I went to Twickenham, where I passed a few weeks with Lord and Lady Aylesbury. Time passed, and Princess Charlotte remained at Cranbourne Lodge till the _Morning Chronicle_[4] published the medical report given in July, recommending her going to the sea. This occasioned great anger, and Baillie was ordered to inquire, in a manner the most inquisitorial, who had obtained and caused this to be published. Amongst the rest I was questioned by letter, and answered that the copy I possessed I gave to the Regent on the 12th of July, and had no means of discovering how it got into the hands of the editor of a newspaper.
DEAR MADAM,—I am very sorry to give you any trouble at present, but I am commanded by high authority to ask you the following questions:
Do you know by what individual the medical opinion recommending a residence on the sea-coast this autumn to Princess Charlotte was put into the hands of Mr. Perry, the editor of the _Morning Chronicle_?
Do you know whether the original opinion, which was at one time mislaid or lost, was ever recovered, and, in that case, what became of it?
I request that you will be so good as to send me an answer to these two questions as early as you can, directed to me at Sunning Hill, Berks.
I remain, Madam, Your most obedient humble servant,
Lord Aylesbury’s, Twickenham, Sept. 3, 1814.
DEAR SIR,—No apology is necessary for the questions you ask, as I am happy at all times to obey the commands referred to in your letter, which reached me last night after post time.
I neither know nor can discover through what channel the editor of a newspaper obtained a copy of the medical opinion recommending the sea-side to her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte.
That which was in my possession I delivered to the Prince Regent on Tuesday, the 12th of July.
This is all the information I can give on the subject, and no one could be more surprised than myself when I heard it had found its way into the _Morning Chronicle_.
However, Princess Charlotte was sent to Weymouth,[5] and the air was of great use to her general health as well as to her knee. She formed an acquaintance with the Lady Grenvilles, daughters of Lord Warwick, and was allowed to see Lord and Lady Ashbrook,[6] who went there on her account, though on pretence of a tour. She was more comfortable there than she had been at Cranbourne Lodge, to which place she did not return until the winter was advanced; but since she has been there the family, and the Queen in particular, have been more kind to her than they ever before were.