§ The order of the day being read for the further consideration and second reading of the Bill, intituled "An Act to deprive her majesty, &c.," the Counsel were called in.
§ Then George Pinario and Edgar Garston were called in, and having been sworn, were examined as follows:
§ Have you compared that with the original which you read on Saturday [A paper being
§ Collombier,le 8 Fevrier 1818.
§ Chère et bonne Mariette;
§ Quoique tu n'ayes pas dit quatre mots pour moi dans ta derniere lettre, je t'aime pourtant trop pour n'pas te le pardonner, et c'est avec un vrai plaisir que je te reponds. Je suis enchantée, ma bonne sœur, que tu sois toujours parfaitement heureuse; quoique je ne doive en avoir aucune doute, connoisant si bien I'extreme douceur de son altesse royale, et de tous ceux avec qui tu peux avoir à faire. Tachez de te conserver toujours cette precieuse bienveillance, en continuant toujours le même genre de vie qui te l'a acquise. Que l'experience ne te soit pas inutile! aye toujours devant les yeux les chagrins qui naissent de I'etouderie et de l'inconsequence; tu en as vu dernierement des preuves assez fortes.
§ Tu desires, sans doute, bien de savoir quel est ma situation dans notre petit pays. Je t'assure, ma chère, que j'y ai été recue d'une manière dont tu ne te ferois jamais d'idée. J'ai été fetée, recherchée, accueillie partout avec le plus grand empressement à Lausanne, à Morger, et à Cassonay. J'ai passé un mois entier dans cette dernier ville, où l'on m'a procuré tous les amusemens possibles. Tu sais combien je desirois d'aller en traineau. Eh, bien! tous les jours nous y faisions des parties; au nouvel an nous avons eu un charmant bal masqueé. Dans la semaine qui a suivi, deux autres parés, les plus jolis qu'on aye jamais vu dans cette ville, et une infinité d'autres soirées dansantes données par ma connoisance pour moi; enfin, tous les jours c'était de nouvelles fêtes et de nouvelles invitations. Concois-tu qu'au milieu de ces nombreux plaisirs j'étois triste et silencieuse; chacun me plaisantoit sur mon indifference; moi qui étoit, disoit-on, si gaie avant mon départ, je n'étois pas réconnoisable; et cependant je ne pouvois malgré mes efforts me surmonter. Ne devines-tu, ma bonne, quel éloit le sujet de ma tristesse profonde. Helas! ce n'étoit que le regret et la douleur d'avoir quitté S. A. R. et de savoir qu'elle a méconnu mon caractere, et qu'elle m'a taxée d'ingratitude. Oh Dieu! je payerois la moitie de mon sang, qu'elle pût lire dans mon cœur; elle pourroit se convaincre du respect infini, de l'attachement sans bornes, et de la parfaite reconnois-
1222§ shown to the witnesses]? [By each.] We have.
§ Have you compared it together? We have.
§ Is this a correct copy? It is.
§ Have you compared this with the original letter to the princess of Wales [Another paper being shown to the witnesses]? We have.
§ Have you agreed in the translations of those two letters [Two papers being shown to the witnesses]? We have.
§ The copies of the letters, and the translations of the same, were delivered in, and are as follow:
§ Collumbier 8th Feb. 1818.
§ Dear and good Mariette,
§ Although you have not said four words in your last letter, yet I love you too well not to pardon you for it, and it is with real pleasure that I reply to you. I am enchanted, my good sister, that you are perfectly happy; but I ought not to doubt it, so well as I know the extreme goodness of her royal highness, and of all those with whom you may have any thing to do. Endeavour to preserve always such valuable kindness, by continuing the same way of life which has procured it for you. May experience not be useless to you! and keep always before your eyes the trouble which arises from folly and inconsistency; you have lately had sufficient proofs of that.
§
You will no doubt be very desirous of knowing what is my situation in our little country. I assure you, my dear, I have been received in such a manner as you could have no idea of; I have been fetée*, sought after, and received every where with the greatest cordiality, at Lausanné, at Morger, at Cassonay. I passed a whole month at the last town, where every possible amusement was procured for me. You know how fond I am of going on a sledge†. Well! every day we made a party for it: at the beginning of the new year we had a delightful masked ball; the following week two more dress balls, the best that have been in this town; and a number of other evening dancing parties, given by my friends on account of me; in short, every day brought some new parties and new invitations. Can you conceive, that in the midst of all these numberless pleasures I was sad and silent; every one quizzed me on my indifference; I who, said they used to be so gay before my departure, I was not to be known again; but spite of all my endeavours I could not get the better of myself. Can you not, my dear, divine the cause of all my deep sadness? Alas! it was only the regret and grief at having quitted her royal highness, and at knowing that she had mistaken my character, and taxed me with ingratitude. Oh God!
* Fetée, received with parties
† Aller en traineau.
1223
sance que je conserverai toute ma vie pour cette auguste personne. Ma Mariette, j'aurois bien desiré écrire à Mr. le Comte, pour le remercier du qu'il a eu pour moi; mais je n'ose, je crains de l'importuner; dis lui que le peu de lignes qu'il a eu la complaisance de m'écrire m'ont en effet donné un peu de tranquillité, puisqu'il me fait espérer un pardon. Je tremblois que S. A. R. ne fÛt encore fâchée du tour que j'avois donné à mon voyage; jugez de ma joie en apprenant qu'elle n'en est criéant en colére, qu'au contraire elle m'en donne la permission: en effet, ce pretexte m'été fort utile; car tu connois assez le monde pour soupconner que j'ai été assaillie de questions, particuliérement par les grands; car je ne suis pas si vaine de croire q'il m'ont tant recherchée pour mes beaux yeux, et qu'il n'y avoit pas dans leur empressement un peu de curiosité. Ah, pourquoi l'esprit de S. A. R. n'etoit-il point à coté de moi! elle auroit eu des preuves si je suis une ingrate. Combien dc fois dans un cercle nombreux, lorsqu' avec tout l'enthousiasme, qui m'animoit je faisois l'enumeration de ses grandes qualités, de ses rares talens, dc sa douceur, sa patience, sa charité; enfin, de toutes les perfections qu'elle posséde à un si haut degré. Combien de fois, dis-je, n'ai-je pas vu les cœurs s'attendrir, et s'écrier, que le monde est injuste de causer tant de tourmens à une personne qui les merite si peu, et qui est si digne d'être heureuse!
§ Mariette, tu ne saurois croire le bruit qu'a fait mon petit Journal; on se l'est, pour ainsi dire, arraché; tout le monde l'a lu. Madame Gaulisa prie de lui permettre de la porter à Lausanne; tons les Anglais qui y étoient dans ce moment ont voulu le voir. J'en ai été enchantée, car tu sais que j'y parlois beaucoup de la meilleure et de la plus aimable princesse du monde. J'y racontois trés en detail tous les traits de sensibilité, de generosité, qu'elle avoit donné; la maniére dont elle avoit éte recue, applaudie, cherie, dans tous les lieux que nous avions parcourus. Tu sais que lorsqu'il s'agit de parler de cette auguste princesse je ne taris point, par conséquent mon Journal est encore embelli et se sent de l'erfusion de mon cœur; mon désir le plus grand ayant toujours été, pour que S. A. R. fût reconnue pour ce qu'elle est vraiment, et que pleine justice lui fût rendue. Je t'assure que quoiqu'eloignée, je n'en ai pas moins ce desir, et que j'y travaillerai toujours avec zêle, et autant que ma faible capacité pourra me le permettre. Comme tu juges bien, ce ne sera point pour m'en faire un merite, puisqu'elle ignorera toujours, et qu'elle me soupconne même d'ingratitude, mais ce sera uniquement pour contenter mon cœur, qui trouveroit une douce satisfaction dans cette charmante reussité. 1224 I would surrender half my life, could she but read my heart; she could then be convinced of the infinite respect, the unlimited attachment, and perfect gratitude, I shall always entertain for her august person. I should much have wished, my dear Mariette, to have written to the count, to thank him for the kindness he has shown me, but I am afraid to trouble him; tell him that the few lines which he has had the goodness to write to me, have in fact afforded me a little tranquillity, since they made me hope for pardon. I was afraid her royal highness would be still displeased at the turn I had given to my journey; judge then of my happiness, when I learnt that she was not at all angry at it, but on the contrary gives me leave for it: in truth, this pretence has been very useful to me; for you are sufficiently acquainted with the world to suspect that I have been assailed with questions, particularly by great folks; for I am not vain enough to think that I have been sought after so much only on account of my fine eyes, and that a little curiosity had no part in their eagerness to see me. Ah! why was not the spirit of her royal highness at my side? She would then have found whether I be ungrateful. How often in a numerous circle, whilst with all the enthusiasm which animated me, I enumerated her great qualities, her rare talents, her mildness, her patience, her charity, in short, all the perfections which she possesses in so eminent a degree; how often, I say, have I not seen my hearers affected, and heard them exclaim, how unjust is the world to cause so much unhappiness to one who deserves it so little, and who is so worthy of being happy!
§ You cannot think, Mariette, what a noise my little Journal has made. It has been, if I may use the expression, snatched at; every one has read it. Madame Gaulisa begged me to let her carry it to Lausanné; all the English who were there at that time wished to see it; I have been delighted at it, for you know I spoke in it a great deal of the best and most amiable princess in the world. I related much in detail all the traits of sensibility and of generosity which she had shown—the manner in which she had been received, applauded, cherished, in all the places we had visited. You know, that when this august princess is my subject I am inexhaustible, consequently my Journal is embellished with and breathes the effusion of my heart; my greatest desire having always been, that the princess should appear to be what she really is, and that full justice should be rendered to her. I assure you, that although distant, it is not less my desire, and that I shall always endeavour with zeal that such may be the case, and as far as my poor capacity will allow As you may well judge, it is not to make a merit of it, since she will always be ignorant of it, and even suspects me of ingratitude, but it will only be to content my heart, which would find a sweet satisfaction in this charming success.
1225§ Mais voilà t-il pas que j'oubliois de te confier une chose qui te surprendra autunt que je Pai été moi-même. Le 24 du mois passé, elant à goûter chez la tante Clere, on vint me dire qu'un inconnu demandoit à me remettre une lettre, ne la voulant absolument pas confier à personne. Je descendis, et le fis monter dans ma chambre. Juge de mon etonnement aprés l'avoir decachété; l'on m'y proposoit de partir pour Londres, sous le faux pretexte d'être gouvernante. L'on m'y promettoit une haute protection, et une fortune fort brillante en peu de tems. Elle étoit sans signature; pour me garantir de la verité, l'on m'offroit de tirer chez le banquier autant d'argent que j'en voudrois. Concois-tu rien de si singulier! Quelques traits echappés à la plume de l'ecriveur, m'ont fait aisément decouvrir la fourberie, et je n'ai pas hesité de donner ma reponse dans des termes qui auront bien fait comprendre que je n'étoit tout à fait dupe. Je n'ai malgré tous mes efforts tirer aucun eclaircissement du porteur; il agissoit avec le plus grand mystére. Tu vois, ma chéve, avee quelle promptitude les ennemis de noire gencreuse bienfactrice agissent toujours. Il faut qu'il y ait toujours des espions auprés d'elle, car pas plutût j'ai été partie de Pesaro, qu'on l'a su, avec toutes les circonstances, dans la capitale de l'Europe. L'on s'imaginoit trouver en moi une personne vindicative, et fort ambitieuse; mais, Dieu merci, je suis exempt de ces deux défauts; et l'argent acquis au depend de son répos et de son devoir, ne me tentera jamais lors même que je serois dans la derniére extremité.
§ Le hon Dieu n'abandonne personne, encore moins ceux qui font ce que lai est agreeable. Bonne Renommée vaut mieux que ceinture dorée.
§ Puisque, ma chere sœur, je suis sur le tapis d'argent, il faut pourtant que je te donne un avis. Economise autant que tu le pourras, retranche toutes les choses qui te scront superflues; si tu savois le regret que j'ai de ne pas en avoir fait autant! il me semble bien que je n'ai fait aucune dépense extravagante, mais j'aurois pu me priver de bien de choses qui m'etoient presque inutiles. Tu sais que le monde est ici comme partout ailleurs; on s'imagine que la princesse de Galles jette tout son argent par les fenêtres, et on me croit revenue avec une fortune considerable; par un espêce d'amour propre, et pour vanter encore plus sa gencrosité, je ne cherche à detromper personne: par conséquent quoique j'ai grand besoin d'argent, je n'en ai encore rien osé demander ê mon tuteur: je sais me moderer, et je ne fais aucune depense. J'ai bien le tems de reflechir et de penser que si j'avois toujours agi de même, je ne me trouverois point dans la situation où je suis; l'on doit s'economiser autant que possible pour lorsqu'on ne peut plus gagner. Profites de la lecon que je viens de te donner, et assure toi qu'elle te sera trés
1226§ But I had almost forgotten to confide to you a thing which will surprise you as much as it has me. The 24th of last month I was taking some refreshment at my aunt Clara's, when I was informed an unknown person desired to deliver me a letter, and that he would trust it to no one else. I went down stairs, and desired him to come up into my room. Judge of my astonishment when I broke the seal; a proposal was made to me to set off for London, under the false pretence of being a governess. I was promised a high protection, and a most brilliant fortune in a short time. The letter was without signature; but, to assure me of the truth of it, I was informed I might draw at the banker's for as much money as I wished. Can you conceive any thing so singular? Some lines, escaped from the pen of the writer, enabled me easily to discover the cheat, and I did not hesitate to reply in such, terms as must have convinced him I was not quite a dupe Notwithstanding all my efforts, I could draw no eclaircissement from the bearer; he acted with the greatest mystery. You see, my dear, with what promptitude the enemies of our generous benefactress always act. There must always be spies about her, for no sooner had I left Pesaro then it was known, with all its circumstances, in the capital of Europe. They thought to find in me a person revengeful and very ambitious; but, thank God, I am exempt from both those failings; and money acquired at the expense of repose and duty, will never tempt me, though I should be at the last extremity.
§ The Almighty abandons no one, much less those who do that which is agreeable to him. A good reputation is better than a golden girdle.
§ Since I have introduced the subject of money, my dear sister, I must give you some advice. Economise as much as possible, retrench every superfluity; did you but know the regret I feel in not having done so! I do not think I ever was guilty of extravagance, but I have not deprived myself of many things which were almost useless to me. You know that every one here, as elsewhere, fancies the princess of Wales throws her money out of the window, and I am supposed to have returned with a considerable fortune; from a species of self-love, and to extol still more her generosity, I do not try to undeceive any one; consequently, though I have great need of money, I have not yet dared to ask my guardian for any: I know how to be moderate, and run into no expense. I have time to reflect, and to think that if I had always acted in the same way, I should not be in the situation in which I am; every one should economise as much as possible against the time when one can no longer gain any thing. Profit by the lesson I have just given you, and be assured it will be salutary to you, for I speak from experience. You will know Mr. Le 1227 salutaire, car je te parle par experience. Tu sauras que M. le Notte n'a point remis le paquet. Je lui ai écrit à Milan, ct à Paris; j'attends sa reponse un de ces jours. S'il devoit être perdu, ce seroit fort desagreeable, tant que ce drap coûte cher: si j'avois su, on ne l'auroit point acheté, ma mere ayant un bon spencer auroit fort bien pu s'en passer. Je regrelte aussi bien le velours, dont je me suis bien privée pour mon chapeau, en le faisant beaucoup plus petit; d'ailleurs nous ne l'avons pas eu pour rien non plus, et les trois Louis valent bien aussi la peine de les regretter, sans compter tous les autres brimborions; tout cela ne vient pas en jouant de la flûte. Un sous ici, ct l'autre là, forment bientôt un livre, et il faut vingt quatre pour un Napoleon; vois-tu si je ne suis pas devenue savante dans le calcul Aussi je te reponds que M. la Notte aura bien la bonté de tout payer, s'il a perdu quelque chose; je ne lui ferai aucune grâce, et je lui ai écrit d'un ton qui marque assez que je ne suis pas trés satisfaite de sa negligence.
§ Mais, ma chere Mariette, j'en appercois que j'ai presque fini ma lettre sans te parler de nos chers parens. Notre bonne mére est passablement bien, son oppression et ses maux d'estomac la tourmentent encore quelquefois, mais cen'estrien en comparaison de ce qu'elle a souffert cet été. Ton pere est fort bien. Henriette est toujours charmante; je lui donne tous les jours de lecons d'ecriture et de lecture; elle coud tres bien, et repasse de même; elle m'a deja repassé plusieurs fraises et quelques robes, dont j'ai été bien contente. Son desir de voyager est toujours le même; fais, je te prie, tout ce que tu pourras pour la placer; je suis convaincue qu'elle ne te donnera aucun chagrin ni aucun mécontentement; elle a encore changé à son avantage; elle est gaie et toujours de bonne humeur, douce, complaisante, enfin, d'un caractére à se faire aimer partout où elle ira, car elle a un cœur excellent, et elle sait se contenter de tout ce qui se prescnte. Marguerite est tout à fait aimable, d'une jolie figure, et d'une telle gaieté qu'on seroit à demi mort qu'elle vous feroit rire. Louise est aussi bien* jentille. Je t'assure, ma chere Mariette, qu'elles ont toutes fort changé à leur avantage, et je suis fort contente d'elles.
§
Je suis depuis le mois de Janvier à Collombier, dans ma chambre favorite, où l'on a fait quelque réparations; par exemple, une fort bonne cheminée, et un petit cabinet, oil je couche. Je vais fort souvent faire des petites courses dans nos environs, et je reçois fort souvent des visites, ce que me donne un peu de distraction. Il me semble que je t'endens me dire—et que pénse-tu, ma chere Louise, de faire? Ne te maries-tu point? Que fait Monsr.—? Mot pour mot, je te dirai, que je me sens toujours plus de repugnance pour le manage; que Monsr.
* Sic.
1228
Notte has not delivered the parcel; I wrote to him at Milan, and at Paris; I expect his answer one of these days. If it should be lost, it would be very disagreeable, as the cloth costs a great deal: if I had known, it should not nave been purchased, as my mother has a good spencer and might very-well have done without it. I regret also the velvet very much, of which I have shortened myself for my hat, in making it much smaller; besides we did not get that either for nothing, and the three louis are well worth lamenting, without reckoning the other baubles; all that does not come by whistling for it; a sous here and a sous there soon make a livre, and twenty-four livres make a Napoleon; you see I am become an adept in arithmetic. I will answer for it, however, that Mr. Le Notte* shall have the goodness to make all good if he have lost any thing. I shall show him no favour, and have written to him in such a manner as sufficiently shows I am not very well satisfied with his negligence.
§ But, my dear Mariette, I perceive I have almost finished my letter without speaking of our dear relations: our good mother is tolerably well, though her asthma and pains in her bowels torment her sometimes, but nothing compared to what she has suffered this summer. Your father is very well. Henrietta is always charming; I give her every day lessons in writing and reading; she sews very well, and irons as well; she has already ironed several frills for me, and some gowns, with, which I am very well satisfied. Her desire of travelling is the same; pray try to get her a situation; I am convinced she will give you no cause to regret it. She is much altered for the better; she is gay, and always in good humour; mild, obliging, in short, of a character to make herself beloved wherever she goes, for she has an excellent heart, and knows how to be contented in all situations. Margaret is entirely amiable, of a pretty figure, and so lively, that she makes one half dead with laughing: Louisa is also very genteel. I assure you, dear Mariette, they are all changed very much for the better, and I am quite contented with them.
§
I have been, since the month of January, in my favourite chamber at Collombier, where some repairs have been done; for example, a very good chimney, and a small cabinet, wherein I sleep. I often make little excursions in our environs, and frequently receive visits, which afford me some amusement. I think I hear you say, well dear Louisa, what do you mean to do? Won't you, marry? What does Mons.—do? I will tell you, word for word; I every day feel more and more repugnance to marriage. Mr.—has done all in his power to induce
* Sic.
1229
—a fait tout son possible pour me faire consentir à accepter un cœur que dit-il il me garde depuis sept ans. N'est-ce pas une Constance hcroïque, et fort peu digne du siécle où nous vivons. Cependant, je n'en ai point été eblouie, et quoiqu'il soit riche, charmant, et aimable, je n'ai point voulu renier le rufus que je lui fis il y a quatre ans. Si cela t'amuse, je te dirai que j'ai encore plusieurs autres courtisans, non moins avantageux que lui. Je suis peut-être bien sotte de les refuser, car ils valent infiniment mieux que moi; peut-être m'en repentirai-je quelque jour, car tu sais le proverbe "qui refuse muse;" mais je ne saurois qu'y faire; les derniers evènemens que me sont arrivés m'ont fait nâitre une espéce d'antipathie pour tons les hommes. Je ne veux avoir de liaison, ni de communication avec aucun. Je n'aime et ne cheris que la douce liberté. et je veux la conserver aussi longtems que je pourrai. Chere Mariette, je t'en conjure, imite mon exemple, ne vas pas au moins songer à te marier; ma mère et moi te le defendent, aussi longtems que S. A. R. voudra bien te garder auprés d'elle. Tu ne peux avoir de bonheur plus parfait, e'est impossible; garde toi bien de former aucune liaison ni relation avec personne; tu es trop jeune pour cela; reste libre, et je t'assure que tu en seras mille fois plus heureuse. Je ne te recommande point la sagesse, je te connois trop bien pour me méfier de toi, et pour que je te soupçonne d'en manquer; car quoiqu'on aye pu dire de moi, je serois morte plutôt que de l'abandonner un instant, et de me detourner du vrai chemin de la vertu; c'est le plus precieux bien que nous possedions; j'ai su que quclques personnes ont douté de ma conduite; niais n'ai-je pas les temoins de Dieu et de ma conscience. Ne sufiisent-ils pas à ma tranquilité? Personne du moins ne pourra me les enlever.—Non, je n'ai rien à me reprocher de ce coté-la, et tu le sais aussi bien que moi, par consequent je puis te donner des avis avec la certitude que tu les suivras, d'autant plus que ce sont aussi ceux de notre mére.
§ Chere sœur, si tu l'oses mets moi aux pieds de S. A. R. en la suppliant d'agréer mes tres humbles respects. Ne manque pas, je te supplie, lorsqu'elle te parlera de moi, de tâcher de la convaincre que mon repentir de lui avoir deplû est toujours le même; que je la conjure de me rendre sa bienveillance. Sache moi à dire, si S. A. R. est toujours si outrée contre moi, et s'il n'y a pas d'apparence d'un enlier pardon; mais dis moi toujours la verité. Tâche aussi, je te prie, Mariette, de persuader à S. A. R. que je lui suis, et serai toujours si entierement devouée, qu'aucun sacrifice ne me coutera cher pour elle, et qu'elle pourroit même disposer de ma vie, qui lui sera en tous tems consacrée. Dis aussi a monsieur le baron, que je suis trés sensible a son souvenir, et que je le supplie d'agreéer l'assurance de ma plus parfaite 1230 me to accept a heart which he says he has preserved for me these seven years. What heroical constancy, and little worthy of the age in which we live. I have not, however, been dazzled by it, and although he be rich, charming, and amiable, I would not retract the refusal I gave him four years ago. If this amuse you, I will tell you I have several other lovers, not less desirable than he; I am very foolish perhaps to refuse them, for they are infinitely better than I am; perhaps I may one day repent it. You know the proverb "qui refuse muse," (he who will not, &c.) but I cannot do otherwise; recent events have created in me a sort of antipathy to all men. I can have no ties, no communications with any of them. I love and cherish sweet liberty alone, and wish to preserve it as long as I can. Dear Mariette, I conjure you imitate my example, never think of marrying. My mother and I forbid it as long as her royal highness shall wish to keep you in her service. You can have no greater happiness, it is impossible. Beware of forming any attachment or tie with any one; you are too young for that; remain free; be assured you will be a thousand times more happy. I do not recommend prudence to you, because I know you too well to distrust you, and to suspect you do not possess it; for whatever may have been said of me, I would have died rather than abandon it for an instant, and deviate from the strict path of virtue; the most precious good we possess; yet I have known some persons have suspected my conduct; but I have God and my own conscience for witnesses. Are they not sufficient for my peace? at least no one can deprive me of them.—No, I have nothing to reproach myself with on that head, and you know it as well as myself, therefore I can give yon advice, with the assurance that you will follow it, especially as it is also that of our mother.
§ Dear sister, if you dare, place me at the feet of her royal highness beseeching her to accept my humble respects. Do not fail, I entreat you, when she speaks to you of me, to endeavour to convince her that my repentance for having displeased her is still the same; that I conjure her to restore me to her favour. Tell me if her royal highness is still so very angry with mc, and if there is not any appearance of a full pardon; but tell me always the truth. Try also, I pray you, Mariette, to persuade her royal highness that I am and always shall be so entirely devoted to her, that no sacrifice I could make for her would appear too great, and that she might even dispose of my life, which shall for ever be consecrated to her. Tell the baron also, that I am very sensible of his remembrance, and beg him to accept the 1231 réconnoissance. Embrasse, pour moi, la charmante Victorine; reitere, encore, mes remercimens a Mons'. le Compte, et assure le que je n'oublierai jamais ses bontés derniéres. Rappelle moi au souvenir de Mad°. la Comtesse, de Mad°. Livia, et de Monš William, en les priant de reçevoir l'assurance de mes sinceres amitiés.
§ Chere Mariette, si je voulois te dire tous ceux qui t'envoyent saluer, il me faudroit au moins deux autres pages, car chacun s'interesse beaucoup à toi, et l'on ne cesse de faire des voœux pour la continuation de ton bonheur. Tu t'imagine pourtant que les plus sincéres se font chez nous.
§ Tu dirais à Monš Hieronimus que John est fort bien, et que Monš S. est tres content de lui sur tous les rapports; l'on a point payé la pension; dis à Monš Hieronimus, que je le prie d'envoyer d'abord, à la reception de cette lettre, un ordre à Monš'.—pour les six Mois de sa pension, et de s'addresser à moi; mais qu'il ne tarde pas, car j'ai besoin d'argent. Il me semble que tu ne ferais pas mal en même tems d'envoyer les deux Napoleons, et pour finir 25, si tu le peux. C'est moi qui t'envoye la robe à la place des dentilles; je pense que tu l'aurois garnie de mousseline. Fais mes complimens a Monš. Hier. et dis lui que la premiere fois que j'écrirai, je lui ferai plus de details de sons fils, parceque j'éspere avoiŕ plus de place. J'aimerois bien savoir de quelle maniere on fait l'enere avec celte poudre qu'il m'a donnée, et ce qu'il a fait de ce deux tableaux que je lui avois remis à la Villa d'Este. Adieu, chere et bonne sœur; nous t'embrassons tous de tout notre cœur. Une reponse d'abord s'il te plait.
§ Ta Sceur, LOUISE DE MONT.
§ (Address)—A Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle Mariette Bron, à Pesaro.
§ Altesse Royale;
§ C'est à genoux que j'ecris à ma genercuse bienfaitrice, la suppliant de pardonner mon hardiesse; mais je ne puis resister un presentement. D'ailleurs je suis convaincue, que si son altesse royale connoissoit l'affreuse situation dans laquelle je suis, elle ne seroit point offensée de ma temerité. La force d'esprit me manque pour supporter mon malheur; j'en suis accablée, et je suis plus que persuadée que je succomberai; je me sens d'une faiblesse affreuse, une inquietude mortelle me consume intérieurement, et ne me laisse pas un moment de tranquillité. Une foule de reflexions sur les bontés passées de son altesse royale, et sur mon apparente ingratitude, m'accablent. Que son altesse royale daigne prendre pitié de moi; qu'elle daigne me rendre sa precieuse bienviellance que je viens malheureusement de perdre par le plus funeste imprudence; que jereçoive cette douce conviction avant que demourir de douleur, elle pourra seule me rendre à la vie.
§ J'ose encore conjurer, supplier la compas- 1232 assurance of my perfect gratitude. Embrace for me the charming Victorine; repeat also my thanks to the count, and assure him I shall never forget his late kindness. Remember me to the countess, Madame Livia, and Mr. William, begging them to receive the assurance of my sincere friendship.
§ Dear Mariette, if I were to tell yon all those who send you salutations, I should want two more pages, for every one is much interested for you, and they never cease to put up vows for your continued happiness. You are sensible, however, that the most sincere are made by us at home.
§ You will tell Mr. Hieronimus that John is quite well, and that Mr. Simonin is very well pleased with him in all respects; his board is not paid for, and tell Mr. H. on the receipt of this letter I beg he will immediately send an order to Mr. Demolin for the six months board, and address it to me; he must not delay, for I have need of money. You will not, I think, do wrong, to send me at the same time the two Napoleons to make up twenty-five, if you can. It is I who send you the gown instead of the lace; I think you should trim it with muslin. Make my compliments to Mr. Hieronimus, and tell him the first time I write again, I will give him more particulars respecting his son, because I hope to have more room. I should wish much to know how ink is made with that powder which he gave me, and what he has done with the two pictures I delivered to him at the Villa d'Este. Adieu, dear and good sister; we embrace you cordially. A reply at once, if you please.
§ Your Sister, 8th Feb. 1818.
§ LOUISA DE. MONT.
§ Miss Mariette Bron, at Pesaro.
§ Royal Richness;
§ It is on my knees that I write to my generous benefactress, beseeching her to pardon my boldness; but I cannot resist a foreboding. Resides, I am convinced that if her royal highness knew the frightful state into which I am plunged, she would not be offended at my temerity. My spirits cannot support my misfortune; lam overwhelmed by it, and I am more than persuaded, that I shall sink under it; I feel a dreadful weakness—a mortal inquietude consumes me internally, and does not leave me one moment of tranquillity. A crowd of reflections on the past goodness of her royal highness, and on my apparent ingratitude, overwhelm me. May her royal highness deign to take pity on me; may she deign to restore to me her precious favour, which I have just unhappily lost by the most melancholy imprudence. May I receive that sweet assurance before I die of grief: it alone can restore me to life.
§ I dare again to conjure, to supplicate the- 1233 sion et la clemence de son altesse royale, pour qu'elle m'accorde l'extréme faveur d'anéantir ces deux lettres fatales; les savoir dans les mains de son altesse royale, et qu'elles serviront constamment de temoin contre ma conduite passée, me mit au dernier supplice; l'aversion que j'ai meritée de la part de son altesse royale, au lieu de diminuer, augmenteroit par leur lecture. Je me permets d'assurer à son altesse royale, qu'il n'y a que ces deux graces à moi accordées qui puissent me rendre l'existence, et me redonner le repos que j'ai perdu. Ma faute est trés grave, il est vrai, et irréparable; mais l'amour est aveugle; combien de fautes n'a-t-il pas fait commettre même aux plus grands hommes. J'ose me flatter que c'est une raison de plus pour que son altesse royale daigne m'accorder les deux faveurs que je prends la liberté de lui demander.
§ Je me permets encore de recommander à la bienveillance et à la protection de S. A. R. ma sœur Mariette, de même que celle qui est en Suisse. S. A. R. a daigné me faire entendre, que peut-être elle pouroit venir prendre ma place; cette esperance adoucit beaucoup mes peines. Ce seroit encore un acte de bienfaisance, car mes sœurs n'ont qu'une fortune trés mediocre, et ce n'est pas dans notre pauvre petit pays où on peut en acquérir. Je suis persuadée que S. A. R. n'auroit jamais lieu de se repentir de sa grande bonté, et de son extréme complaisance envers une jeune fille qui a toujours su gagner l'esiime et I'amitié de tous ceux qui l'ont connue personellement. Je ne saurois assez rémercier S. A. R. et monsieur le baron, de la bonté qu'ils ont eu d'envoyer Ferdinand pour m'accompagner; il a pour moi toutes les attentions et les soins imaginables. Je ne sais de quelle maniére reconnoitre tant de bienfaits; mais je vais tacher par ma conduite future de les meriter, et de regagner l'opinion favorable dont S. A. R. avoit daigné m'honorer dans mes jours fortunés.
§ C'est avec les sentimens de la plus parfaite soumission et du plus entier dévouement que J'ai l'honneur d'etre, de S. A. R. la plus obeisante servaute,
§ LOUISE DE MOST.
§ Rimini, le 16 Novembre, 1817.
§ Then Luigi Galdini was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Parke, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
§ Of what country are you a native? Blevio.
§ Is that on the lake of Como? It is.
§ Of what trade are you? A mason.
§ Did you work at the Villa d'Este at any time? I did.
§ For how long did you work at the Villa d'Este? About fifteen days, a little more or a little less
§ During that time were you employed upon
1234§ compassion and the clemency of her royal highness, that she will grant me the extreme favour of destroying those two fatal letters; to know that they are in the hands of her royal highness, and that they will constantly bear testimony against my past conduct, places me in the extremity of distress; the aversion which I have merited on the part of her royal highness, instead of diminishing, would be increased by reading them. I allow myself to assure her royal highness, that it is only the granting of these two favours which can restore me to life, and give me back that repose which I have lost. My fault, it is true, is very great and irreparable; but love is blind; how many faults has he not caused even the greatest men to commit. I dare to flatter myself this is a further reason why her royal highness should condescend to grant me the two favours which I take the liberty of asking of her.
§ I also presume to recommend to the favour and protection of her royal highness my sister Mariette, as well as the one who is in Switzerland. Her royal highness has condescended to give me to understand, that perhaps she might be allowed to supply my place; the hope of this greatly alleviates my distress. It would be also an act of beneficence; for my sisters have only very limited fortunes, and in our small poor country they are not to be acquired. I am certain her royal highness would never have cause to repent her great goodness and extreme kindness towards a young girl who has always succeeded in gaining the esteem and friendship of all to whom she has been personally known. I cannot sufficiently thank her royal highness and the baron for their kindness in sending Ferdinand to accompany me; he has paid me all the attention, and taken all the care of me imaginable. I know not how to acknowledge so many benefits, but I will endeavour by my future conduct to merit them, and to regain the favourable opinion which her royal highness had vouchsafed to entertain for me during the days of my happiness.
§ It is with sentiments of the most entire submission and the most perfect devotedness that I have the honour to be, her royal highncss's most obedient servant,
§ LOUISA DE MONT.
§ Rimini, the 16th Nov. 1817.
§ the house of Guggiaro? I built the house of Guggiaro.
§ Who was Guggiaro? His christian name is Santino, and he was agent at the Villa d'Este.
§ Was he the agent of the princess? Yes.
§ Do you recollect a morning when you were employed in making a cornice? I do not remember the day, but I remember that I was working at the cornice.
§ Was Guggiaro at this house, at that time when you began in the morning? Guggiaro told me the night before, to get ready all the materials to work, such as the plaster of Paris, 1235 marble, sand, and all other things necessary, for I was working by contract,
§ Was Guggiaro at the house in the morning? He was at the Villa; I waited at the place till nine o'clock, waiting for the materials which he had promised to send me, and he did not send those materials; and as I had fifteen or twenty men, I set out to go to the Villa d'Este to look after the agent, in order that I might obtain the materials.
§ What distance was the fattore's house from the Villa d'Este? Guggiaro dwells in the house of her royal highness.
§ How far is the house which you were making from the Villa d'Este? Three gun shots, 450 paces about.
§ When you got to the Villa d'Este, did you enquire for the fattore? I did, I went into the kitchen of the fattore.
§ Did you go into any other place to look for him? I did.
§ Did you go up stairs? I did. Were you in a large room when you got up stairs? I went into a room, but it was not a great room, it was a room.
§ How long did you wait there? For a moment; I opened the door and looked, and saw a good many doors, and I was rather out of humour, for I had lost a great deal of money on account of so many men being upon my back that day, and without work, therefore I opened the door and shut it again.
§ When you opened a door whom did you see.? I saw the baron and the princess who were both sitting.
§ Whom do you mean by the baron? Baron Pergami.
§ On what were the baron and the princess sitting? They were sitting both together, the baron had his right arm round the neck of the princess.
§ What were they sitting upon? Whether it was a sofa, whether it was an easy chair, whether it was a small bed I do not answer, because I was there only a moment, I was confused.
§ How was the princess dressed as to her bosom? She was uncovered so [passing his hand across his breast.]
§ In what position was the princess, can you describe that? She was sitting.
§ Was any one else in the room besides the baron and the princess? I saw no one else.
§ When you opened the door, what did the baron do? He took away his arm from the neck of the princess, got up and told me, what do you want from here you dog.
§ Interpreter.—The expression is rather stronger; it is "Razza di cane," son of a dog.
§ What did you say to the baron? I told him, you must excuse me signor baron; I came here to look after the fattore, for I have got so many men, and I want the materials to make the men work.
§ Did the baron make any reply to that? He told me that that was not the apartment of the factor.
1236§ Did you ever see after that, the princess and Pergami together at any time? I saw them another time.
§ Where were they when you saw them together? They were coming down the stairs, arm in arm.
§ Did you see them do any thing to each other at that time? I saw them descending, and standing just for a moment on the stairs, for I was crossing.
§ Did you see them at any other time, except that which you have last described? I saw them three or four times on the back of an ass; for they were passing in front of a house which I was building on account of the factor.
§ Was Pergami himself walking or was he riding? He was on foot.
§ Was he near the princess? He was.
§ How did Pergami hold his hand? Once behind the back, another time on the thigh; because she was sitting on the ass.
§ You have said Pergami's hand was behind the back; whose back? Behind the back of the princess; he was supporting her on the back of the ass.
§ Was any other person with them at the time? They were on the public road; they were going up and down the walk; by day it was a public walk.
§ Cross-examined by Mr. Tindal.
§ Whom did you first inform of what you knew upon this subject? The first time I mentioned it to the son of the factor on the same day.
§ Did you go to Milan to give this information? I did.
§ Who applied to you to take you there? A man of the name of Tagliabue.
§ Do you recollect at what time that was? I remember it, for Tagliabue took me there with him.
§ When was it? In the year 1817 or 1818; thereabouts.
§ Did you go with him there? I did, with some others.
§ Whom did you see, when you got there? I went to the house of the advocate Vimercati.
§ What did he do; did he examine you? He did.
§ Was any one else present besides Vimercati? There were three more persons.
§ Do you know who they were? They told me that one was a colonel, that another was an advocate, and a third I do not know.
§ Was he an English advocate? He was so they said.
§ Was the colonel, colonel Brown? Yes.
§ How long did you stay at Milan? Four days and a half.
§ Were you under examination all that time, or the greater part of it? I was examined on the third day, because there were others before me; whether it was the third or fourth day I do not know.
1237§ What did you receive for going to Milan? I received ten livres per day to pay my expenses.
§ Do you mean to swear that you did not receive more for going to Milan? I do.
§ When were you applied to, to come to England? Last winter, towards the end of March or the beginning of April.
§ Do you mean the March or April of this year 1820? Yes.
§ Who applied to you? The same Tagliahue who called upon me with the letter of the advocate Vimercati.
§ Did you see Vimercati again before you came to England? I did.
§ Did you make any agreement with Vimercati as to your coming to England? I made an agreement that he should give me ten livres per day.
§ Was that besides your expenses? They are for the expenses for living.
§ Who paid your expenses in coming over to England? Our courier gave us our ten livres every day.
§ Who pays your expenses here? I do not know that.
§ Where are you staying? I am out at a little distance from this place, but I do not know where it is.
§ Are there several of the other witnesses with you? I see a good many of them, I see witnesses, I see strangers, I see people, there are many.
§ Have you seen Theodore Majoochi among them? Yes, in London.
§ Do you know him? I have known him since my arrival here; I had never seen him.
§ You have seen a good deal of him since that, have not you? No, he was in one lodging, I was in another, and I have known him since that arrival in England.
§ Had the room, in which you saw the princess and Pergami, several doors? I went in by one door, there were some other doors, but that was the first time I went into the room.
§ Do you recollect what time of the day it was that you saw them? The hour was between half-past nine or ten and eleven, but I do not know precisely, for I cannot keep that in my mind.
§ Were the other workmen employed about in their work at that time? They were at the building of Santini, waiting that I should go
§ Do you recollect at what part of the year this was, how long ago it was? It was in the year when they gave that great feast, it was the year 1816 or 1817.
§ What part of the year was it—not the exact day? Towards the latter end of September or the beginning of October.
§ Re-examined by Mr. Parke;
§ You say, that when you were travelling here you received ten livres a day from the courier for your expenses, have you received that sum 1238 since you were here? No, I have received those ten livres for eleven days.
§ You say there are many witnesses in the place where you now are; at what place did you land when you first came to England?
Mr. Parke, in support of the question, staled, that it was put in order to do away an inference arising from the circumstance of the witnesses being together.
The counsel were informed that the question might be put.
Where did you land when you first came here? In London.
The first time you came to London? I landed here in London the first time; afterwards £ went to Holland.
Where was it you landed before you came to London? I went to Boulogne, and then by sea to Dover.
Were there many of your countrymen, many Italians with you, when you landed at Dover? We were four.
Did any tiling happen to you or them at Dover?
Mr. Broughamsaid, he had no objection to the question, but he submitted to their lordships, that there would be no end to the inquiry, if all these unnecessary details were entered into.
§ Examined by the Lords.
Earl of Liverpool.—You have said, that when you opened the door you saw the princess and Pergami sitting, with Pergami's arm round the princess's neck, and that her breasts were uncovered so; do you mean by that that the breasts were bare? I saw it so, and, as far as I saw, I saw it uncovered.
Lord Chancellor.—How far did you see the breasts uncovered? I did not stay to look; I saw it, and made my escape; I saw it in the twinkling of an eye, and it was uncovered as far as here; I saw the breasts (he veduto le mammelle); I saw the breasts.
A Peer.—Had Pergami his hand upon the princess's breasts? They were so [The witness put his hand round the neck of the Interpreter so as to reach the breast.]
Was it so, or not? I say yes.
Duke of Hamilton.—How was the princess dressed at that time? I cannot say; I say what I saw; I was surprised, and went away.
Had she a handkerchief, or any thing which covered the neck? I say no; I saw it so, and I, with my own eyes, saw it naked.
You have been taken to say that the arm was round the princess's neck; was the arm round the neck, or behind the neck of the princess? I am the baron, and you (the Interpreter) are the princess [putting his arm round the neck of the Interpreter.] [A general laugh.]
1239 Do you mean to say that that arm was upon the breast of the princess? I have repeated it many times, I have even shown it; must I repeat the same thing over again; I cannot say more.
The Marquis of Downshirerose to observe, that the interpreter had joined in the laugh which the answer of the witness had elicited from some of their lordships. He could not help thinking that such conduct was extremely indecorous, and ought not to pass without some animadversion from their lord-shins.
The Earl of Liverpoolthought the conduct to which the noble marquis alluded was altogether involuntary, and occasioned by the peculiar manner in which the witness had given his testimony. If the interpreter had not controlled the feeling which the circumstances were calculated to excite, some of their lordships had also been unable to restrain themselves, and he thought, therefore, that it would be a little too hard to visit the conduct of the interpreter with any degree of severity.
The Lord Chancellorthought that demeanour of this sort was highly indecorous, and intimated that opinion to the interpreter
Then Alessandro Finetli was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Attorney General, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Are you an ornamental painter? Yes.
Were you ever employed at the Villa d'Este? I was.
By whom were you first employed at the Villa d'Este? The baron.
What baron? Baron Pergami.
How long were you at the Villa d'Este? More than two years.
Did you afterwards go to Rome with the princess? I did.
How were you employed when you went to Rome; in what situation? I was a servant.
During the time you were at the Villa d'Este did you ever see the princess and Pergami together? Many times.
Where have you seen them together? Walking about the grounds.
When they were walking about the grounds in what manner were they walking together? She was holding the hand of Pergami.
Were they alone, or were any other persons with them? Sometimes they were alone, sometimes there was the dame d'honneur.
Have you ever seen them go in a boat together upon the lake? Many times.
When you have seen them in the boat together, were they alone? Sometimes alone, sometimes there was the dame d'honneur with them.
Did you know the room of Pergami at the Villa d'Este? I did.
1240 Do you remember being at any time in the anti-chamber to that room? Yes.
At what time of the day was it that you were in that anti-chamber? It was in the morning between ten and eleven o'clock, or thereabouts.
Did yousee Pergami at that time? I saw him come out from the side where the princess's room was.
How was he dressed? In a morning gown, with only his drawers on.
In what direction did he go? He was going towards his room.
Did you see where he went to? He went to his room.
Did he see you? He saw me.
When you were at Rome, at the Villa Brandi, did you wait at table? I did.
Did you wait at dinner and supper? I did.
Who used to dine and sup with the princess? All of the court, and sometimes some persons who had been invited from Rome.
Did Pergami dine and sup with her royal highness? He did.
Did Louis Pergami dine and sup with her at the Villa Brandi? He did.
Did Pergami's mother dine and sup with the princess at the Villa Brandi? She did not; the mother of the baron was not at the Villa Brandi.
Do you remember being at Ruffinelli with the princess? I do.
Was Pergami, at any time during her residence at Ruffinelli, ill? He was.
Was he confined to his room? Do you mean to his bed, or in his room.
Did he keep his bed, or did he only keep his room? He kept his bed.
Have you ever seen the princess in his room? Many times.
What did her royal highness do in that room? She was there conversing.
With whom? With Pergami.
Have you ever seen Pergami taking any medicines while he was ill at that time? I have seen him.
Who gave him the medicines? Sometimes I have seen her royal highness the princess.
Were you ever present when Pergami's bed was warmed? I was not present when the bed was warmed, but I brought the warming pan.
Have you seen Pergami get out of bed for the purpose of having his bed warmed? I have.
Was the princess in the room at that time? She was.
Do you remember going from Ancona to Rome with the princess? I do.
On any evening in the course of that journey do you remember seeing the princess and Pergami any where? Not in the evening.
At any other time of the day or night? Never in the night, I have in the day.
1241 At what time of the day was it that you saw them? I do not remember whether it was before or after dinner.
At the time you saw them together, did you make any observation upon their conduct? I did.
What was it? Passing through a court I saw the princess so [,making a motion.]
Who was with the princess at this time? Pergami.
You have described the princess as putting her arm round some person—
Mr. Broughaminterposed. He begged to remind his learned friend that they had no cuts to assist them in this case;—the bag of evidence bad every merit except that of being embellished with cuts. Now the witness had merely made a motion with his arm, and he really thought it incumbent upon the Attorney-General to get from his witness a description in words of the supposed gestures of her royal highness, instead of assuming them from unmeaning signs.
The witness was directed not to answer by making signs, but by words.
Describe how you saw the princess and Pergami at the time you were passing through the court? The princess was embracing Pergami.
Lord Chancellor.—What do you mean by the word "embrace?" She was doing so with her hands [making a motionj.
Where did she put her hands? The princess was putting her hands round under his arms.
By that do you mean round his body? I do.
Mr. Attorney General.—In what direction were their faces at that time—towards each other? One opposite the other (Puna contro paltra).
Were their faces near each other, or how? Their faces were at a distance, for she is short and he is tall.
Were you at Caprila near Pesaro? I was.
With the princess? Yes.
Did you ever see the princess and Pergami together at Caprila? I have seen them many times together.
Do you remember on any particular occasions, seeing them after dark, or in the evening together at Caprila? On the first evening I saw them.
Where? Out of the house, on the steps which led into the garden.
What were they doing when you saw them together? I went to look for a key, because I thought her to be the wife of the agent, and I found she was the princess; she was Just embracing Pergami, as I have described before.
Have you ever seen them in that situation at any other time? Not at Caprila.
At any other place? I have seen it some times also at the Villa d'Este.
Have you ever seen them do any thing 1242 else to each other? I have seen them kiss each other.
Have you seen that more than once, or only once? I saw it only once there; other times I do not remember.
Mr. Wildestated, that he had no questions to propose to the witness.
Then Domenico Brusa was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Parke, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Of what country are you? Of Cazzoni.
Of what trade are you? A mason.
Were you at any time employed in the service of the princess of Wales? I was.
How long were you employed? From the year 1815 to the year 1817.
Were you at the Villa Villani? I was.
And also at the Villa d'Este? I was.
And also at the Barona? I was also at the Barona.
Did you ever see the princess and Pergami together? I have.
Have you seen them often? I have seen her once, twice, three times, many times.
Have you seen them walking together? I have.
How were they walking when you saw them? They were in a boat on the lake.
When you saw them in a boat on the lake, were they alone or was anybody with them? They were alone.
When you saw them walking together, were they alone? They were alone.
Were they walking separate from each other, or arm ill arm? They were alone, but he was rowing.
Have you seen them walking together on land? No, I never made any observation about their walking on land; I have seen her sitting.
When you saw the princess sitting, was any one with her? There was a certain baron.
Who was that certain baron? He was called a certain Pergami.
Was Pergami sitting at the same time? He was; it was on the evening of the feast.
What feast do you mean? The feast of St Bartholomew, when they gave a housewarming at the Villa d'Este.
At what time was it that you saw them sitting together, what time in the day? It was in the evening.
Whereabout was it they were sitting? They were sitting upon a bench under some trees, a kind of arbour.
Was there any one there besides the baron and the princess? I saw the baron and the princess, and nobody else.
Do you know Raggazoni? I do.
Was any one with you when you saw the princess and Pergami together? There was; a certain Raggazoni and I were going to sleep in a place called the Paese, which is near the Villa d'Este.
1243 Do you remember being at work on any day at the Villa d'Este, near a corridor? I do.
Were you working in a room? There was a room, and then there was another, and they made two.
Was there a door from one room to the other? There was.
Opposite that door, at the other end of the room, was there another door.
Mr. Denmanobjected to the question as leading.
The counsel were informed, that they might ask whether there were any and what other doors.
Mr. Parke.—Was there any and what other door in the room you have mentioned, besides that leading into the room in which you were working? There was another door.
In what direction was that other door you have described with respect to the first door? They were opposite to each other, one led one way and the other the other, in the same direction.
When the door of the room in which you were working was open, and the other door you have described was also open, could you see through both? When I was going a gar-zone was coming out, and we met.
When you met the garzone coming out, could you see into the other room? I could, because the door was open.
Did you see any person in the room at the time that the door was open? I did.
Whom did you see? The princess and the baron.
What baron? Pergami.
What were they doing when you saw them? They were caressing each other with their hands.
Was the princess sitting or standing? Standing.
Was Pergami silting or standing? They were both standing.
In what way were they caressing each other?
[The witness made a motion.]
Describe it in words? They paid caresses to each other with their hands.
What part of the body did they touch? On the face.
Do you know Pergami's room at the Villa d'Este? I know it; but I cannot distinguish it, for there are many rooms, they have told me that was the room.
Do you know of any alteration after the princess returned from Greece, in that room which you were told was Pergami's?
Mr. Denmanobjected to the question, it not appearing who had told the witness that it was Pergami's, or on what ground he supposed it to be Pergami's.
The counsel were informed, that if the witness has said he was told such a room was Pergami's room, though that did not prove the tact that it was Pergami's room, he might 1244 be asked the question whether any alteration was made in a room which he was told was Pergami's room.
The question was proposed to the witness.
I have not seen it.
Do you know of any thing being done to the wall of that room? I have seen those kisses and those caresses, and I have seen no other.
Did you see any work done to the wall of that room which you were told was Pergami's? I have rot it present to my mind.
Mr. Denmanstated, that he had no question to propose.
Then Antonio Bianchi was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Attorney General, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Are you an inhabitant of Como? I am.
Do you know the princess of Wales? I do.
Do you remember when she lived at the Villa d'Este? I do.
Have you ever seen her on the Lake of Como, in a small boat? Many times.
Was any one with her when you have seen her in that small boat? There was.
Who? A certain Bartolomeo Pergami.
Were they alone in this small boat together, or was any other person with them? The two alone.
Do you know the river Brescia? I do.
Have you ever seen the princess and Pergami on that river? I have.
What have you seen them doing there? I have seen them in a little canoe, near to the gate or dam which they put into the water to prevent the water from overflowing the country.
What were they doing there? I have seen first the canoe empty, and then a moment after I saw Pergami, accompanying the princess, take her by the arm, and enter the canoe.
Where were they coming from when they went into the canoe? They came from this flood-gate, from this riparo.
Describe what the riparo is, and whereabout it was? [Describing it.] This is the river, and this is the riparo, which is a bank to prevent the water overflowing this small tract of land, where there is a vineyard; and here, further on, is a road which leads on a new road, which the princess has ordered to be made, and has cut the road through the vineyard.
Where were they when you first saw them? They were coming from the riparo, and were coming through this little road to get into the canoe.
Is that the only time you saw them on the Brescia? I have seen them several times, but then I saw them go backwards and forwards.
How were they dressed when you saw them at this riparo? Both in white.
1245 What sort of dress? I cannot tell, for I did not go and touch them; I cannot say whether it was linen or silk, or any other thing.
Could you sec whether they had been in the water or not.
Mr. Denmanobjected to the question, and submitted that the question ought to be put, what their appearance was.
The counsel were informed, that they might ask whether their clothes were wet.
Mr. Attorney General.—Were their clothes wet? At the top they seemed wet, but I cannot tell whether they were dry or not, for I did not touch them.
Did they get into the canoe when you saw them? They went.
Which way did they go with the canoe? They came down the small canal, and then they went towards the villa.
What small canal are you talking of? The small canal of the Brescia.
What time of the day was it? About two in the afternoon.
Where was it you first saw them; whereabout were they when you first saw them at that time? I saw them the first time leaning against this riparo.
Was there any water where they were standing? There is a little water, but not much.
How much? The depth of a braccio.
When you first saw them were they standing in that water, or were they upon dry land? I saw them that they were leaning against this bank, then afterwards immediately I saw him conduct her to the boat.
Was that place, where you say the water was about a braccio deep, a place used sometimes for bathing? Many gentlemen go there.
Do they go to bathe? Many gentlemen go there to take a little bathing in that place, because the bank is good, and the water is clear.
When you first saw the princess and Pergami at that place, were they standing in the water or not? They were in the water, but they came out immediately as soon as they saw me with four gentlemen who were in a boat; they came out and went to the canoe.
You say the princess was dressed in white; did you observe how she was dressed in the lower part, what she had on? A species of loose trowsers that reached to the feet.
§ Examined by the Lords.
Duke of Hamilton.—How many feet is a braccio? A braccio is the same with which they measure cloth, linen, every thing. [Showing the length of his arm. The witness measured before him about three quarters of a yard.]
Then Giovanni Lucini was called in, and 1246 sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Parke, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Of what country are you a native? Of Blevio.
Is that on the lake of Como? It is.
What trade are you? A white-washer.
Were you employed at the Villa d'Este? I was.
Was that in the service of the princess? It was.
Do you know Bartholomew Pergami? I do.
Whilst you were at the Villa d'Este, did you see the princess and Pergami together? I did.
Have you seen them together often? I have seen them many times.
Did you ever see them riding together in a carriage? I have.
Did you ever see them in a padovanello? I have seen them in a padovanello.
Describe in what way the princess sat? He was sitting behind in the padovanello, and she was sitting on his knees.
Where was the arm of Pergami? He had his arms under the arms of her royal highness, holding in the left the reins, by the right the whip.
Do you recollect at any time being at work in a tower near the Villa d'Este? I do.
When you were working in that tower, did you see the princess and Pergami? I did.
What were they doing when you first saw them? They were reading a book.
Were they silting, or walking, or standing? They were sitting.
After you saw them, what did they do? They got up and went into a small cabinet, which was just by.
Was any person with them at the time? No.
In what way did they walk into this cabinet? They got up and went in; he got hold of her arm to help her to get up.
When they walked away, did you see where Pergami's arm was; I did not see that, because he helped her to get up, and then they walked together side by side.
Do you know the room at the Villa d'Este, which was Pergami's? I do.
Did you see Pergami in that room in a morning through the window? I did.
How was he dressed? He had on a morning gown of lead colour.
At what time in the morning was it that you saw him? Between ten and eleven.
Did you see any body else in that room at that time? There were he and the princess.
How was the princess dressed? I believe she was dressed in white.
What were they doing when you saw them? They were so, and I immediately retired.
What do you mean by "so?" They were at the window, looking down.
1247 Did you observe nothing more? I did not, I was working at my business.
How long did they remain at the window when you saw them? A little time.
Were you ever present at the theatre at the Villa d'Este? I have been.
Was any one performing? There was.
Who were they? The princess was singing, and Mr. Pergami was playing upon an instrument, torototela.
§ Cross-examined by Mr. Denman.
§ Did you not say at Milan before you came here, that you knew nothing about it? I do not understand the question.
§ Did you not say at Milan, that you knew nothing upon the subject, but wished for a journey to London? To me they have told nothing; I have been examined at Milan.
§ Examined by the Lords.
§ Earl Grey.—Is a padovanello a carriage commonly used in your country? It is.
§ Is it not a carriage with one scat only? With one seat only.
§ Can two people sit side by side in that seat? They cannot.
§ Is it not the custom for the man who drives to drive with any other person in the carriage sitting on his knees, and holding the reins and the whip on the sides? Certainly, when there are two it is necessary that one must sit behind, and the other upon him.
Lord Ellenborough.—Have you frequently seen two persons in a padovanello? Yes, I have seen others.
Then Carlo Rancatti was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Attorney-general, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Were you ever in the service of the princess of Wales? I have been.
How long were you in her royal highness's service? Nearly two years.
What was your situation in the service? Confectioner.
Where did the princess live when you went into her service? At the Villa d'Este.
Do you know Pergami? I do.
When you were at the Villa d'Este, have you ever seen the princess and Pergami together? Always.
When they were together, what observation did you make upon their conduct towards each other.
Mr. Denmanobjected to the question, and submitted that the fact should be stated, but not the observations which the witness had made upon their conduct.
The counsel were informed that they might ask what acts he had observed, and that he should fix the time as nearly as he could.
When you have seen them together at the Villa d'Este, have you seen them do any thing towards each other; what have you seen? I 1248 have seen nothing else, but to see them go walking together.
When you have seen them walking together, in what manner were they walking together? They were walking as if they were true friends, husband and wife, or something like.
In what manner did they walk together, how were their arms when they walked? They went arm in arm as man and wife.
Did you go with the princess to the Villa Brandi at Rome? I did.
Was it your duty to prepare the breakfast for the princess? It was.
Do you remember at any time when you were preparing breakfast at the Villa Brandi, seeing Pergami? I do.
At what time in the morning was it that you recollect to have seen Pergami? Sometimes I saw him at nine o'clock, sometimes in the morning as early as five.
Do you recollect at any time when you saw him in the morning early, seeing where Pergami came from? From his room.
Did you ever see him come from any other room but his own? I have not.
Did you accompany the princess to the Villa Caprila near Pesaro? I did.
Do you remember at any time when you were in the apartment of the princess, seeing the princess and Pergami together at Caprila? I do.
Did they do any thing when you saw them so together? They were going to walk; I have seen them a thousand times, and I do not know what time precisely you allude to.
Do you recollect whether the princess kept any birds at the Villa Caprila? She had a nightingale.
Did you ever carry meat to the nightingale? It was my duty to do so.
Do you remember at any time, when you were about giving meat to the nightingale, seeing the princess and Pergami together? I do.
Upon that occasion did you observe them doing any thing to each other? Once I observed something.
What was it you observed upon that occasion? I observed that they were kissing each other.
At the time they were kissing each other, did you hear the princess say any thing to Pergami? She was saying, "Do not remain so long out mon cœur;" she said something else in French, but I do not know how to explain myself.
At Caprila do you know Pergami's bedroom? I do.
Have you ever seen or heard Pergami in the morning calling his servant from the bedroom window? Many times I have seen him.
At any time when you have so seen Pergami at his bed-room window, have you seen the princess any where? I have seen the princess in the room of Pergami when he was calling for his servant.
1249 Have you been present when the princess came down to breakfast? I did always see her.
When she came down to breakfast, did any body come with her? She came with Pergami under her arm.
Cross-examined by Mr. Williams. Did not your occupation lie chiefly in the house? It was almost always in the house.
Waiting upon the princess often, were you not? Waiting upon the princess, and any other person who called on me in my capacity.
Where was that bird, the nightingale kept? In the room before the cabinet of the princess.
What room do you call it? It was called a room for the reception of company.
What time of day was it that you were feeding the bird? Abot ten o'clock.
In the morning? Yes, ten in the morning.
Was that about the usual lime? It was, moments sooner or later.
Then Francesco Cassina was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Parke, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Of what country are you? Of Piazza.
Is that on the lake of Como? It is.
Of what trade are you? A mason.
Were you ever employed at the Villa d'Este? I have been employed there seventeen years at the Villa d'Este.
Were you employed at the Villa d'Este while the princess of Wales lived there? I was.
Do you know Pergami? I do.
How long have you known him? I have known him in the family of Pino.
In what situation was he when you first knew him? Valet.
Did he wait at table? He did.
Do you know the situation of Pergami's bed-room at the Villa d'Este? I do.
Do you recollect when the princess of Wales returned from her voyage to Greece? I do.
Do you recollect any alteration being made about that time in the wall of Pergami's bee' room? I do.
What alteration was it that you know of? They opened a door.
Did you break down the wall in order to open a door? There was a door, but it had been walled up on one side.
Were you employed to clear away that door way? I stopped it myself, when I was with general Pino.
Do you know whether any change took place about that time in the situation of the bed-room of her royal highness? I do.
What alteration was made in the situation of the bed-room? It was changed where 1250 she was at first; she changed a few days afterwards into that where the opening was made.
When the princess's bed-room was changed, did that door which was opened afford a communication from Pergami's bed-room to the princess's bed-room? It did, but there was another room between.
Then after that door was made, how did a person go from Pergami's bed-room to the princess's? By that door which I had opened any man might go into the next room, and then there was a small corridor which led into the room of the princess.
Before that communication was made by that door you have mentioned, how would a person who wished to pass from Pergami's bed-room to the princess's have to go? He must have gone through by the staircase, then through the large saloon, then through this anti-room, then through the corridor, and then to the room of the princess.
Did the opening of that door afford an easier communication from one room to the other? It was shorter; there was only to pass through one room.
Cross-examined by Mr. Denman. The door you made was an old door broken out again, it was not a door made for the first time? It was so.
Then Giuseppe Restelli was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by Mr. Solicitor-general, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Were you ever in the service of her royal highness the princess of Wales? I have been.
In what capacity or situation did you enter into her service? At first as under the chief superintendent of the stables, and afterwards as the head superintendent of her stables.
When was it you first went into her service? I entered her royal highness's service at Como at the Villa d'Este.
At what time, as nearly as you recollect? At the latter end of August or the beginning of September of the year 1816.
How long did you continue in her service? Till the end of November, 1817.
Where was her royal highness living at the time when you first entered her service? At the Villa d'Este.
Was Pergami residing there at that time? He was.
Have you ever seen Pergami ride out in any carriage with her royal highness? I have several times.
Did you ever see her ride in a carriage called a padovanello? I have.
Describe how she sat in that carriage? She was sitting on the knees of Pergami.
Did you ever see her royal highness on the lake of Como? I have seen her several times.
1251 Have you ever seen her upon the lake in a canoe with Pergami alone? Yes, sometimes alone, sometimes with other people.
Did you ever see her royal highness drove out in any other carriage besides the padovanello with Pergami? Almost every day when she went out.
Do you remember a cloak which Pergami was in the habit of wearing? I do at Pesaro.
Did you ever see Pergami riding out in a carriage with her royal highness with that cloak? I did.
In what manner was that cloak placed at the times that you allude to? Her royal highness had it upon her shoulders, but with the lower extremity of this cloak she covered Pergami.
Do you remember, at any time when you were at Pesaro, her royal highness going in the road towards Farno? Not to Farno, but returning on the road from Farno to go to Capriia.
Was it your duty to accompany the carriage on horseback? It was; I rode before, and I came near to the carriage whenever I was sent for to receive orders.
Do you remember, at any time when going on the road towards Farno, returning to the carriage for' the purpose of receiving any orders? On our return on the road from Farno, near to the gate of Pesaro, I went near to the carriage to receive orders as to the road which I was to take, because sometimes they went round, and sometimes they took another road.
as the carriage an open carriage? It was an open carriage.
When you returned to the carriage in this way, did you take any notice of where the hand of her royal highness was? I did.
Where was it? In the small clothes of Mr. Pergami.
Did you see that distinctly? I saw it distinctly; I was ashamed of it at the moment when I came to the door.
Do you know Cattolica? I do.
How far is that from Pesaro? Ten miles.
Do you remember the princess at any time driving out there for the purpose of meeting Pergami? Several times, and I was with her.
Do you remember one occasion when Pergami had been absent two days? I do not know whether he had been absent two or three days.
Did her royal highness go out for the purpose of meeting him? She did.
Did she return again before she met him? She did.
Did you afterwards see the carriage of Pergami before you got home? Almost immediately after we had turned, before we reached halfway.
Was Pergami in the carriage? He was in his travelling carriage, a white carriage. When he came up to the -carriage of the princess, what did he do? Pergami descended from his carriage, and ran to the door of the 1252 carriage of her royal highness, and she descended from her carriage.
After they had descended from their respective carriages, did her royal highness address Pergami; and if so, in what terms, what expressions did she use? They spoke to each other; I did not hear what words of compliment they paid each other, but they kissed each other.
Did you hear any expressions she made use of towards him? Mon cher ami.
After they had embraced each other, and made use of these expressions you have mentioned, what did they do? They took each other by the arm and went into the same carriage together; this was by night.
Do you remember the little Victorine at the Villa d'Este? I do.
How did she call the princess? Mamma.
Do you recollect any conversation, or any thing passing between the princess and little Victorine at the Villa d'Este? Her royal highness caressed her like her own child, for she called her, "Viens ici, ma chore fille."
Were you ever at the Barona? I have been.
Did you ever see the wife of Pergami? I have, but at the time when the princess was not there.
Did you ever see the wife of Pergami at the Barona when the princess was there? She was there once whilst her royal highness was arriving, and they all made their escape, they all went away.
Mr. Denmanobjected to this answer standing upon the minutes, the princess not being there.
The counsel were informed, that the answer should remain upon the minutes.
Cross-examined by Mr. Denman.
When were you dismissed from the service of the princess? Towards the end of December, 1817.
Were you not discharged for stealing the corn? No.
Was not that the charge on which you were dismissed? No.
What were you dismissed for? Because I gave leave to two of our men to go to the inn, to the tavern, and Bernardo the cousin of the baron and some others went to stop these men, and when these men came to complain to me of it, I said I never knew that a master should be a thief-catcher, thief-taker (sbirro).
Interpreter.—It is a constable, but a low kind of constable, and in Italy it is rather a term of reproach.
The Witness proceeded.—And then the day after that, Louis came with the money that was due to me for three months salary, and told me, that as I was an honest man I ought not to be among the sbirri; so I took the money and went away.
You say you were dismissed on that account? Yes.
Were you never charged, when in the ser- 1253 vice of the princess of Wales, with stealing the horse, provender? Never.
The question does not refer to a charge before a magistrate, but were you not charged in the family of the princess, or by herself, with having stolen the horse provender? No, never.
You swear to that as you do to all the rest of your evidence? I do.
You never said that to any body, that you bad been dismissed on a charge of stealing corn, did you? I could never tell this lie.
Do you mean that you never tell a lie, or never without being well paid for it?
The Solicitor Generalobjected to the question.
The Counsel were in formed, that they might ask the witness whether he was paid for the evidence he had been now giving.
Mr. Denman.—Do you understand English? No.
Not at all? Nothing at all.
How long have you been in England? The day before yesterday.
When did you first hear that the commission was sitting at Milan? Towards the end of December of the year 1818.
Between that time and the time of your leaving the princess, were you in any service? No.
How did you support yourself in the meantime? I had a pension from the government, and I always have been employed as a courier.
What government is it which gives you the pension? The Italian government.
Did you offer yourself as a witness to the Milan commission, or did those who pay you your pension induce you to go before them, or how? I have not been to Milan for this purpose, but I am settled at Milan.
The question was not whether you went to Milan, but were you induced to go to the Milan commission, or did you go voluntarily? I have been sought after.
Who sought you? The first time, a man of the name of Riganti came to tell me to go to the advocate?
To the advocate Vimercati? Yes.
Riganti is a tobacconist at Milan, is not he? He is.
How soon after Riganti spoke to you, did you go before the commission? I have only spoken with the advocate at first.
How soon was that after Riganti sought for you? The day after.
Was any body with the advocate when you first went? There was not.
Did the advocate then take your deposition? He did not.
Did he ask you any questions about what you knew? He did.
How soon after that did you go before the commissioners? I believe a day or two after.
How many persons did you find assembled there? There was the advocate, three Eng- 1254 lish gentlemen, and two Italian amanuenses.
Did you then tell the same story which you have told to-day? I did.
Was it taken down in writing? It was.
Were you sworn to the truth of it? They did not swear me, but they told me, that I should be obliged to swear to the truth before a tribunal; I said I would.
Did you then take out your own cross and kiss it? I did not, I was not there to take an oath; he only told me that I should be obliged to swear, if the occasion should require, before a tribunal, and I said that I would.
Did you not then become one of the most active agents of that commission?
The Solicitor General objected to the question.
Did you not become a very active agent of the commission? I was not an agent, they have given me orders only as a courier, which is my profession, and as a courier I have travelled.
You have been employed as a courier by that commission? Yes, sometimes; whenever they had need of me.
Where did you first go in your quality of courier to that commission? I went into Westphalia.
Whom did you see there? I went with a letter to a man of the name of Credé, to come to Milan.
Did you know Credé before? Yes, I have known him in the house of her royal highness.
Where was he in Westphalia? At Hesse Casscl.
Morris Credo, was it? Yes.
You say you took a letter to Credé, did not you yourself persuade Credo to go to Milan? I did.
Did you not offer him money to go? I did not.
What did you say to induce him to go? I told him that the advocate and the commission at Milan required him, and that both his expences in the journies in going and coming should be paid.
Where did you go next as messenger to the commission? I have accompanied Mr. Cooke by the way of Lyons to go to Frankfort, and I had dispatches for Milan.
Did you go to Cassel and back again? Not at that time.
When yon went for Credé, did you go there and come back? I did.
Whom did you see at Frankfort? I saw Credé.
Whom else? I have seen at a distance, but I did not speak to her, Preising.
Who is she? A maid that was in the service of her royal highness.
When? At the time that I entered the service of her royal highness, about September in the year 1810, at the Villa d'Este.
Did you sec any other witnesses at Frank- 1255 fort? I did not, I saw this woman by chance at the inn, but I did not speak to her.
Did you go back from Frankfort to Milan with Mr. Cooke? I did not go with Mr. Cooke, I went with dispatches. Did you go from Frankfort to Milan? I did. What was the next journey you made as courier to the Milan commission? It was to go to Paris with dispatches to lord Stewart, or Mr. Stewart, and return.
Do you mean lord Stewart the ambassador at Vienna, or sir Charles Stewart the ambassador at Paris? I mean the ambassador at Paris.
Where did you go next from Milan? I do not know precisely which was the fourth or the fifth, but I have made several journeys.
After you returned from Paris to Milan, where did you next go as courier to the commission? I have made several other small journeys, which I do not remember; but now lately I came to England with eleven witnesses.
Were you ever at Vienna on the same business? I have not been.
Have you had any other means of getting your bread except this, since you left the princess's service? Yes; I have besides a pension from. the government; and besides, I am in the trade of a coachmaker.
Who recommended you to the commission; do you know? Nobody recommended me; but when I spoke to the advocate, he told me that it was only to tell the truth, and I told it.
Do you know Enrico Ravizza? I do not; hot that I know of. A man of Lodi? I do not know him. Have you offered any body money for coming here as a witness? I have not.
Have you persuaded several persons besides Credé to come? Credo did not come with me; Credé did not go to Milan at that lime. Do you know Draggoni? I do. Angelo Draggoni? I do. Did you never attempt to persuade him as a witness? No; I have spoken to him in confidence, but I have never endeavoured to bring him.
When did you leave Milan to come here? The first time I left it on the 29th of June.
Did you bring your father with you, and your wife and your children? I did not.
What are you to have for coming? They have promised me nothing.
What do you expect to have? Nothing; they have offered me nothing, and I have nothing to expect.
Do you mean to swear that you expect nothing? I do.
Who are the persons with whom you came? Some I know, some I do not know; those I know, I know because we came together, but I had never seen them before.
Who are they? They are various; I knew them by sight before, but I had no intimacy with them.
1256 State their names? Of some I can say; the others I do not know.
State the names of those you do know? Carlo Rancatti, Gerolamo Mejani, Paolo Oggioni, Philip Riganti, Enrico Baie, Finette the wife of Majoochi; perhaps there maybe some more, but at present I do not remember them.
Is Credé in England, do you know? I do not know.
Is that maid-servant, whose name you have mentioned as having seen her at Frankfort (Preising) in England? She is.
Do you know Ciceri? By sight, but I never spoke to her.
The question refers to a man of the name of Ciceri? Yes, but I never spoke to him.
Do you know whether he is one of the agents of the Milan commission? I do not know.
Have you seen colonel Brown? I have. Where did you see him? In his house, where I went to take the dispatches upon which he sent me.
Have you been in any service from your leaving the princess up to this time? I have not, no other than being a courier employed by the colonel.
Did you never seek for Draggoni? I have been sometimes looking out for him, seeking for him, for we are friends, but not upon this business, as he has come sometimes to look after me.
You never offered Draggoni any money to come forward as a witness? I did not.
Did you never say that any body would give him money for his testimony? I did not.
Do you know colonel Vassali? I know a
Vassal!, but not a colonel; the Vassali I
knew was a captain.
Did you see him some short time after you left the princess? I did.
Had you any conversation with him respecting the cause of your discharge? I had.
Did you not tell him any thing about the charge of stealing corn? I did not say so, I only said I had been discharged because I called them Sbirro.
That is all you told him as the reason of your being dismissed? This was what I said; but if I had said something more, it is not what I can remember at present of this discourse.
Did you not tell him that the charge, whatever it was, was false I did not say that; I only said that I had been discharged for that which I have said, and which it is true I did say.
With regard to the time when you say the princess and Pergami were in the carriage, and you saw her hand in the situation you have mentioned, was it an open carriage? It was a carriage for two, with the top open, thrown behind, and a kind of apron or cover which came here [in front]; but at the moment that I came to the door to ask for orders, I saw the hand drawn from this part, I which was uncovered.
1257 Was the part of the carriage from which yon saw the hand withdrawn above the apron? The apron did not reach so far, there was only the cloak that covered the breeches. You came back for orders, did not you? I did.
How far had you got from the carriage before you turned back to receive the orders? The distance from hence to this pillar, four or five paces.
You are understood to have said that you were in the habit of stopping at that place and receiving orders as to which road they would choose to go? Not always, because sometimes I received those orders at the time I sat out; but when I did not receive them I went to the door to ask for orders.
When you did not receive orders at setting out, you were in the habit of stopping at that place for the purpose of receiving them? It was not always, but that was only the second or third time that her royal highness made me to go by that way, to go and look after the count Cassio.
You had stopped there several times before, once, twice, or three times, to receive orders? She had given me the orders before we set out, and on that occasion that I stopped at that place, it was the first time.
Did they call you to the carriage? They did not call me, I went of myself.
How often had you been upon that road before with the princess? Several times.
Had you always received, before that, orders which way you should go? Sometimes I received the orders, but at others, when they were with six horses, with which they generally did go, then I merely looked behind, and they made a sign with the hands which way I should go; but on that occasion they had a small carriage, and I went back.
Did you say you had seen this very distinctly? Yes, I saw her take out, or take away her right hand from his breeches.
You saw that very distinctly? I saw very distinctly the princess take away her hand, and I was ashamed to see her do so.
It was broad day-light? It was between two and three, or half-past three.
On the public road? Yes. On which side was she silting? The princess was sitting on the left, and Pergami was sitting on the right driving.
Whom did you first tell this story to? I did not tell it to any body before I told it to the commission.
How soon was that after the time that you saw it? Eleven or Twelve months.
What month was it in? Do you mean when the thing happened, or when I told it.
In what month did the thing happen of which you have spoken? I do not know precisely, but it must have been about the end of November, or beginning of December.
In what year? 1817.
You do not know whether it was in November or December? I do not know precisely.
1258 Who was living at the villa at that time, what servants? There was Majoochi, a certain Francois, whose name I do not remember; there was Andrea Geralli; do you want to know the whole family.
State those with whom you are most intimate? I had no intimate acquaintances; for as I was the chief, I did not give confidence to any one of them.
Did not the princess remove her hand as soon as she saw you? She did.
Did she appear confused? I paid no attention to that, because I immediately turned away with my horse.
How long after that was it that she turned you away? I do not know precisely; it was a month or six weeks, twenty days or thereabouts; I do not know precisely.
§ Examined by the Lords.
Earl of Liverpool.—You state that you have a pension from the Italian government; on what occasion had you that pension given you, and on what account? I have received it on account of having been seven or eight years in the service with prince Eugene, who was then viceroy of Italy.
When did you first get the pension? I received it about 1815, but the pension was granted to me in the year 1814.
Does the present government of Milan continue to you the pension? It docs.
Have they ever employed you as a courier since yon have had the pension? They have not; if I had any employment I should receive no pension.
What is the amount of your pension? Two hundred and sixty livres a year.
Earl of Lauderdale.—At the time you turned to the carriage in which the princess and Pergami were, to ask which road they wished you should take, did you get any directions from them upon the subject? Yes, we entered the town on the right hand, to go to take up count Cassio, to bring him to Caprila.
Who gave you that order? The baron, but he gave me a simple word, count de Cassio, and with this word I knew my road.
Was that order given before you saw the princess's hand or afterwards? At the moment that she was withdrawing her hand, the baron said, count de Cassio.
Did you then see what you have communicated to this house, and hear the order exactly at the same time? Yes, I heard count de Cassio, and I immediately turned round.
Then Giuseppe Galli was called in, and sworn and examined as follows by Mr. Parke through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
What countryman are you? Of Cossano. Is that in Italy? It is.
What is your occupation? A waiter.
At what place are you waiter? At Barlisina at the Crown inn.
1259 How far is Barlisina from Milan? Thirteen miles.
Does it lie between Milan and Como? Halfway.
How long have you been in the employment of waiter at that inn? Five years.
Did you ever see the princess of Wales at that inn? I have.
How often have you seen her there? Three times.
When was it you first saw the princess of Wales? The first time she passed by in a carriage, and took something for breakfast in the carriage.
When was that; in what year? It is about three years ago.
Do you recollect who was in the carriage with her? There was a certain Pergami.
What Pergami; do you know his name? I have heard that he is called Bartholomew.
How long after that was it that you saw the princess again at the inn? About six weeks after.
The second time when you saw them, what did they do at the inn; did they breakfast or dine? They came to dinner.
Did you see the princess and Pergami together upon that occasion? I did.
What was their conduct towards each other? Pergami came from Milan, for he had passed in the morning to go to Milan, and the princess came afterwards from her own way to come and dine there.
When you saw them together, how did they conduct themselves towards each other? The baron was sitting near the princess.
Did you see them together before dinner or after dinner? Pergami arrived half a quarter of an hour before the princess, and the princess arrived half a quarter of an hour after Pergami.
Did you see them together before dinner? Not before dinner, because before dinner there were seven, or eight, or ten, altogether in a room.
What was their conduct towards each other when you saw them? At the dinner I saw that they payed compliments to each other, and I saw that they took some delicate morsel and offered to each other.
In what way did they address each other? They spoke in French.
Describe in what way they used those delicate morsels you have mentioned? The baron was the first who took something out of his plate and offered it to her royal highness, but I do not know what sort of food it was, for I do not recollect: but then her royal highness took something out of her own and gave it to the baron.
Was it taken from the plate of the princess and the plate of the baron, or from some dish on the table? From their respective plates.
You said that they spoke French to each other; in what way did they speak to each other in French? I do not understand well the French: I cannot understand it.
1260 Do you recollect at any time when the princess dined at the inn her having two rooms appropriated to her? I do.
Do you recollect what were the numbers of the rooms? No. 7, and No. 8.
Did they communicate with each other? They did.
How many doors were there in No. 7? In No. 7 there was one door.
How many in No. 8? One to enter in No. 8, and another that Jed into No. 7, which makes two.
In which of the rooms did they dine? No. 8.
What was there in No. 7? A large bed.
After dinner did you see the princess and Pergami together in No. 8? I did.
How many persons dined that day with the princess? The first time that she dined at the inn there were ten.
Are you speaking now of the first time, or the second time, when she dined in No. 8? She dined there twice.
Did she dine both times in No. 8? She did.
When you saw the princess and Pergami together after dinner, were the company remaining in the room, or had they gone out? They had gone into the second room.
Did you observe any thing done by the princess and Pergami? I did.
Describe what you saw? I went to go and clear the table, and I saw the baron holding an arm upon the shoulder of the princess, and, at the moment that I was going into the room, I saw the baron give her a kiss; but I did not enter, for they told me immediately to go away.
In what way was the baron's arm placed? The baron was on the right, the princess was on his left, and the baron held his left hand upon her royal highness's shoulder.
Was the arm on her shoulder, or round her shoulder, or how; what way was it placed? He had his upon her shoulder.
Did you observe in what way the princess and the baron left the inn at that time? I did.
How did they go away? I saw them go j both together à charabano. Interpreter.—A charabano appears to be a species of German carriage, where there is no seat, but two persons sit astride in the way as persons sit on horseback.
Was any one with them when they went away in this carriage? Nobody else.
No servant? There was none.
Describe what sort of a carriage a charabano is? There are two seats behind, that two people may sit, and then in the middle of the carriage there is a cushion, upon which people may go astride.
Do you know in what way they sat? Pergami was astride on this cushion, and the princess was sitting properly on the seat.
Cross-examined by Mr. Williams. State the time of which you have been 1261 speaking as well as you can, in what year, and in what month of the year, as nearly as you can tell? The month I think was before Christmas, either November or December.
What year, do you know? I believe it to be the year 1817.
Is not the inn of which you speak the stage at which they changed horses always between Como and Milan? No, where the horses are changed there is no inn; it is merely a post house.
Barlisina is the stage between Como and Milan, is it not? It is.
Upon this occasion, when you describe this German carriage, were there not eight or ten persons in the company of the princess? There were.
Do you know any of them? Her two ladies, who were called dames d'honneur; there was a daughter of the baron, a small girl; there was the mother of the baron, there was a servant, professor Mocatti, there was a captain Vasalli, there was an Englishman whom I did not know, there were some other persons, but whom I do not know; the second time there were thirteen.
Examined by the Lords.
Earl of Lauderdale.—Was it in the month of December that they dined the first time, or the second time, at the inn? Between the first time and the second time that she dined at the inn, there was a difference of about three weeks.
When you were ordered to quit the room after dinner, when you had seen the baron and the princess together, with the baron's arm on her shoulder, do you know how long they remained in that room? Perhaps they might have been about half an hour, no more.
Do you know whether any body went into the room during the half hour? The servants, no; but there was a second room into which they might go, for there were other people there, and the door was open.
The Witness was directed to withdraw.
The Lord Chancellorrequested leave to draw the attention of the House to the matter which had been reserved for consideration on Friday last; namely, whether any alterations were necessary to be made in the minutes of that day relative to the questions which had been put upon the contents of certain letters at that time not regularly in proof, and previous to the questions afterwards put to the learned judges upon that day; and his lordship further acquainted the House, that he had been furnished with the following statement of the minutes relative to the above matter, as they now stood upon the minute book, viz.—that nothing appears in the minutes of Friday last, upon the subject of the letters examined to, previous to the objection afterwards taken, and the opinion given by the learned judges on that day, except what 1262 relates to two letters afterwards produced and regularly proved; that it does not appear that any question was previously asked as to the third letter, which was afterwards also proved, but not since interrogated to; and that the only further matter that does appear, is merely the questions that were put to the witness upon the letter, of which a line and a half only was shown to her, namely, as to the fact of that letter being her hand-writing; but as to the contents of which no questions were put previously to the opinion so given by the learned judges, nor had any been put relative to that letter since.
Whereupon it was ordered, that the said Minutes do so stand as they now appear in the Minute-book.
Then Giuseppe Dell' Orto was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows by the Solicitor General, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spincto.
What are you by trade? A baker.
Did you serve her royal highness with bread at the Ville d'Esle? I did.
Did you serve her with bread before she went upon her long voyage? I did before the voyage she made to Greece.
Do you remember, after her return from Greece, seeing her upon any occasion sitting in the garden? I do.
Was she upon that occasion alone, or was any one with her? Baron Pergami was with her.
Was baron Pergami sitting at the same time? He was.
Did he do any thing? He did.
What did he do? He had an arm round her neck, and was making love to her, and kissed her.
Before he put his arm round her neck, had he got up from the seat? He had got up.
When he got up, did the princess do any thing to him, or to his dress, his coat? She took him by the lappel of his coat, and made him to set down again.
Was it after that that the arm was put round her neck? It was.
Did you ever see the princess in the kitchen at the Villa d'Este? Yes.
Was Pergami there at the same time? He was.
Was there any polenta there? There was.
Did Pergami do any thing with that polenta? He took a little of it.
What did he do with it? Pergami went to her royal highness, and her royal highness told him something in French, and then Pergami put the polenta half into the mouth of her royal highness, and then the remaining half he put into his own mouth.
Did you, some days after this, see the princess in the pantry at the Villa d' Este? Yes.
Was Pergami there at that time? He was.
Did Pergami or the princess do any thing? They were both together.
1263 What did Pergami do? Pergami took a piece of sweetmeat, and put it into the mouth of the princess, and the princess took it.
Have you ever seen the princess on the lake in a canoe? I have.
Who was with her? Pergami.
Were they alone? They were.
Have you seen that once or often? Once I remember, the other I do not remember; it might have been more, or it might have been less, I cannot exactly tell.
Cross-examined by Mr. Tindal. Were you in the service of her royal highness, or did you only bring bread to the house? I served her royal highness with bread, and with bran for the horses.
Were you in her service? I was not.
The Witness was directed to withdraw.
The question being asked of the marchese di Spineto what polenta was, he stated that it was like porridge made of maize, and a favourite dish in Italy.
Then Giuseppe Guggiari was called in, and sworn, and examined as follows, by Mr. Parke, through the interpretation of the Marchese di Spineto.
Are you a native of Cernobio? I am.
What busines are you? I am a boatman.
Do you follow your business on the lake of Como? I do.
Do you know the princess of Wales? I do.
Did you ever see the princess of Wales in one of your boats on the lake? I have served her royal highness with the boat of general Pino the first time she arrived, and when she went as far as Donias, which is distant forty miles from Como.
After the princess of Wales lived at the Villa d' Este were you in the habit of carrying her on the lake at any time? Whenever she went in a boat.
Who went with her when you took her? Pergami, and sometimes other gentlemen that came from Como, the vice prefect and the doctor, and amongst others there was the dame d'honneur, the sister of the baron.
Was there a theatre at Como? There is a theatre, and whenever they went to the theatre we carried them in a boat, when they wished to have a boat.
Has Pergami gone with the princess in your boat when they have gone to the theatre? Pergami was with her.
Did you observe any thing done between the princess and Pergami on those occasions? I have seen them kiss.
Have you seen that more than once? About four times.
Did you ever see any thing else on those occasions than kissing? Not in the boat.
In any other place have you seen any thing else between the princess and Pergami? I have seen them whilst they were in the pan- 1264 try, and they were taking themselves away from the table, to leave the pantry and go up into the room, and lock themselves into the room.
Which room do you mean, when you say they went to lock themselves into the room? In the bed-room of the princess; here [describing it] was the room where they did it, and on the other side there was the room of the princess into which they went and locked themselves.
Were you employed in the house of the princess? I was working in the pantry at five sous a day.
Was that during the time you were working in the pantry that you saw this which you have described? I can swear to have seen them with my own eyes.
Was that during the time that you were in the princess's service? It was.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wilde. Were you examined at Milan? I have been, by Vimercati.
Who took you to Milan? A man of the name of Massareni, of Lugano, took me to Milan.
When did you first mention this, which you saw in the pantry? I have said it before the advocate Vimercati.
Was that the first time? That was the first time in which I have spoken of what I have seen: Are you quite sure you never mentioned any thing of it to any body, until you saw Vimercati? He asked me whether I had seen something, and I told him I was always there: and he told me, will you have any difficulty to come and speak to a gentleman, and then this advocate Vimercati said, will you have any objection to come with me to Milan; and I told him yes, I have no objection, I will come with you to Milan.
When was that? In the month of January.
In what year? Two years ago; eighteen or nineteen months ago perhaps.
When was it you saw this circumstance in the pantry? In the evening.
How long before you went to Milan? About five or six months before.
Have you a brother of the name of Santino? He is a cousin.
Were you in the boat, at the time you state that you saw Pergami kiss the princess? I was not.
Was a man of the name of Tommaso in the boat? There was.
Any body else? There were ten boatmen.
Name one or two of the ten? I can mention almost all of them.
Mention three or four of them? Tommaso Lago Maggiore, Lorenzo Rogeta, Cristofaro Casino, my brother Giovanni, and one who is dead.
Did you ever tell any body that Vimercati had offered you money for the information you gave? No, because he told me to go to 1265 Milan, where all my expenses would be paid.
You are not asked what Vimercati told you, but whether you have not told other persons that Vimercati had offered you money? No.
Did you ever say you had been promised money by Vimercati? Never.
Did you ever say that any other person had promised you money for the information? No.
You were at work in the pantry? Yes.
Did you go on with your work? Yes, whenever I was there, I went on afterwards with my work.
At the time the princess and Pergami went out of the pantry to the other room; you remained at your work? I Went to clear the tabic In the pantry? I went to clear the tabic from the room in which they had been at dinner, to carry the things down to the pantry.
Do you mean to say that at the time the princess and Pergami left the room, you continued attending to your business? I do.
Re-examined by Mr. Parke. Was the room in which the things were laid out, up stairs or down stairs? Above.
Did the room of the princess communicate with that room? There was only a corridor, where people passed to go to and fro to carry the things.
Examined by the Lords.
Earl Grosvenor.—How do you know that the princess and Pergami locked themselves into that room? We saw it with our own eyes, for we were there; and we saw them take themselves from the table, and go into the room, and shut themselves in.
Did you hear the key turned in the lock? I did.
Did you attempt to open the door? I did not.
You are sure you heard the key turn in the lock? I am sure, because I heard it; we were there, we saw them pass, and then we went into the room to clear away.
Who was with you in the pantry? Rancatti, my brother, and a certain Giovanni Capella.
Were those persons in the room with you when you heard the key turn in the lock? Yes, always, either the one or the other were there.
At what distance were you when you heard the key turn in the lock? Hardly two paces.
Earl of Lauderdale.—Were you in the pantry when you heard the lock turned? I was not.
Were you in the room where they dined when you heard the lock turned? I was not, we had not gone in yet.
Where were you standing when you heard the lock turned? We were standing in the corridor.
Were you in the corridor between the dining-room and the bed-room? Yes.
Earl of Belmore.—You are understood to say, that when Pergami kissed the princess in the boat, there were several other boatmen along with you? There were.
Could they have seen that as well as you? Not all could see it, because some were looking and some were not looking.
Could any of them see it? Some of them, if they had been looking, might have seen it;? but sometimes they drew the curtains, and then nobody could see it.
Was it done publicly, not with an intention of hiding it? I do not know, I saw them kiss.
When you saw it, were the curtains wide open? They were.
Marquis of Lansdown.—Have you at any time had any conversation with any of the boatmen that were in the boat at the time you saw the circumstance you have just alluded to? No.
You never mentioned the circumstance of having seen the kiss, from the time you had seen it, to any person, till you were brought before the advocate Vimercati at Milan? No, I never mentioned it.
Duke of Hamilton.—Was any body in the corridor with you when you heard the door of the room locked, as you have stated? There was either my brother or this John Capella.
Can you recollect which? There was either the one or the other, for there was somebody with me every time; we were always two.
Which of them was there at this time? The first time was my brother, and then another time was another; for we were always two.
State the name of your brother? Giovanni.
When this happened, did you ever make any observation to the person who was with you? No; we were in the service; we made our observations, but we made no word of it, for we were attending to our own business.
Ordered, that the further consideration and second reading of the said bill be adjourned to to-morrow morning.