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 CAROLINE OF BRUNSWICK. 519 formed on their arrival that this could not be permitted, "Either my mother or no one," was her spirited reply; so the presenta- tion did not take place. After this their meetings were more vigilantly interdicted than ever. The death of the Duchess of Brunswick, however, a circumstance painfully affecting to both Caroline and her daughter, led to a meeting which was this time at the suggestion of the Regent himself. Not long after, the Prince of Orange visited the English court, as suitor for the hand of the fair heiress of the British crown. That a match so much desired by all parties should have met with no favor in the eyes of the one to whom it was most important, was a mat- ter of great surprise, and it is generally thought that in this ma- terial point, the judgment of the young princess was guided by her mother, who certainly was opposed to the match. It was about this period that thePrincess Charlotte suddenly took the romantic resolution of quitting Carlton House, where she was residing with her father, fearing that some coercive measures were intended towards herself. In a common hackney coach she escaped to Connaught Place, her mother's residence, who, learning what had happened, came hastily to town from Black- heath and a most affecting interview took place which was fol- lowed by the Princess Charlotte's return to Carlton House, with her father's messenger, the Duke of York. The visit of Caroline to the Continent took place in the year 1814, having obtained permission to return in the first instance to Brunswick, and after that to visit the countries of Italy and Greece, where she purposed making some stay, provided an agreeable abode could be procured for her accommodation. Fifty thousand pounds per annum were voted to the princess by par- liament, of which, however, she could only be persuaded to ac- cept thirty-five thousand. During her residence abroad, Caroline was informed of the marriage of her daughter with the Prince Leopold of Saxe Co- burg, and she was also not many months after destined to re- ceive the mournful tidings of the death of that beloved and affectionate child. In this loss, not only her own private effec- tions, but the hopes of the nation were blighted. It is impossible to particularize in this limited narrative the circumstances of Caroline's continental tour, during which she visited most of the celebrated cities in Europe and Asia and ex- tended her travels as far as the Holy Land. Hers, as we have already said, was an inquiring mind, and every fresh scene af- forded food for contemplation. In 1820 she was recalled to