They resided
together at Brighton, and it was first supposed, and then asserted, that
they were married according to the Romish ritual, and the story gained
sufficient credence as to be subsequently noticed in the house of
commons. The money spent in her support, and in orgies, and gambling,
rendered the income which he possessed from the civil list, and the
Duchy of Cornwall revenues, &c, amounting to L64,000 per annum, wholly
inadequate to meet his expenditure, and the consequence was, that he
had contracted debts to the amount of more than L100,000, beside L50,000
expended on Carleton-house. The young prince had long incurred his
majesty's displeasure for the countenance which he gave to the leaders
of opposition, and to the Whigs in general; and this displeasure was
deepened by his connexion with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and his extravagances.
His majesty, indeed, was deeply afflicted by the conduct of the heir
apparent, and his orgies were more particularly distressing to him,
from the circumstance that they were carried on at a period when, at
the prayer of Mr. Wilberforce and other pious gentlemen, he had issued
a royal proclamation against vice and immorality, and all kinds of
Swearing, drunkenness, and licentiousness. It is said that both the king
and queen had many conversations with him on his dissipated conduct,
and that the latter exerted a mother's influence to detach him from the
Whigs, and especially from Fox, who stood the highest in his favour. All
their exertions, however, were unavailing: he still drank and gambled,
and still retained his connexion with Mrs. Fitzherbert and the Whigs.
It is probable that had he listened to the advice and remonstrances of
their majesties, that provision would have been made for the payment
of his debts; but when it was found that he resolved to follow his own
course, the king resolved that no assistance should be afforded him,
either out of his own private purse, or by a vote in parliament. In the
preceding session, when Pitt called the attention of the house to the
civil list, Sheridan, who was the most constant companion of the prince,
and was wont by his wit to set his table in a roar, took an opportunity
of mentioning his patron's embarrassments, and Pitt replied that he
had received no commands from his majesty on the subject, and therefore
could not interfere. This was of bad omen to any application that might
be made to his majesty on the subject, for Pitt doubtless kn