Jars in a Regal family.
The
House of
Hanover has always been remarkable for a war in each generation, between the reigning
Prince and the heir apparent.
Such at least has been its history since it ascended the throne of
Great Britain.
The first George hated his son and heir, after wards George II., with a deadly hatred, and that hatred was returned with interest.
It commenced while they were still in
Hanover, and cross probably out of the cruel treatment, of the Electress, wife of George L, and mother of George II.
by her brute of a husband.
It is remembered, doubtless, that this Princes was imprisoned for twenty-five years, on suspicion of an intrigue with the famous
Count Konigamark, who was murdered on the same suspicion.
Her son was much devoted to her, and would have restored her to liberty when he came to the throne; but she died a month or two before that event happened.--
Horase Walpole says that the dispute between the
King and the
Prince ran so high at one time that the
King had determined to kidnap the
Prince and send him to the West Indian, and that
Admiral Terrington had actually consented to perform that piece of service.
What prevented it, we do not recollect.
Probably
Mr. Robert Walpole, who could not fail to see the consequences, may have interfered to prevent such a crime and folly.
But the
Prince became aware of the plot, and always afterwards honored
Torrington with his inveterate hatred.
George II., notwithstanding his experience, pursued towards
Frederick,
Prince of
Wales, the same course that his father had pursued towards him. In this case, the
Queen herself took sides with her husband.
Frederick set up a court of his own, and assembled at it all the discontented spirits of
England.
He did all he could to embarrass and torment the
King, and succeeded to his heart's content.--To the great joy of his father, he died suddenly, while the quarrel was in full career, and we do not read that the
King visited his sins upon his son, afterwards George.
III.
George III.
kept up the family reputation, with perhaps a little accession of bitterness.
He was at open war with the
Prince of
Wales from the time that ‘"nice young man"’ arrived at the age of puberty.
From the time the
Prince was old enough to sit in the House of Lords, he went into opposition, and voted against the
King on all questions.
His treatment of his wife, who was niece of George III., embittered the quarrel, which rendered all this part of the old
King's life perfectly miserable.
The worst of it was that the
Prince carried all his brothers with him, except the
Duke of
York.
George IV.
had no son to quarrel with, and his only daughter, the Princess Charlotte, died while he was
Prince Regent.
William IV.
had no heir.
Victoria has given so many proofs of excellence in private life that we had hoped she would escape the curse.
Everybody feels a deep interest in her, and is grieved to hear that her heir is so unpromising.
Fortunately, however, for
England, its Constitution is such that the character of its sovereign can make but little difference in its political situation.
