The life of George the Fourth

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Chapter I

From daybreak on the morning of August 12th, 1762, crowds had been assembled round St. James’s Palace, waiting the news of the birth of a royal child, which was hourly expected. Inside the palace were gathered all the great officers of state who had been in attendance all the night, with the Princess Dowager of Wales, the Dukes of Devonshire and Rutland, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other distinguished personages. Dr. Hunter, the great surgeon, was “in attendance,” but only in reserve in case of emergency, for the Queen had prejudices against calling in the assistance of the accoucheur; and the office of assisting her Majesty through the crisis was delegated to a simple midwife.* Twenty-four minutes past seven o’clock was the exact moment that ushered the future prince, prince regent, and king into this world. At thirteen minutes past three o’clock, on a Saturday morning in June, sixtyseven years later, this new-born babe was to depart from it. The contrast between the joyful acclamations and the splendid retinue which welcomed his birth, and the desertion and indifference which attended his death, was significant, and worthy of the study of princes. One companion of his pleasures, and a few doctors and servants, were all who witnessed that scene; while outside, the feeling was about that of relief and satisfaction. 'He, however, was now a smiling infant in Mrs. Draper’s arms. No one could forecast the life that was in store for it, and there was universal joy at the

* Mrs. Stephens. Huish, “ Memoirs of George FV.,” i. 8. Mrs. Draper is mentioned in the publication, but she was the Prince of Wales’s nurse.

1*

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birth of an heir to the Crown. The 3^oung king, in his satisfaction, presented the messenger that brought the good news with a “gratification” of five hundred pounds, and was presently drawn to the window of his palace to witness an omen of excellent augury. The Park guns were still firing, when loud rumbling announced the passage of a train of tumbrels known to contain the treasure captured from a Spanish galleon — a prize of enormous value, now on its way to the Tower. Twenty wagons descended St. James’s Street, and passed before the King and Court. Under these circumstances, then, came into the world the future George IV., the Prince Regent, and “first gentleman of Europe.”

Not until August 17th, the royal infant, who was born Electoral Prince of Brunswick-Lunenburg, Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Great Steward of Scotland, was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester by patent.*

The royal pair v^ere anxious to encourage access of all comers to the new hope of the kingdom. Before the infant was a fortnight old, public notice was given that all who desired it might visit St. James’s Palace, “on drawing-room days,” between one and three o’clock, an offer of which abundant advantage was taken. The crowd of ladies thus tempted to flock to the Court, to see the child and taste her Majesty’s caudle and cake, soon became enormous, the daily expense for cake alone being estimated at forty pounds, while the consumption of wine was “greater than could have been expected.” f

The christening took place on September 8th, in the great council-chamber of the palace, and was performed by Seeker, the Archbishop of Canlerbur^^ — “that right reverend midwife,” as Mr. Walpole styled him, in allusion to his presence at the Queen’s accouchement. The names chosen were George Augustus Frederick, and

* Thus, for this most familiar of his designations, the heir-apparent is indebted to the favor of the Crown. His inherited honors give him no higher dignity than a dukedom. It was noted that George IV. held no Irish dignity, but the present Prince of Wales was created Earl of Dublin w'hen nine years old— a dignity which is to be enjoyed by him and his heirs forever.

t Many stories were told of the free-and-easy behavior of the eager throng. Two Jewish ladies sent their footman to the palace, “ to know how the Queen did?” and were told by Lady Northampton that they should have come in person. “That’s good!” said the fellow, “why she lies in herself;” if she had not, I suppose she would have expected the Queen to send to her.— Walpole “ Letters” (Cunningham), iii. 18.

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the godfathers were the Dukes of Cumberland and Mecklenburgh- Strelitz — the latter represented by the Duke of Devonshire — the Princess of Wales being godmother. At this ceremony, which was held at night, there was shown the same eagerness to gratify the loyal aspirations of the crowd. All who came were admitted; but this, fortunately, had not got abroad, so but few used the privilege, and not more than half-a-dozen ladies of title attended. But, in spite of all these efforts, the royal pair were not popular, and when the Queen showed herself in public at an installation, there was an outcry against ‘’ the indelicacy of so early an appearance,” and the matter was warmly controverted. Her friends had to defend her on the ground of her German training and habits.*

The usual addresses and loyal demonstrations were offered by the Parliament, universities, and the leading cities of the kingdom. Later on, fresh offence, however, was given when it was known that the royal child was to be submitted to inoculation, then a novelty, and the preachers protested that it was interfering with the order of Providence. The King and Queen, however, were firm, and had the courage to adopt the new preservative in the case of all their children. Lady Charlotte Finch was appointed governess, and Mrs. Henrietta Coulsworth deputy governess, f From his birth set in that long series of portraits in which the figure and features of the young prince and maturer regent were being portrayed on the canvas. No one was painted so frequently. We are told that "soon after his birth the Queen had a whole-length portrait modelled in wax. He was represented naked. The figure was half a span long, lying upon a crimson cushion, and it was covered by a bell-glass. Her Majesty had it constantly on her toilet

* A preacher of note— Mr. Simpson— inveighed from the pulpit against this “indelicacy;” and a Dr. Vandegucht, a Dutch clergyman, who defended the Queen, was roughly handled by the mob.— Huish, i. 9.

t The two selected nurses, “ wet and dry,” it was solemnly announced, were Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Chapman; the “necessary woman” was Mrs. Dodson, and the two “ rockers ” were Jane Simpson and Catherine Johnson. The person who had enjoyed the honor of suckling the Prince was a lady— Mrs. Scott, of Scottshall— of an old Scotch family but much reduced, and to whom the office was very welcome. “ She is much liked by our King and royal family,” wrote Mrs. Montagu, who looked to the children obtaining little places in the household; “ and I hope the scheme, which I have forwarded to the utmost of my power, will save an ancient, honorable family from ruin. Her royal nursling is as fine and healthy a child as can be.”— Dr. Doran, “ A Lady of the Last Century,” p. 131.

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at Buckingham House. At the decease of her Majesty it was exhibited ; the likeness was still palpable, though the original had outlived the date of the fairy model more than half a century. Few years passed, it is believed, without her Majesty having his portrait either in miniature, enamel, silhouette, modelled in marble or wax, or in some other style of art. One of the latest, if not the very last, was a miniature head of his royal highness, enamelled by Mr. Bone, which he had the honor of placing in her Majesty’s hands at Windsor the year before her death. ” * Another picture of the young prince was painted about this time by Cotes. It represented him in his mother’s arms; a rather large-faced child, a singular anticipation of the features of his future child, the Princess Charlotte. The hand of the Queen is raised as if to enjoin quiet and silence. This was always a favorite with the King, as representing the two persons to whom he was most attached.

Evidence of his promising condition was soon given when a deputation from a society styled the Ancient Bdtons presented him with an address. It seems scarcely credible that an infant, not three years old, should have to acknowledge such a compliment either vicariously or otherwise, but he was said to have done so in a set speech: “I thank you for this mark of your duty to the King, and wish prosperity to the charity.” These words, we are told, were, according to the delighted courtiers, delivered with singular propriety, and a grace that even then almost warranted the adoption of his well-known sobriquet.^

In the following year, on August 16th, a second son was born — the Duke of York, whose christening, fourteen months after his birth, was attended by some curious ceremonies. Within seven months the King had appointed the infant to be Bishop of Osnaburg, a promotion that caused some scandal as well as much angry contention with the chapter of Cologne, who contended that the appointment lay with them. The dispute went on for some years, until it was compromised through the mediation of the great Frederick, and the young prince was allowed to bear the title and revenues of his office, j; The first formal introduction of the young children to the public was on the occasion of a drawing-room, held

* Huish.

t He was “ tutored ” in the speech for days before. But the Ancient Britons were told that they would not be received again.

X One loyal writer, Burgh, actually dedicated a work “ To the Right Reverend Father in God,” of three years old.

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by them in their own name in October, 1769. The Prince of Wales, we are told, was assisted by his sister, the Princess Royal, then two years old.* The order of their daily life and the arrangements for their education were creditable to the good sense and care of the royal parents. The old house at Kew, which had belonged to Secretary Molyneux, had now been settled on the Queen, and was called the Queen’s House, later to be the scene of many painful trials. The Bower Lodge and the houses on the old Green were given up to the children, f who did not reside under the same roof with their parents. Their day was after this pattern. If they had become a little indisposed, the King was afoot at five in the morning, and, going down to their house, would tap at their doors and inquire how they had rested. At eight the Prince of Wales, Prince Frederick, the Princess Royal, and the princes William and Edward, were brought from their several apartments on the Green at Kew to the Queen’s house to breakfast with their parents. “At nine the youngest children attended, and whilst the eldest were closely plying their tasks, the little ones with their nurses passed the morning in Richmond Gardens. The King and Queen frequently amused themselves with sitting in the room while the children dined; and once a week, accompanied b/ the whole group in pairs, they made a tour round these extensive plantations. In the evening it was the custom for all the children again to pay their respects at the Queen’s house before they retired to rest; and

* Some ridicule attended this proceeding, which was borrowed from German etiquette, and caricatures were published representing the children going through the ceremonies with their tops, kites, etc. They at last rebelled ; and a story went that the boys had refused to leave their cricket, saying the company might wait.

tWhen making arrangements, the careful monarch thus wrote to his minister: “ I take this opportunity of enclosing you a list of the servants that I find absolutely necessary to place about my third and fourth sons.” He adds, he has brought the expense as low as the nature of the thing would admit.

Preceptors ^ Hooke 300

Pages of the | Mannerlay j Each: Salary, £80 } onA

Backstairs f Miller ( Morning, 20 ) ^

Housekeeper 50

For keeping three hounds, each £20 60

Porter 30

Watchman 25

Writing Master 100

£1115

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the same order was observed through each succeeding day, without any deviation, while at that place of residence. On Sunday every member of the family of a proper age was required to attend public worship; and in the evening his Majesty himself made it a rule to read a discourse from the writings of some of our best divines.” *

This is an agreeable family picture, though the impression abroad was that the discipline was far too severe. The Duke of Sussex, nearly seventy years later, complained to Dr. Holland of the too great strictness of his royal father, and described himself as being then afflicted with an asthmatic breathing, which his tutor “required him to stop and which, after various rebukes and threats, ended in sound flogging. This, he added, was by no means a rare occurrence. A tutor would scarcely have ventured to have thus indulged his temper unless he felt that he would be supported. f

The Duke of York also retailed painful impressions of this period, describing how the tutor would hit them with his pencil on the head if they were inattentive, j:

* Watkins, “ Mem. Duke of York,” p. 28.

t Ticknor’s “Life,” ii. 152.

X In what kind of family circle the children were reared may be conceived from the training their mother had to pass through. “ Except the Ladies of the Bedchamber,” says Mrs. Harcourt, in her Diary (pp. 45, 4C), printed by Mr. Locker, “for ^ an hour in a week in a funeral circle, or a ceremonious drawing Rm she never had a soul to speak to but the King. That this continued till her first child the P. of Wales was born, that then the nurse & his Governess Lady C. Finch coming into the Room was a little treat, but that they had still for years no other society till by degrees the Ladies of the Bed Chamber came more frequently, and latteidy the Society for various reasons, the Children growing up, the journies &c. was much encreased. . . . Expecting to be Queen of a gay Court, finding herself confined as in a Convent, & hardly allowed to think without the leave of her husband checked her spirits, made her fearful & cautious to an extreme, & when the time came that amusements were allowed her her mind was formed to a difft manner of life.”

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Chapter II. 1771—1776

This early stage, however, was soon passed. In the year 1771, when the royal child was nine years old, it was considered time that a scheme for his education should be formally arranged. The second brother was to receive a thoroughly German education. A system of complete and careful English instruction was determined upon. Accordingly, in February, Dr, Markham, lately Master of Westminster School, and now Bishop of Chester, was appointed preceptor. Dr. Cyril Jackson, sub-preceptor, while Lord Holdernesse became governor. The latter was the real director of the children, and was to look after their conduct generally. For the post of sub-governor — a highly important office — there were many candidates.

Among the candidates for this office were two clergymen of a doubtful notoriety. One was Kidgell, who had done dirty work for Lord Sandwich, and had been a sort of bludgeon-man on the press. He had contrived to get permission to dedicate some fables to the young princes; but when the King read the book he was so disgusted at the mixture of levity and gross flattery that he was at the expense of buying up the whole impression. The other clergyman, who had greatly attracted the Queen, was the unfortunate Dr, Dodd. She was in his favor, but the King positively declined, not relishing the style and manner of the candidate.

But the person chosen was Mr. Smelt, a well-known figure in Madame D’Arblay’s memoirs; a man of signal uprightness and virtue, but “a violent revolution whig.” As assistant tutors. Lord Holdernesse selected two foreign refugee Protestants, Bude and Salzes, the latter a Swiss of much worth, while Dr. Majendie, the Queen’s reader, attended them for Latin and English. The King and Queen added their exertions; the former being considered to read with propriety and grace, while the Queen imparted instruction in French, German, and even English, which ghe could scarcely as yet have been very familiar with.

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The sub-preceptor gave lessons, while the bishop supervised and controlled the whole. Markham was a highly-successful schoolmaster, who had been promoted to the deanery of Christ Church, and afterwards, as was becoming a prince’s instructor, received the rich prize of the archbishopric of York. He was a pert, arrogant man, by Mr, Walpole’s account, and owed his recommendation to Lord Mansfield, Dr. Jackson was a person of a rather unique type, having refused bishoprics three times.* He seems to have been a worthy and conscientious man, spoken of with much respect by his contemporaries. Lord Holdernesse, Mr. Walpole tells us, “owed his office to his insignificance and his wife,” who, it was supposed, prompted her husband to use the opportunities afforded by his residence at the Cinque Ports for smuggling, f A board composed of such heterogeneous elements was not likely to work harmoniously, and almost at once the Court was agitated by what might be considered a scandal.

It became known that the governor and sub-preceptor were at open war. Late in 1775, the former, from “a violent humor” in his face, which struck in upon his breast and affected his hearing, had been obliged to go to the South of France. On his return he found that advantage had been taken of his absence to prejudice the minds of his pupils against him. “They had treated his authority with contempt, and often ridiculed him to his face.”j: The juvenile Bishop of Osnaburg “set on” his elder brother; what he was to do very often later, even when both were old men. The latter, however, was always showing himself self-willed and headstrong to his father as well as to his mother, who could not control him. Lord Holdernesse accused Jackson of setting his pupils against him. There were suspicions that the bishop was at the bottom of the confusion, while Jackson declared the governor to be “most trifling and unfit for his charge.” In this general wrangle the only course was to provide a new set of instructors. The King, indeed, wished to retain Lord Holdernesse; but the latter declined to stay, on the ground, it would seem, that he had

* Hurd, his successor in the tutorship, declined the primacy of Ireland, as Jackson was said to have done that of England, t It was stated that in a single “venture ” she introduced one hundred and fourteen dresses.

t “ Last Journals” of Walpole, ii. 51, which see also for an account of the whole incident.

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lost all control over his charge. Smelt, whose character Mrs. Delany declared, with some exaggeration, “to be of the most noble and delicate kind, and deserving the pen of a Clarendon to do justice to it,” followed his patron, refusing a pension from the King. De Salzes, the refugee, also insisted on retiring, significantlygiving as a reason the “ungovernable temper of his charge, the Prince of Wales.” *

This was told by Lord Holdernesse himself to Lord Hertford, who reported it to Walpole. It speaks badly for the system that the humors of a headstrong child should have had a share in such changes.

But the most painful part of this transaction was this early anticipation of future discord between the King and Prince; for it seems certain that between the boy of fourteen and his father there was already implanted a reciprocal dislike; and Lord Hertford declared that the boy stood in no awe of either his father or his mother. The King was seriously affected by this discovery ; and it was noticed that he was wasted with the anxiety. In a letter to Lord North, he says it had made him forget important business. It will be seen from the following how harassed he was, and what steps he took. The passage that his sons “would secretly feel a kind of victory, if the bishop remained,” is significant.

“My dear Lord” (he wrote from Kew, on May 27th, 1776), — “. . . . I mentioned the Lord[s] Dartmouth, Ashburnham, and Bruce as the only persons that occurred to me in the least from their characters, as fit to succeed Lord Holdernesse. ... I also mentioned that from principles of honor I could not press Mr. Smelt to continue Sub-Governor with any other Governor than Lord Holdernesse; that Mr. Jackson, knowing he was to be removed prior to my receiving any intimation of Lord Holdernesse’s intentions to retire, the Bishop of Chester was the only one of the establishment concerning whom it was necessary for me to take any decision; that on principle I think the Governor is my representative, and as such no one about them must have more hold on them than him, therefore that on the new appointment of a Governor I must produce a new preceptor: when to this is added the want of regard of my sons to Lord Holdernesse has made him resign, though he will put it on his health, they would secretly feel a kind of vic-

Last Journals ” of Walpole, ii. 53.

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toiy if the Bishop remained : I therefore yesterday took the painful task of sending for the Bishop of Chester, and with kindness and frankness told him that, as Lord Holdernesse meant to retire, I should at the same time appoint a new preceptor. ... On Thursday I saw Lord Bruce, and used every argument to compell him to step forth to my assistance. . . . On Saturday he wished to decline, but after a very full conversation, seeing my distress of mind, he very handsomel}'" consented to accept, provided the Bishop of Litchfield came to his assistance. He has by my direction spoke this morning to that Bishop, and on Wednesday I hope to be able to say to you that I have secured those two, which will restore my mind to a state of ease, which you cannot think a tender father can possess unless satisfied of the moral principles of men to whose care he intrusts his children.”

In another letter he writes:

“Lord North, — The letter I received this day from you, in answer to mine of yesterday, is the most ample proof of your affectionate feeling for me. The Bishop of Litchfield has with great modesty and propriety agreed to come as preceptor to my children. I shall therefore direct Lord Bruce and him to come and kiss hands at the levee on Friday.”

For sub-governor the King found “a highly proper person ” in Colonel Hotham. The new preceptor owed his post directly to Lord Mansfield, who brought under the King’s notice some “ Dialogues on the British Constitution.” He brought with him his own chaplain. Dr. Arnald, as sub-preceptor; a man of much reputation at the university, and “ whose mildness, morals, and cheerfulness,” according to the King, were as conspicuous as his talents.*

Hurd recommended himself much at Court, and the King always displayed a particular affection to him, writing to him in the warmest terms, and when invasion was apprehended selected his palace as the place he was to retire to. He was, no doubt, an excellent man, and the fact that he was disliked by his royal pupils, by whom Markham was preferred, is scarcely to his discredit. Years after, at a great dinner given by the Duke of Norfolk in St.

* Letter to Lord North, ii. 33. But about 1782 his wits became unsettled, and his delusions seem to have been oddly connected with pi’eferment, for he used to wear a mitre about the house.

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James’s Square, where were the Prince, Fox, Sheridan, Erskine, Dr. Parr, and other persons of note, a discussion took place on the comparative merits of the two preceptors, and which is even dramatic in its illustration of the character of the Prince and of the resolute Parr.

, “ The Archbishop of York,” writes one who took down a description of the scene from Parr’s own lips, then in a declining state of health, “being alluded to, the Prince observed; ‘I esteem Markham a much greater, wiser, and more learned man than Hurd, and a better teacher. You will allow me to be a judge, as they were both my preceptors.’ Said Dr. Parr: ‘Is it your Royal Highness’s pleasure that I should enter upon the topic of their comparative merits as a subject of discussion? ’ ‘ Yes,” said the Prince. ‘ Then, sir,’ said Parr, ‘ I totally differ from your Royal Highness in opinion.’ ‘As I knew them both so intimately,’ replied the Prince, ‘you will not deny that I had the power of more accurately appreciating their respective merits than you can have had.’ The Prince then spoke of Markham’s natural dignity and authority as compared with Hurd’s smoothness and softness, ‘and, with proper submission to your authority on such a subject, his experience as a schoolmaster and his better scholarship.’ ‘ Sir,’ said Parr, ‘your Royal Highness began the conversation, and if you permit it to go on must tolerate a very different inference.’ ‘Go on,’ said the Prince. ‘I declare that Markham understands Greek better than Hurd, for when I hesitated Markham immediately explained it, and then he went on, but when I hesitated with Hurd he always referred me to the dictionary; I conclude he therefore wanted to be informed himself.’ ‘Sir,’ replied Parr, ‘ I venture to differ from your Royal Highness’s conclusion. I am myself a schoolmaster, and I think that Dr. Hurd pursued the right method, and that Dr. Markham failed in his duty. Hurd desired your Royal Highness to find the word, not because he did not know it, but because he wished you to find by search and learn it thoroughl}^’ ‘ Have 5'^ou not changed your opinion of Hurd ? ’ exclaimed the Prince. ‘ I have read a work in which you attacked him fiercely.’ ‘ Yes, sir, I attacked him on one point which I thought important to letters, and I summoned the whole force of my mind and took every possible pains to do it well, for I consider Hurd to be a great man. . . . There is no comparison between Markham and Hurd as men of talent. Markham was a pompous schoolmaster; Hurd was a stiff, cold, but correct gentleman. Markham was at the head of a good school, tutor of a

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good college, and finally became an archbishop; in all these stations he had trumpeters of his fame who called him great, though he published one “Concio” only, which has already sunk in oblivion. From a farmhouse and village school Hurd emerged, the friend of Gray and a circle of distinguished men, and sent from the obscurity of a country village a book, sir, which your royal father, sir, is said to have declared made him a bishop. And perhaps, sir, a portion of the adroitness and power you have manifested in this debate might have been owing to him.’ Fox, when the Prince was gone, exclaimed in his high tone of voice: ‘He thought he had caught you, but he caught a Tartar.’ The argument was maintained with some heat.”*

The shallowness of the Prince’s reasoning — which had yet a specious air — may be contrasted with the doctor’s intrepid vindication of Hurd, to whom he bore no good-will ; as indeed his adversary, with some malice, took care to remind him.f

Though the new' preceptor started hopefully on his course, writing to his friends that his pupils were “extremely promising,” he was not long in forming a judgment of the character of the eldest. Indeed, it seems that the Prince exhibited, at this early age, many of those ungracious qualities which were to distinguish him when he w'as grown up; and his new master augured but badly of his future career. To his cousin, Mrs. Parsons, the bishop said one day in reply to a question as to the progress of his pupil: “ My dear,” he replied, laying his peculiarly small white hand upon her arm, “I can hardly tell; he will be either the most polished gentleman or the most accomplished blackguard in Europe; possibly an admixture of both.” X

Perhaps the most interesting event of his childhood was the meeting with Hr. Johnson, who met with him one day when he was reading in the royal library. The doctor, w'ho spoke to him some grave words of encouragement, had thus been in some sort of communication wdth five sovereigns. He had been touched for the evil by Queen Anne; he must have often seen the first and second