zherbert seems to have been satisfied; and the society in which she
moved, which was composed of persons that had great influence and almost
absolute dominion over the world of fashion, seems to have considered
her character and reputation as spotless as they were before. But thus
much is certain, that, if the prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert were married,
it was not legally. It is said that a ceremony was performed _more
Catholico_ in the town-house of her uncle, Lord Sefton; but if this
report is true, such a marriage was expressly declared to be null and
void by the law of the country. The terms of the Royal Marriage Act,
moreover, "is explicit against such a marriage, and it is a matter
of wonder how Mrs. Fitzherbert, who was not an inexperienced
boarding-school girl, but a woman of experience, having been twice
married before ever she met the prince, could have been led into the
belief that her union with the prince was legal. Neither a Catholic
priest, nor a Protestant clergyman, nor the functionary at Gretna Green,
could make such a union binding, for the laws of the country could not
be thus set aside. Conscience may have been satisfied, but after all,
the marriage--if marriage there was--was both irregular and illegal.

MOTION FOR INQUIRY INTO THE ABUSES OF THE POST-OFFICE.

On the 15th of May, Mr. Grey called the attention of the house to
certain abuses and corrupt practices in the post-office, which, he said,
had come to his knowledge, in consequence of the dismissal of his
noble relative, the Earl of Tankerville, from the office of
joint-postmaster-general. After stating some very extraordinary
circumstances which had been brought to light by this dismissal, and
charging Lord Carteret, the present postmaster-general, the Earl of
Tankerville's late colleague in office, with sanctioning the abuses
which existed, and refusing to reform them, Grey moved, "that
a committee be appointed to inquire into certain abuses in the
post-office." Pitt gave his assent to this motion, which was carried
without a division: a committee was appointed, and a report was brought
up from that committee on the 23rd of May. The report contained some
startling matter, and it was ordered to be taken into consideration on
the 28th of the above month. On that day Mr. Grey accordingly introduced
the consideration of the report, in doing which he strongly reprobated
the conduct of Lord Carteret, and blamed Pitt himself. He concluded his