By George! Dad’s Going Down Again.
Last week Prince George IV rediscovered his first wife, and his languishing politics. Was this a good thing?
And what were these two events referred to in my previous post? The first was that his old enemy, Prime Minister Pitt, was forced to resign over the issue of emancipation for Irish Catholics. Pitt was for it more or less as a matter of realpolitic. Trying to govern Ireland while suppressing the Catholic Church there did not make sense. Particularly if the British army found itself tied up in Europe fighting the French. And that was a very real possibility.
His Majesty was vehemently opposed not only as a matter of principle, but as head of the Church of England, to support it would have violated his coronation oath. Pitt would not back down and the King didn’t have to. Pitt resigned. Henry Addington, Speaker of the House of Commons, took his place. He was a doctors son and something of a political non-entity, but he firmly supported the King and was a devote Anglican. Dad’s kinda guy.
The second event, in February of 1801 was of much greater consequence. The King fell ill again. By the end of the month his condition had deteriorated to the point where “doctor” Willis was called in again. Since Willis senior was too old to administer to His Majesty, he was eighty-four, His sons took over the case.
The Prince seemed to have learned something from his father’s first illness. For one thing, he steered clear of the drawing room intrigues with potential placeholders that made him look more like a bookie than an heir to the throne. For another, he was not going to get into a pissing match with Parliament over the extent of his Regency powers.
Pitt, whom the Prince consulted because he still officially held the Seals of Office, told him the Regency would be his only if he agreed to the restrictions of 1789. His Highness didn’t care for that at all. However, he was prevailed upon by calmer councils to accept the restrictions and move on. It was just as well that he did because in April the Kings condition improved to the point that he felt himself equal to taking up the tasks of government.
The King praised his heir for being much more business-like than he had been during the first illness. He told the Prince that it helped his peace of mind to no small degree to know that his boy was, well…at least more ready to take on the burden of government than he had been before.
His Majesty was also ready to tackle a rather more personal problem while he still had the power to do so. In May, several members of the family expressed their apprehension that the King was really well. In truth, he wasn’t, but he was, more or less back in the saddle. The Willises, however thought the King needed a lot more of the kind of “treatment” they specialized in.
Without so much as a “by your leave” they showed up a Kew, where the King was convalescing and basically kidnapped him. For several weeks the King was held prisoner while the Willises and their “helpers” forcibly bleed, cupped and purged him. If he resisted, he got “the throne.” The family, as usual, was kept at arms length and the Prince was not allowed to see him at all.
There was a difference this time around. Many people, including the Queen were not so willing to believe the reports the Willises issued regarding His Majesties health. Neither was His Majesty. When told that he would not be allowed to visit the Queen’s apartments to celebrate her birthday, his response was to go on strike.
He said that as long as these restrictions were in force, he would leave off all government business. No papers requiring his signature would be signed. His Majesties ministers took this threat very seriously. They told the Willises to back off and stay off. When the Queens birthday arrived, May 19, the King walked to her apartments without a single Willis in attendance.
He then moved on to Weymouth to continue convalescing with the help of the sea baths he enjoyed so much. No Willises went along. It also helped the Kings peace of mind that the Prince seemed to be finally acting like a grown-up. True, the Prince and his wife had yet to be reconciled, but there was reason to hope.
Politically, the Prince got on much better with Prime Minister Addington than he ever had with Pitt. If anything, Pitt hated him more now that he was out of office than he ever did while in. Addington, on the other hand, was willing to meet His Highness halfway and was willing to discuss matters of mutual interest with an eye toward settling them. He was even willing to discuss a coalition with some of the Prince’s Whig buddies. Fox’s response to this was along the lines of, “Please, your Highness, PLEASE do not spit in the soup now. Let’s take this one day at a time and be nicey-nice to EVERYONE. Okay?” Or words to that effect.
Quite a change from Pitt, who dismissed the Prince out of hand as a drunken bounder. The reconciliation could not have come at a better time for His Highness. He had a small matter to settle and needed Parliament’s stamp of approval to do so.
– Mr. Al
Early Jack-O-Lanterns
I bought some pumpkins for pie in September. The Girl got a hold of them. Now there is no chance they will ever be turned into pie, which might be a good thing since I’ve never done it from scratch before, and didn’t really know what I was doing anyway. But still. It was weird having miniature Jack O Lanterns on the porch in the middle of September. Now it’s October and I have to buy pumpkins all over again.
Was I being wasteful to let her do it?
A Road in Bolivia
I said clear back here that I was going to have to post these pictures of another scary road, then got all distracted. Anyway, from the rest of the email about dangerous roads:
I’m so glad I don’t have to sit there.
Leaves
How to make a leaf monster:
Step one, rake leaves into a pile.
Step two, make a trench in the middle of the leaves.
Step three, place body in the leaves.
Step four, cover body.
Step five, grab camera.
Step six, swear creatively when the camera cuts out too soon.
Surprise Reunion
Jack: Darling, I have bad news.
Jill: What? What’s wrong?
Jack: You’ll have to set more places at the table. MY family is coming over too.
Jill: Oh no!
To see Jack’s family and Jill’s family, tune in next week when the theme is “Scary.”
Today’s theme is family
Previously in Jack and Jill Move Your Lazy Butt
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Suzie’s House 89: With Head High
Principal Greear set his pen down as Mrs. D. entered his office. Her lips were tight and a faint scowl puckered her brow, but she didn’t look like a total nut job. After looking over the way she’d graded the assignment which brought her to his attention, he’d asked to see her grade books, and then any other assignments Ben Hamacker could provide. The bias was clear. Mrs. D. had willfully and significantly depressed Hamacker’s grades.
“Please, take a seat.” He gestured toward the chair set up on the other side of his desk. “Do you know why I asked you to speak with me today?”
She shook her head slowly, but her narrowed eyes belied the gesture.
“After reviewing the situation at length I have come to the conclusion Hamacker actually does have a legitimate complaint.”
“You do?!” Her jaw dropped in astonishment.
“You don’t?” he countered.
“No! I don’t. He has willfully disregarded my authority and instructions at every point.”
“I am told by some of your students this isn’t the case.”
“Who said that? Gene Thomas? I wouldn’t believe anything HE has to say. Neither one of them is any better than my step son.”
“Hmmm.” Greear steepeled his fingers in front of his mouth, trying to remember what he’d heard about Mrs. D. and her step son. As he recalled, there’s been some trouble there. If only he could remember what it had been.
“I was HOPING you would demand an apology from Hamacker. That would be the appropriate response to this situation.” Her lips pruned around the words, which were spoken with the crisp intonation of a speech instructor.
“Actually, it is you who should be apologizing, and not merely to Hamacker. Thomas has also suffered in your class.” Something clicked into place. “Ah… his father is a friend of your ex-husband, is he not?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Greear didn’t answer immediately. There was something more here, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. No matter. He was sure it would come to him in time.
“Mrs. Dieter, by all rights I should dismiss you on the spot. However, the school board frowns on precipitous change. So instead I am suspending you without pay for two weeks. If you can resolve your differences with both boys in that time, you will be re-instated. Here’s the name of the psychiatrist who will do your evaluations.”
Mrs. D. looked like she’d swallowed straight quinine. Slowly, resentfully, she said, “I’ll have my lesson plans ready for my substitute by…”
“No need. I’m calling on a guest lecturer to do a special unit with the students for the next two weeks. If you pass your psych evaluations, you can resume where you left off.”
She stood slowly, head as high as a queen. With a curt nod, she exited the office.
.
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13 Random thoughts
1. A ghost coming out of the toilet? What the heck is the boy watching on TV right now?
2. Didn’t I have something else in mind for Thursday Thirteen this week?
3. What was it?
4. I wish I’d gotten more than three hours of sleep last night.
5. Should I really be posting in this condition?
6. Sure am glad I don’t have to drive 50 miles tonight after all.
7. Maybe I should check what equipment the boy needs for his “Skate Tour” tomorrow.
8. I wonder if anyone has posted anything new and interesting on YouTube….
9. … since I checked it earlier today.
10. What am I going to do about the blasted web site?
11. I wish I hadn’t gotten sucked into reading so much manga.
12. I wish I’d gotten more than three hours of sleep last night.
13. Think anyone will notice?
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By George! The Love of His Life, Plus a Little Politicks
Poor Princess Caroline. She had no way to know how much Mrs. Fitzherbert meant to Prince George.
In June of 1800, Mrs. Fitzherbert held a formal dinner for the Prince to let society know that the two were an item again. It was to be a quiet, low-key affair, only four hundred of their very closest friends. The Times reported, “Our fashionable dames continue to endeavor to outvie each other in the expense, style or peculiarity of their entertainments. In the gardens (presumably of Carlton House) three marquees were erected for the accommodation of the company who met about two o’clock and dined at seven The entertainment did not conclude till past five o’clock yesterday morning.”
Mrs. Fitzherbert was back.
Said one historian; “Mrs. Fitzherbert settled down to what she described to Lord Storton as the happiest years of her connection with the Prince. They were, “extremely poor, but happy as crickets.” They spent the greater part of their time in each other’s company, visiting the country estates of their friends for long periods. They were nearly always together in London where the Prince would remain with her most of the evening until midnight when he returned to Carlton House.”
There are several interesting points in that quote. One Mrs. Fitzherbert’s characterization of the Prince and herself as “extremely poor.” Quite obviously, Maria Fitzherbert had never been exposed to real poverty. Extremely poor people did not spend “long periods of time” visiting the country estates of their friends.
Another point, the Prince went home to Carlton House at midnight. It would seem that Mrs. Fitzherbert was not ready to assume the full role of “wife.” Indeed, she told Lady Anne Lindsey, “All that was boyish and troublesome before is now respectful and considerate…we live like brother and sister. I find no resentment though plenty of regret that I will have it on this footing and no other, but he must conform to my stipulations or I will have nothing to say to him. I did not consent to make it up with the Prince to live with him either as his wife or his mistress.”
Given that statement, why did she deem it of the utmost importance to re-affirm the validity of the marriage as far as the Catholic Church was concerned? Of course, she knew full well that by the laws of England, she and the Prince were not married and never had been. She traveled to Wales to avoid the Prince and stayed there until she got word from Rome that the marriage was valid. THEN she returned to the Prince. Why bother with all that if she never intended to be anything but pals with him? Hmmmmmmm…
Now that Mrs. Fitzherbert was back in his arms, if not quite his bed, maybe, the Prince could concentrate on other matters. He continued to badger the King about becoming a general. To no avail. He had another go-around with the Duke of York. This time it was the Dukes treatment of brother Edward, the now Duke of Kent. After Edward’s recall from Gibraltar, where he had been most unprofessional, the Prince tried to defend him.
The Duke would have none of it. Edward’s actions were a disgrace. His conduct “from first to last as marked by cruelty and oppression.” Another reason for the Duke and the Prince to continue avoiding each other. The Prince felt that he wasn’t getting his way on ANY issue. Then he came up with an idea. It would be sort of a conciliation prize for not becoming a general.
Early in 1797, the Prince began aggressively floating the idea of becoming Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The Prince. In charge of Ireland. The mind boggles. The King did not see fit to publicly comment on his boy’s latest hare-brained scheme. Privately, however, he blew it out of the water.
His attempt at justifying his existence did have one long-term effect. It made him realize that he needed to re-establish his political ties with the Whig party, Mrs. Fitzherbert notwithstanding. As unpopular as he was, he would one day be king. And, if the Whigs hoped for a seat at the table, they had better be on his good side when he became Regent, which was bound to happen soon.
The Prince set about mending fences by throwing lavish dinner parties for Whig nabobs at Carlton House. Said one historian; “Some of these dinners went on until four o’clock in the morning with the Prince’s oratorical powers declining with each bottle of wine consumed.” It was well that he moved to be conciliatory with the Whigs at this time. Two events took place in early 1801 to potentially place His Highness in the catbird seat.
– Mr. Al
<em> By George! Is a regular guest post in which Mr. Al shares his view on the life and times of George the Fourth. For previous installments of this series, click on “History with Mr. Al”, “George IV; childhood”, or “George IV; pre-regency.”
Bike Path
There’s a bike path running along I 93 from Lolo to Frenchtown. It impresses the heck out of me. It’s only a dozen miles, but there aren’t many houses or businesses along the way, yet I frequently see people running, cycling, or walking along it. They hardly ever come equipped, not even a water bottle in hand. My first thought is always, “Don’t they get thirsty?”
The thing is I keep looking at this path and thinking I’d like to ride on it someday. I, of course, would come packed with enough water and snacks and sweaters, and sunscreen, etc for the whole family.
Would you ride on this path? Would you come equipped, or just go?
NEW STOCK MARKET TERMS
I got this joke in the email today and simply had to share. I’m assuming you all know what horrible things are going on in the stock market right now. If you don’t, I’ll be glad to bend your ear.
CEO –Chief Embezzlement Officer.
CFO– Corporate Fraud Officer.
BULL MARKET — A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.
BEAR MARKET — A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.
VALUE INVESTING — The art of buying low and selling lower.
P/E RATIO — The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
BROKER — What my broker has made me.
STANDARD & POOR — Your life in a nutshell.
STOCK ANALYST — Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
STOCK SPLIT — When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
FINANCIAL PLANNER — A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
MARKET CORRECTION — The day after you buy stocks.
CASH FLOW– The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
YAHOO — What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.
WINDOWS — What you jump out of when you’re the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR — Past year investor who’s now locked up in a nuthouse.
PROFIT — An archaic word no longer in use.
Future Farmers of America
The FFA has a deal going with Campbell’s Soup. It’s one of those quick and easy donations things – just click on the barn.
http://www.helpgrowyoursoup.com/
I have a soft stop for FFA, even though I never did anything directly with them. Anyway, check it out.
Move Your Lazy Butt
Jill: What do you think you’re doing?
Jack: Relaxing. I had a long day at work.
Jill: So did I, but I’ve done the dishes, started the laundry, cooked supper, and walked the dog. You promised a week ago you would get the air conditioner out of the window. When are you going to do it?
Jack: but….
Jill: It has to be done before your family comes next week.
Jack: But the game’s on. Give me a break.
Jill: Break time is over. Go do it now or you can sleep on the couch!
Jack: *grumble, grumble, grumble* (Gets up and goes to deal with the air conditioner)
Jill: Aaaaaaahhhh. Much better.
Today’s theme is lazy
Previously in Jack and Jill Oh, Yeah?
saturday photo scavenger hunt
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Suzie’s House 88: Man to Man
This starts where last week ended
Ben yanked the drawer open, then dropped the recipe file into it. The wood of the file clunked against the drawer pretty loud, but he didn’t care. So what if it dented or chipped or something? It’s not like it would make Mom love him any less than she already didn’t. Or did. Or whatever.
He thought when she came for him that it meant she loved him. Or at least that she loved who she thought he was. He was pretty sure she wasn’t going to love who he was now.
But it wasn’t her who wanted him back. It was Drew.
Except maybe he misunderstood the bit back in the hall where Drew said, “Remember our agreement? You bring him back, but you don’t let him get in the way.”
Ben shook his head. Didn’t matter how he diced it, that comment gave him a bad feeling.
He could feel someone walk into the office even before he turned, but maybe that was ‘cause he’d expected it. Angry words rushed up from his gut, ready to come out as he faced the door. “Mom….” It all turned into nothing. “Oh. Hi, Drew.”
“You and I have a few things to talk about.” He closed the door.
Suddenly the little office, even with all those windows around the front, felt too small. When Drew crossed his arms and leaned against the door, Ben could hardly breathe.
“What… what do you want to talk about?” Stupid question. He wanted to talk about what a brat Ben had become. Or maybe about sending him back to Dad.
Ben shivered in spit of himself. He didn’t want to go back to Dad. Although… there were worse things.
“I want to talk about your mother and me.”
“Yeah, your… together. I get that.” And he didn’t like it at all.
He caught himself sneering, and looked away, but it was too late. Drew had seen it. Ben knew because he saw the flash in Drew’s eyes, but Drew didn’t say or do anything about it.
“Yes. We’re together. Do you have a problem with it?”
Yeah, Ben had a problem with it! It was because of Drew, because she wanted to get with him, that Mom sent Ben away! But he wasn’t going to say that. He shook his head like he had no problem. Maybe Drew would believe him.
“I would if I were you,” Drew said.
Oh, man. Why did Drew have to be someone Ben liked? It made hating him real uncomfortable.
“There’s the deal.” Drew bumped off the wall and came over to Ben. “Nothing you do is going to change anything. You aren’t going to drive me away. You aren’t going to keep your mother from me. And we aren’t going to let you go. The only thing you can do is make everyone miserable.”
“What if that’s what I want?” Ben challenged. He didn’t really want anyone to be miserable, but he wasn’t going to back down. They wouldn’t kick him out again? He stomped all over a growing sense of hope. It was a grown up’s promise, and everyone knew what those were worth.
“Then we’ll all be miserable.” Drew leaned against the desk. “There are a couple of things I think you ought to know. Maybe you do already, and maybe you don’t. Bear with me if you already know. First, you know that I’m the reason you’re back.”
Ben nodded.
“Here’s the deal she and I made. I let her help me catch the guys that tried to kidnap you… remember that day you followed me into the neighbor’s house?”
Ben nodded. How could he ever forget? He watched Drew shoot the two red haired men as they came running down the staircase, but it didn’t even slow them down. They barreled past Drew. One of them, one Ben knew from before, grabbed Ben as they ran past. If it weren’t for Drew, who knows what the men would have done to him.
“She was afraid to let you stay here because she thinks I can’t protect you, and those men are after at least Vin and I, and maybe the rest of us as well.”
Ben nodded, though he still didn’t see why she had to send him away.
“I think there may be more to it than simply keeping you safe though…” Drew got a far away look. His brow wrinkled. Ben wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Regardless, she never WANTED you to go away, and missed you every day.”
“If that’s so, then why didn’t she come to school…”
“Where she was no longer welcome because of some argument with one of your teachers?”
“Oh.”
“I agreed to let her help catch those men, but only if she brought you back into the house.”
“Why? Why did you do that? I’m only under foot.”
“That’s true, but she wouldn’t be as happy without you.. It was killing her not having you here. She was taking risks she shouldn’t have. I think my demand that she bring you back might have been as much an excuse as anything. You know how stubborn she can be.”
Ben nodded heartfelt agreement. He sure did know.
“The other part of our agreement is that she won’t let you get between us. It doesn’t matter how much more she loves you than she will ever love me, you can’t drive me away.” There was warning in Drew’s eye.
Ben tried not to shiver. Drew could be pretty scary when he wanted to.
“So.” Drew put a heavy hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Are we clear?”
Ben nodded enthusiastically.
“Good. You should tell your mother you forgive her. She’s hurting badly right now.”
Ben nodded agreement. And he would say something to his mother, something to make her feel better. But he wasn’t ever going to forgive her.
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Thursday Thirteen 48:What He Said
These are the last thirteen words out of my husband’s mouth as of a minute ago:
1. Now
2. that
3. (the boy)
4. is
5. home
6. maybe
7. I
8. can
9. turn
10. my
11. cell
12. phone
13. off.
This from the man who used to make fun of people who went around with cell phones. Changing his tune? Nah.
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By George! But Honey, I Always Loved You Best
Prince George never stayed true in his affections for very long, with one notable exception. And even then…
In June 1799, the Prince overcame his delicate feelings about a woman of rank being booted to the curb and booted Lady Jersey to the curb from Jack Payne’s old crib next to Carlton House. To make sure she got the point, he fired her geriatric husband from his job as the Prince’s Master of the Horse. A job in name only since he was rarely paid for it.
After that, Lady Jersey pursued him. He avoided her. She pursued some more. He sent “trusted emissaries” to her with messages that ran along the lines of, “Would you, for the love of God, leave me the hell alone!” Or words to that effect. Eventually, Lady Jersey did back off, but only so far. She accepted that she would never hold the same position in the Prince’s life that she had previously, BUT…Because of the way he treated her, the Prince had made a new and very dangerous enemy. But that, gentle reader, is a story…for another time.
What concerns us now is the Prince’s renewed fixation with Mrs. Fitzherbert. He tried to get the ball rolling with the usual epistolary broadsides. At this point, Mrs. Fitzherbert was back in England, if she had ever left, and the Prince knew where to find her. He did not do so personally because of his other girl problems at the time. Not to mention that Mrs. Fitzherbert had no desire to see him.
“The link, once broken could never be rejoined.” She told Prince Ernest. Even if she agreed to get together, she knew the Prince well enough to know that they would both be fighting like wet cats in a sack within a fortnight. Besides, there was A: His new wife; Whom she had a low opinion of, but that wasn’t the point. And, B through Z, Lady Jersey. Whom she had an even lower opinion of, but that was neither here nor there as long as His Royal Boyfriendness was shagging her.
