown because of this; the Hanoverian succession had come into force because of it; the recent Gordon riots showed without a doubt that the feeling was as strong as ever.

It was clear to Fox that the reason the Whigs as a party
would not support the Prince was because of the fear that he had married Mrs Fitzherbert and that this would be disclosed; and if it were so, and he was associated with the Party, then the Party would suffer great harm and perhaps for years to come be linked with the Catholic cause.

The marriage was not mentioned because the Prince was present at most of the discussions and it was considered too delicate a matter and one of which he had no wish to talk. Everyone who knew him well knew also that he greatly disliked discussing anything which was unpleasant to him.

Fox, however, was not disturbed. He believed he knew what had happened; and he felt confident.

If the Prince would only state openly to his friends that there had been no ceremony, then there would have been no difficulty in persuading them to support him; but this he would not do.

Fox believed he understood. The Prince was romantic; he was deeply in love with Maria Fitzherbert. If people believed that there had been a ceremony of marriage, let them go on believing it. It was doubtless what Maria wished. She preferred people to believe that she had gone through a ceremony of marriage; and the Prince wished to please her.

It all seemed clear enough to Fox.

The Duke of Portland, however, was adamant. He declared that he – as head of the Whigs – could not allow the Party to bring up the matter of the Prince’s debts.

The Prince was angry and cut Portland when next they met. Portland shrugged his shoulders. He was sorry to displease the Prince but he had the Party to think of.

‘I am determined,’ the Prince told Fox, ‘to have the matter brought up in Parliament. Quite clearly I cannot continue in this state.’

Fox said: ‘Certainly it shall be brought up. Never fear, we shall do without Portland. Sherry and I are worth the rest of the Party put together. We’ll get an independent member to bring up the subject. I know the man: Alderman Newnham. As a rich city merchant he carries weight. I think he’s our man.’

Within a few days Fox was able to report to the Prince that he was indeed the man.

Alderman Newnham would bring up the matter of the
Prince’s debts in the House of Commons during the next sitting.

On April 20th Alderman Newnham addressed Mr Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, which office he held in addition to that of Prime Minister.

‘Is it the design of His Majesty’s ministers to bring forward any proposition to rescue the Prince of Wales from his present very embarrassed condition? His Royal Highness’s conduct during these difficulties has reflected greater honour and glory on his character than the most splendid diadem in Europe, yet it must be very disagreeable to his Royal Highness to be deprived of those comforts and enjoyments which so properly belong to his rank.’

Mr Pitt rose and replied: ‘It is not my duty to bring forward a subject of such nature as that suggested by the honourable gentleman except at the command of His Majesty. I have not been honoured by such a command.’

Mr Pitt sat down and Alderman Newnham was immediately on his feet to announce that he would bring up the matter again on the 4th May.

Fox was amused. ‘We have begun,’ he told Lizzie. ‘Pitt has been taken by surprise. He did not believe the Prince would allow the matter to be brought up.’

‘Why not? He knows the Prince cannot continue as he is.’