CHAPTER I.

Queen Charlotte--Duchesses of Cumberland and Cambridge--
Westminster Election--Contest between Sir Francis Burdett and
Sir Murray Maxwell--London Election--Oatlands--The Duke of
York--Duchess of York--Ampthill--Tixall--Mr. Luttrell--Lady
Granville--Teddesley--Macao--Burleigh--Middleton--Lady Jersey--
The New Parliament--Tierney and Pitt--Princess Lieven--Madame
de Stael on the French Revolution--Westminster Election--
Hobhouse Defeated--Scarlett's Maiden Speech--Influence of
Party--Play--The Persian Ambassador at Court--Prince Leopold--
Woburn--Anecdote of the Allies--Death of George III.--Illness
of George IV.--Queen Caroline--Fleury de Chabaulon--The Cato
Street Conspiracy--George IV. at Ascot--Marchioness of
Conyngham--Queen Caroline in London--Message to Parliament--
Debates--Insubordination in the Guards--Wilberforce's Motion--
Proceedings against the Queen--'Les Liaisons dangereuses'--The
Queen's Trial--The Duke of Wellington on the Battle of Waterloo
and the Occupation of Paris.

1818.

I began to keep a Journal some time ago, and, after continuing it
irregularly, dropped it entirely. I have since felt tempted to
resume it, because, having frequent opportunities of mixing in
the society of celebrated men, some particulars about them might
be interesting hereafter.

[Page Head: LAST YEARS OF THE REGENCY.]

June 7th, 1818 {p.001}

The dissolution of Parliament is deferred on account of the
mistakes which have been made in passing the Alien Bill. On
Friday night the exultation of the Opposition was very great at
what they deemed a victory over the Ministers. It is said that
there will be 100 contests, and that Government will lose twenty
or thirty members. The Queen was so ill on Friday evening that
they expected she would die. She had a severe spasm.[1]

[1] [Queen Charlotte, consort of George III., died on the
17th of November of this year, 1818.]

The Duchess of Cambridge[2] has been received in a most
flattering manner here, and it is said that the Duchess of
Cumberland is severely mortified at the contrast between her
reception and that of her sister-in-law. On the Sunday after her
arrival the Duke took her to walk in the Park, when she was so
terrified by the pressure of the mob about her that she nearly
fainted away.

[2] [Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridg