royal squadron entered the Thames. It was destined,
however, by management or mismanagement--for we know not which to call
it--that the jealousy of the Princess should be awakened from the very
first hour she landed in Great Britain. The lady, regarding whom the
anonymous letter above referred to was written, and whose _liaison_ with
the Prince of Wales was the subject of public scandal, had been selected
as one of the Ladies of Honour to meet the Princess on her arrival. This
was neither more nor less than a premeditated insult, and Caroline must
have felt it as such. We can exempt no one from the censure attachable to
such a proceeding. Even if it can be supposed that the general rumour was
unjust with regard to the nature of that connexion, its mere publicity
should have prevented the Prince from subjecting his bride to such
society, at least at so early a period. But we apprehend that no such
palliative can be urged. Under these circumstances, it was the clear duty
of the King to have interfered, and, in his double capacity of uncle and
father-in-law, to have prevented this affront from being offered to the
unprotected Princess. Altogether, it was a scandalous arrangement, and
Lord Malmesbury felt it as such. The following extract speaks volumes as
to the feelings entertained by the haughty favourite towards the wife:--

"_Sunday, April 5._--At eight the Princess got into the royal yacht
(Augusta)--pleasant and prosperous sail to Greenwich, where we arrive
at twelve o'clock. The King's coaches not yet arrived, owing, as I
have since heard, to Lady ---- not being ready. She, Mrs Aston, and
Lord Claremont, came to meet the Princess. We waited at least an hour
for the carriages, and were very attentively, but awkwardly, received
by Sir W. Pattison, governor of the hospital, and his two sisters.
Lady ---- very much dissatisfied with the Princess's mode of dress,
though Mrs Harcourt had taken great pains about it, and expressed
herself in a way which induced me to speak rather sharply to her. She
also said, _she could not sit backwards_ in a coach, and hoped she
might be allowed to sit _forwards_. This, (though Mrs Harcourt was
servile enough to admit as a reason,) as it was strictly forbidden by
the King,"--[it _does_ seem, therefore, that some such difficulty had
been apprehended, and the probable conduct of Lady ----
discussed!]--"I most de