In
the article of women, nevertheless, he is become more correct, since his
connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert, who is an honest and worthy woman:
he is even less crapulous than he was. He had a fine person, but it
is becoming coarse. He possesses good native common sense; is affable,
polite, and very good humored. Saying to my informant on another
occasion, 'your friend, such a one, dined with me yesterday, and I made
him damned drunk;' he replied, 'I am sorry for it; I had heard that your
royal highness had left off drinking;' the Prince laughed, tapped him on
the shoulder very good-naturedly, without saying a word, or ever after
showing any displeasure. The Duke of York, who was for some time
cried up as the prodigy of the family, is as profligate, and of less
understanding. To these particular traits, from a man of sense and
truth, it would be superfluous to add the general terms of praise or
blame, in which he is spoken of by other persons, in whose impartiality
and penetration, I have less confidence. A sample is better than a
description. For the peace of Europe, it is best that the King should
give such gleamings of recovery, as would prevent the regent or his
ministry from thinking themselves firm, and yet, that he should
not recover.
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