impresses on her the necessity of greater care in her attire, on more constant and thorough ablution, more frequent changes of linen, the care of her teeth, and so on—­all of which admonitions she seems to have taken in excellent part, with demure promises of amendment, until he is impelled to write, “Princess Caroline improves very much on a closer acquaintance—­cheerful and loves laughing.  If she can get rid of her gossiping habit she will do very well.”

Thus a few months passed at the Brunswick Court.  The ceremonial of betrothal took place in December—­“Princess Caroline much affected, but replies distinctly and well”; the marriage-contract was signed, and finally on 28th March the Princess embarked for England on her journey to the unseen husband whose good-looks and splendour have filled her with such high expectations.  That she had not yet learnt discretion, in spite of all Malmesbury’s homilies, is proved by the fact that she spent the night on board in walking up and down the deck in the company of a handsome young naval officer, conduct which naturally gave cause for observation and suspicion in the affianced bride of the future King of England.

It was well, perhaps, that she had snatched these few hours of innocent pleasure:  for her first meeting with her future husband was well calculated to scatter all her rosy dreams.  Arrived at last at St James’s Palace, “I immediately notified the arrival to the King and Prince of Wales,” says Malmesbury; “the last came immediately.  I accordingly introduced the Princess Caroline to him.  She very properly attempted to kneel to him.  He raised her gracefully enough, and embraced her, said barely one word, turned round and retired to a distant part of the apartment, and calling to me said:  ’Harris, I am not well; pray get me a glass of brandy.’  I said, ’Sir, had you not better have a glass of water?’ Upon which he, much out of humour, said with an oath:  ’No; I will go directly to the Queen,’ and away he went.  The Princess, left during this short moment alone, was in a state of astonishment; and, on my joining her, said, ’Mon Dieu, is the Prince always like that?  I find him very fat, and not at all as handsome as his portrait.’”

Such was the Princess’s welcome to the arms of her handsome husband and to the Court over which she hoped to reign as Queen; nor did she receive much warmer hospitality from the Prince’s family.  The Queen, who had designed a very different bride for her eldest son, received her with scarcely disguised enmity, while the King, although, as he afterwards proved, kindly disposed towards her, treated her at first with an amiable indifference.  And certainly her attitude seems to have been calculated to create an unfavourable impression on her new relatives and on the Court generally.

At the banquet which followed her reception, Malmesbury says, “I was far from satisfied with the Princess’s behaviour.  It was flippant, rattling, affecting raillery and wit, and throwing out coarse, vulgar hints about Lady——­, who was present.  The Prince was evidently disgusted, and this unfortunate dinner fixed his dislike, which, when left to herself, the Princess had not the talent to remove; but by still observing the same giddy manners and attempts at cleverness and coarse sarcasm, increased it till it became positive hatred.”