This letter remained unanswered.

293

After a

week, the prince repeated his proposal, with an expression of surprise at the minister's neglect. Mr. Addington's answer was a brief note, that the prince was referred to his majesty's refusal of similar applications in former years; and that his majesty's opinion being fixed, no further mention could be made to him on the subject.

The minister had now discharged himself of the responsibility; but his royal highness felt that he had a public interest in making a still higher appeal; and he submitted his claims to the king, in the letter from which an extract is given:

"I ask to be allowed to display the best energies of my character, to shed the last drop of my blood in support of your majesty's person, crown, and dignity; for this is not a war for empire, glory, or dominion, but for existence. In this contest, the lowest and humblest of your majesty's subjects have been called on; it would, therefore, little become me, who am the first, and who stand at the very footstool of the throne, to remain a tame, an idle, and a lifeless spectator of the mischiefs which threaten us; unconscious of the dangers which surround us, and indifferent to the consequences which may follow. Hanover is lost, England is menaced with invasion,

Ireland is in rebellion, Europe is at the foot of France.

At such a moment, the Prince of Wales, yielding to none of your subjects in duty,―to none of your children in tenderness and affection, presumes to approach you, and again to repeat those offers which he has already made through your majesty's ministers. A feeling of honest ambition, a sense of what I owe to myself and my family, and, above all, the fear of sinking in the estimation of that gallant army, which may be the support of your majesty's crown, and my best hope hereafter, command me to persevere, and to assure your majesty, with all humility and respect, that, conscious of the justice of my claim, no human power can ever induce me to relinquish it. Allow me to say, sir, that I am bound to adopt this line of conduct by every motive dear to me as a man, and sacred to me as a prince. Ought I not to come forward in a moment of unexampled difficulty and danger? Ought I not to share in the glory of victory, when I have every thing to lose by defeat? The highest places in your majesty's service are filled by the younger branches of the royal family; to me alone no place is assigned; I am not thought worthy to be even the junior major-general of your army.

"If I could submit in silence to such indignities, I should indeed deserve such treatment,

your enemies

and prove, to the satisfaction of and my own, that I am entirely incapable of those exertions which my birth and the circumstances of the times peculiarly call for. Standing so near the throne, when I am debased, the cause of royalty is wounded. I cannot sink in public opinion, without the participation of your majesty in my degradation; therefore, every motive of private feeling and public duty induces me to implore your majesty to review your decision, and to place me in that situation which my birth, the duties of my station, the example of my predecessors, and the expectations of the people of England, entitle me to claim."

Public attention had been strongly fixed on the prince during the progress of this transaction; and from the innumerable rumours which were propagated by his friends and enemies, it became of importance to him, that he should be enabled to bring his whole conduct on the occasion before the empire. The king, at least, gave him no cause to complain of delay. Nothing could be more prompt, nor more peremptory, than his majesty's

answer:

"MY DEAR SON,-Though I applaud your zeal and spirit, in which I trust no one can suppose any of my family wanting, yet, considering the repeated declarations I have made, of my

determination on your former applications to the same purpose, I had flattered myself to have heard no further on the subject. Should the implacable enemy succeed so far as to land, you will have an opportunity of shewing your zeal at the head of your regiment. It will be the duty of every man to stand forward on such an occasion; and I shall certainly think it mine to set an example, in defence of every thing that is dear to me and my people.

"I ever remain, my dear son,

"Your most affectionate father,

"GEORGE R."

Application was thenceforth at an end; but the prince addressed a strong vindication of his motives to his majesty; and after some correspondence with the Duke of York, whom he had hastily conceived to be the king's adviser on the occasion; and a remonstrance on his being omitted in a list of military promotions towards the close of the year, he, at length, submitted to a necessity which perhaps no subject in the empire could have felt with more pain. A final note to the minister put this offended feeling in the strongest light. The reports of invasion had been loudly renewed, at a time when the prince was known to be preparing to spend the winter at Brighton, a point which must have been considerably exposed, in the event of an

enemy's force being off the coast. Mr. Addington* wrote a few lines to beg that the journey might be delayed. The answer was spirited, soldierlike, and indignant.

SIR,-By your grounding your letter to me on intelligence which has just reached you, I apprehend you allude to information leading you to expect some attempt on the part of the enemy. My wish to accommodate myself to any thing which you represent as material to the public service, would of course make me desirous to comply with your request.

"But if there be reason to imagine that invasion will take place directly, I am bound by the king's precise order, and by that honest zeal which is not allowed any fitter sphere for its action, to hasten instantly to my regiment. If I learn that my construction of the word intelligence is right, I shall deem it necessary to repair instantly to Brighton."

In England there can be but few state secrets, and this correspondence soon made its way to the journals. The debate, on moving for a committee on the defence of the country, introduced the prince's name; when Tyrrwhitt, one of his household, defended him from the possible charge of

* October 23.