A KING'S CALF-LOVE

Evening Star, Issue 19025, 21 August 1925, Page 8

A KING'S CALF-LOVE

GEORGE IV.’S YOUTHFUL PASSION. None of the numerous sons of George IH-, King of England, cut a very dignified figure in history, and not the least disreputable was he who in due course became George IV. (writes Gordon Blake, in ‘ John o’ London’s Weekly’). Historians cannot ignore the irregularities of his life; Mr Lytton Strachey is refreshingly frank about him: “ The old rip, bewigged and gouty, ornate and enormous, with his jewelled mistress by his side and his flaunting court about him.” That the fourth George opened his career of gallantry at an early age is amusingly divulged in a book just published by Mr John Murray—‘ Mary Hamilton,’ by Elizabeth and Florence Anson, RICH RELATIONS. This Mary Hamilton was a remarkable woman. Horn in 1750, she was a great granddaughter of the third Duke of Hamilton and of tho Earl of Abercorn Several members of her family were prominent figures in society; her uncle, Sir 'William Hamilton, was English Envoy at tho Court of Naples, and eventually, husband of tho beautiful Emma; another uncle, Lord Cathcart, was English Ambassador at the Court of St. Petersburg; while the Countess of Warwick, Lord and Lady Stormont, the Duchess of Atholl, and Lady Frances Harpur wero all very near relatives. She was intelligent, witty, zestful, and of good heart, as her letters in this book by her great-granddaughters amply prove—and she moved throughcut her full life in brilliant society:—•

She was welcomed in tho sacred circle of the ” Bas Bleus”; Plorace ’Walpole paid court to her; she was frequently in tho company of Dr Johnson, while her friend, Sir Joshua Reynolds, would only accept a Kissl from her as payment for the retouching of his portrait of her uncle, Sir William Hamilton, with permanent colors. She enjoyed the intimate friendship of “ Leonidas ” Glover, Mrs Elizabeth Carter, Hannah More, Fanny Burney, Mrs Garrick, tho Dow. Duchess of Portland, Mrs Doiany, the brothers Warton, Mr and Mrs Vesey, Mrs Montagu, Mrs Boscawen, and many more in that friendly coterie.

YOUTHFUL PASSION. In her early twenties Mary Hamilton became a sort of governess to the daughters of George 111. It was while she served in this high capacity that her charms caught the facile fancy of the Prince of Wales and stirred that curious vouth to highfalutin epistolary efforts that are here reprinted. The young Prince was but sixteen years old: the'lady of his heart twentythree. Tne passion blossomed in April, 1779, and died appropriately in December of the same year. The correspondence opened with this from the Prmce to Mary:— “If you knew what pleasure it gave me to see you smile kindly upon me I am sure you never would be so cruel as ever to look grave upon mo. I have a great deal more to say to you which I cannot do now, as we are going to the play, and which I must defer till Monday. Not a very gallant opening; but a month later young George really let himself go:—

“ Trusting totally to your honor, I . now declare that my fair incognita is ' yr. dear, dear, dear Self- Your mani nera, your sentiments, the tender feel-

ings of your heart so totally coincide with, my ideas, nob to mention tho many advantages yon have in person over many other ladies, that I not only highly esteem you, but even love you more than words or ideas can express.” THE DISCREET LADY. Miss Hamilton, however, was discreet and had a lively sense of social values. She replied temperately to this effusion “I can without injuring my honor accept your friendship; to listen to more I should justly forfeit the esteem you say you feel for me. You shall never repent tho confidence you have placed in me, and it will be your fault if our friendship is not permanent as our lives, for that I offer you is pure, sacred, and. totally disinterested, such a one that time, separation, or difference of situation will not altar. I shall, believe me, be always interested in your welfare.” Tho Prince persisted—somewhat ungrammatically—“ lam thoroughly resolved not to survive your loss. . . . I would sooner go to perdition than attempt to do anything that would_ be detrimental either to'your reputation, honor, and virtue.” And though Mary was firm—“ You have seen little of tho world; yon fancy yourself attached” —the infatuated lad must persist:— ** Impetuosity, ardor, no word is too strong for my present sentiments. I see beauty, person, accomplishments, everything in short in you, that could make my life happy. But after tomorrow I will for over close my lips on that subject, whatever my feelings may bo, as it seems to bo disagreeable to you. Disgraceful, do you call it, to feel such sentiments for you? I look upon it as tho glory of my life.”

A PRINCE’S INFATUATION, Finally Mary contrived to reject his more impetuous addresses, consenting only to tho sentimental plea of tho Prince that she sould be his mentor. In that capacity she contrived to tell him some valuable homo_ truths. But his slopnv vanity kept him addressing her as “Mv Dearest, Dearest, Dearest, Sister, Friend,” although in the same breath, so to speak, he could ask her advice on the choice of a pattern for a new suit. Tho Prince had not in him tho stuff of a devout lover. On December 6 he offers Mary an elaborate description of tho charms of the actress, Mrs Robinson, and of his passion for her—“ Heaven knows when it will bo extinguished.” Again, on December 7:— “I am in good health, tho’ over head and ears in love, and so much so that I do not know to what lengths it will carry me. God bless you. Adieu.” Mary made a strong effort to save tho Prince from his own weakness; —■ “ For the love of Hoavon, Stop, 0 stop my friend 1 and do not thus headlong plungo yrself into vice. Yr last Note made every nerve of mo thrill with auprohensiou. I had determin’d to say* nothing further upon ye subject fearing it wld be in vain and hoping yr reason wd bo a sufficient guard, but you listen not to tho voice of reason—and Alasl will not longer, I fear, to that of friendship. I conjure you strive to conquer this unhappy infatuation.” History tells ns_ that that was Just what George was incapable of doing.