The plot was discovered, and the conspirators were speedily disposed of by the gallows or transportation, but nothing was done to relieve the suffering which had provoked the intended crime.  No new conspiracy was attempted, but in the course of the next ten years a silent revolution took place, which, as we shall see later, obtained for the people that fuller representation in Parliament which they had hitherto vainly attempted to get (S582).

572.  Queen Caroline.

While he was Prince of Wales, George IV had, contrary to law, privately married Mrs. Fitzherbert (1785),[1] a Roman Catholic lady of excellent character, and possessed of great beauty.  Ten years later, partly through royal compulsion and partly to get money to pay off some of his numerous debts, the Prince married his cousin, the Princess Caroline of Brunswick.  The union proved a source of unhappiness to both.  The Princess lacked both discretion and delicacy, and her husband, who disliked her from the first, was reckless and brutal toward her.

[1] By the Royal Marriage Act of 1772, no descendant of George II could make a legal marriage without the consent of the reigning sovereign, unless twenty-five years of age, and unless the marriage was not objected to by Parliament.

He separated from her in a year’s time, and as soon as she could, she withdrew to the Continent.  When he became King he excluded Queen Caroline’s name from the Prayer Book, and next applied to Parliament for a divorce on the ground of the Queen’s unfaithfulness to her marriage vows.

Henry Brougham, afterwards Lord Brougham, acted as the Queen’s counsel.  No sufficient evidence was brought against her, and the ministry declined to take further action.  It was decided, however, that she could not claim the honor of coronation, to which, as Queen Consort, she had a right sanctioned by custom but not secured by law.  When the King was crowned (1821), no place was provided for her.  By the advice of her counsel, she presented herself at the entrance of Westminster Abbey as the coronation ceremony was about to begin; but, by order of her husband, admission was refused, and she retired to die, heartbroken, a few days after.

573.  Three Great Reforms.

Seven years later (1828) the Duke of Wellington, a Tory (S479) in politics, became Prime Minister.  His sympathies in all matters of legislation were with the King, but he made a virtue of necessity, and for the time acted with those who demanded reform.  The Corporation Act (S472), which was originally passed in the reign of Charles II, and had for its object the exclusion of Dissenters (S472) from all town or corporate offices, was now repealed; henceforth a man might become a mayor, alderman, or town officer, without belonging to the Church of England.  At the same time the Test Act (S477), which had also been passed in Charles II’s reign to keep both Catholics and Dissenters out of government offices, whether civil or military, was repealed.  As a matter of fact “the teeth of both acts had long been drawn” by by an annual Indemnity Act (1727).[1]