By George! Heavy Weighs the Crown in Turbulent Times

In the later years of his life, George IV may have partied a little less hardy, but he still had an interest in some of his old pursuits.

It was very unfortunate that His Majesty seemed to be losing his grip when he did, although it must be said that he never lost it as completely as did his father. Demand for reforms had been growing since the days of his Regency. Catholic emancipation was on the front burner, in England as well as Ireland. The demand for the repeal of the Corn Laws had already degenerated into bloody rioting in cities and towns across England.

The Tory response was divided between that of the much better off Better Sorts, the lords and big landholders, they called for tightening the screws. Call out the army, hang the rioters, ship them off to Australia with all the other riff-raff. The other wing of the Tory Party saw reform as inevitable, the reforms were going to come about, so let’s make sure we remain at the table to get the best deal possible.

His Majesty was equally clear with his goals. He did not want to be bothered with any of it. Unfortunately, Lord Liverpool had suffered a stroke in February 1827. He didn’t die, but he was out of the game for good. The most effective buffer between His Majesty and the Real World was gone. Poor fellow. The real world was the last thing he needed to find camped on his doorstep.

He decided a trip to Brighton was in order. Alas, his troubles followed him like a shadow. A new Prime Minister HAD to be chosen. His Majesty HAD to do something. He did. He locked himself in his bedroom for fifteen days with a supply of liquid refreshments, seeing no one but servants and doctors. Thomas Creevey wrote; “Was there ever such a child or Bedlamite? Or were there ever such a set of lick spittles as his Ministers to endure such conduct?…He is a poor devil.”

There were a number of people who were considered for the job. Some of them even wanted it. The Duke of Wellington’s name came up. He begged to be excused. He was already Commander in Chief of the Army as well as Master General of the Ordnance. Having the head of the army take on the most powerful civilian office in the land…No. It had been done once before. The result was regrettable.

Sir Robert Peel’s name was raised. He was only thirty at the time, he did have a bit of experience, but P.M.? No. Oddly enough, the fellow The King hoped would take the job was George Canning. The very same George Canning who had been such a dear, dear friend to Princess Caroline.

Canning and the King had worked out their differences. Things were now just peachy between them. One of the things that took the rough edges off their relationship was Mr Canning’s solving a little problem that His Majesty was having with his girlfriend.

It seems that there was this fellow named Lord Ponsonby. His Lordship was described as being “very handsome” They always are when there is “boy trouble.” His Lordship was having it off with one Harriette Wilson, a woman with a keen eye for man-flesh. It would seem that Lady Conyngham had also fallen for His Lordship. Happens in the best of families.

Harriette Wilson had gotten her hands on some steamy letters from Lady C to Lord P; and being the enterprising miss that she was, she threatened to shop them around Fleet Street. His Majesty purchased the letters and destroyed them. Phew! That was a close one! Unfortunately, Lord Ponsonby, who had been on the island of Corfu during all this, decided to return to England.

In an ASTOUNDING coincidence, His Lordship was invited to a party that Lady Conyngham had also been invited to. Heavens, who could have known? The party was at Lady Jersey’s home. Lady C was re-acquainted with Lord P and…His Majesty had a problem.

Enter George Canning. The King thought Lord Ponsonby would be just the fellow to represent The Crown in Pago-Pago, or some such place. After confiding the facts in the matter, His Majesty asked Mr Canning to strain every sinew of government to find Lord P a posting. Mr Canning went to work right away. Even though Lord Ponsonby had “never in his life thought of adopting a diplomatic career,” he agreed to become Envoy Extraordinary in Buenos Aires. His Majesty “nearly swooned with gratitude.” Mme de Liven, who hated Canning, was convinced that Canning had done it for “Political objects.”

Well…DUH!

— Mr Al