Kentucky Gazette

The Queen's Trial.

The Hon. K. Craven, examined by Mr. Denman—In 1814 I was in the service of her royal highness, as one of her Chamberlains. In that year I joined her royal highness at Brunn, and accompanied her to Milan and Naples; I was to continue with her as long as my affairs would allow; I was with her six months, and quitted her at Naples. I recollect a courier being discharged at Milan for misconduct, and I applied to the marquis Gezillicari to recommend a person, and he recommended Bergami as a person fit to be trusted as a servant of her royal highness. He recommended him very strongly, and said, his family were respectable. He had known him a great while, and was interested for him.

Did you observe any impropriety of conduct between Bergami and her royal highness, between the time of their being at Milan and your leaving them there? Never— Did you dine at table with her royal highness where Bergami was present? Frequently—On any of these occasions did you observe any thing improper? Never— Do you know the Countess of Oldi? I have seen her once—Is she a person of vulgar manner? No.

Had you any conversation with her Royal Highness before she arrived at Naples, on the subject of Wm. Austin? Yes, I think I told her Royal Highness it would be as well that Austin should no longer sleep in her room, as people might make observations. Do you know what age he was; was he six or seven? No; to my judgement he was 13 or 14.

Did you dine with her when she had company? Yes. Did you ever see Baron Ompteda? Yes, often. Did Theodore Majocchi wait at table? Yes, every day when there was company. From the death of his late Majesty did you attend her Majesty at Rome? I went to Rome and waited on her Majesty the day after.

Do you know if Baron Rhoden, the Bavarian Minister, was at Rome at this time? He was.

Cross examination by the Solicitor General. When did the conversation respecting Wm Austin take place?— Soon after he quitted Brunswick. It was a recommendation in prospective? It was. Where was it you saw the Countess of Oldi? At Pesaro: at dinner—.

You have mentioned sitting at table with Bergami three times; where was it?— Once at Rome and twice at Pesaro; the last time was at Rome, the day before her Majesty set out for England. You did not come to England with her? No.—

At the masked ball at Naples did you see Bergami. I did not; but I understood all the servants were there. Did you that evening go up to her Royal Highness's room. I did not. Can you say if for the purpose of going out to the masked ball, the first was taken off? No, the first we dined there. Did you come only for the purpose of dining? The person in waiting was there all day long. You have said something of the disposition of the rooms on the first night at Naples do you know what it was? I only know of my own and Sir W. Gell’s room—

Was there no circumstance which led you to know where Bergami slept that night? No. Did you never represent to Lady C. Lindsay, or to any other person that you had spoken to her Royal Highness as to what had been observed respecting her Royal Highness and Bergami on the terrace, in the garden at Naples? I did not to Lady C. Lindsay: but to a person at Naples I mentioned that I had spoken to her Royal Highness about it. What was it you saw and represented? I saw her Royal Highness walking in the garden, and Bergami near her.

I know there was a spy at Naples: I had information from England to that effect, and I felt it my duty to represent to her Royal Highness the necessity of preserving outward appearances. Was there any other person in the garden? There was, but I did not see them. Was the terrace contiguous to a cabinet communicating with Bergami's apartment? I cannot say; I was not in that part of the house. From whence did you see her Royal Highness? From a terrace on the opposite side of the house, from Lady E. Forbes's apartment. Where was Bergami? On the terrace level with her Royal Highness's terrace. Did you see her Royal Highness as long as she walked from one end of the terrace to the other. Was that the only time you saw them in the garden? Yes; the only time: How long was this after their arrival at Naples? I can't say exactly. it might be a fortnight or three weeks; but less than a month. Did her Royal Highness tell you who the other person in the garden was? No, she said they were workmen. and she took Bergami into the garden to speak to one of them. What were the workmen employed about. Were they, in point of fact, workmen in the garden? I don't know. From the terrace where you were could you not see to the extremity of the building, and the garden in front? I could not see below. Then if there were any they must have been below; but you saw none? No.

How long before her Royal Highness quitted Naples did you quit her service? Not till she quitted Naples. Do you remember Bergami coming into the room where you and Sir W. Gell were, not in his dress of a courier, but in a black dress? He never wore the dress of a courier at Naples. Do you recollect his coming into the room where you and Sir W. Gell were, and taking a chair? I do not. Were you ever at the Theatre San Carlos when her Royal Highness was there, and you were not of the party? Yes. Or at a masquerade: I never was at a masquerade but once when she was there. During the whole of the time you were at Naples Bergami waited at table? He waited at table every day. How many couriers were there at Naples? Not one. What was Hieronymus? He was a courier when travelling, but not any other time.

The next witness called was Sir Wm. Gell. Examined by Mr. Williams. Are you chamberlain to her Majesty? I am. How long have you been in her service? From about a month before she went abroad. You went to Brunswick with her? I did. And to Italy? I did.—

Do you remember a courier being discharged? I do; at Florence—Did you inquire for another? I did, I believe, but forget whether the Marquis first applied to me. Did you communicate to the Queen what was said of the person recommended? I believe I did. Who was the person recommended? It was Bergami. Were you employed by the Queen to make enquiries? I was. And did you report to the Queen the Marquis's account? I did, as far as saying he was a proper person. Did the Marquis ever mention Bergami in the presence of the Queen? He did. What recommendation did he give? He said he had known his family, who had fallen into distress; but was perfectly honest and trustworthy. He was above the office on which he was about to enter, but he hoped, if he conducted himself well, as he had no doubt he would, that he would be gradually advanced. Did you ever see the Marquis and Bergami meet— Yes. How was he treated? The Marquis was about his house, and in the uniform of a general officer. When about to depart, he took Bergami round the neck and kissed him twice on the cheek.— This was the common custom between gentlemen in that country. On her Majesty's approaching Naples, was she met by any one? Yes; by the king and queen. What sort of a house had been engaged for the Princess? It was a good house; but it was not large enough for the suite. Did the Queen call on her Royal Highness the next morning? She did, and invited her Royal Highness to a concert that night. Did her Royal Highness go? She did. How late did she stay? Till half past eleven. What was the state of her Royal Highness that evening? She was exceedingly tired with the length of the concert. Here did her Royal Highness go the following evening? To the Theatre San Carlos.— The Theatre was illuminated in consequence of the princess of Wales being there. The king and queen of Naples were present. The concert was late; I was standing behind her all night, it must have been twelve or half past twelve. I was very late at the time. How did her Royal Highness return home? In her own carriage, and in the usual state.

Do you remember a garden to her Royal Highness's house at Naples? I do.— Had any alteration been made in that garden, in transplanting trees, &c.— There had. Were workmen employed in that garden; and how long after your arrival did they continue at work? I cannot say. The counsel then proceeded to examine as to the bust given by her Royal Highness: and the witness represented her Royal Highness's dress as resembling that of Mr. Hope's Minerva, in the British Museum, with very long drapery—with nothing indecent about it. Her Royal Highness was placed on a pedestal; a door was suddenly opened, and discovered her Royal Highness standing two Neapolitan ladies of quality were standing, one on each side of her, dressed in a similar style.
Did you attend the Princess further than Naples? I did not; I had the gout very frequently, and had it often whilst at Naples. Did you see her Royal Highness under that time? Yes, several times—then did you next see her? On her return from her tour in Palestine: I missed her on the road, accompanied her to Rome, and went into waiting. How long did you then continue in waiting? As long as her majesty remained at Rome. Did any person of distinction wait on her Majesty on this occasion? I remember introducing several myself amongst them the Misses of the House of Bourbon and of Braganza— What year was this? It was on her majesty's return from Turkey. Were you in the year following, in attendance? I was, at the Villa Rufa and at the Villa Borghese. I continued with her in attendance, on this occasion, three months. Why did you not continue longer with her Royal Highness on this occasion? I was very lame, and her Royal Highness had it in contemplation to go to Como with the Prince of Saxe Meiningen and a large party. I was afterwards in attendance for a few days, when her Royal Highness, as Queen, passed through Rome. Did you then apply for passports? No— But I sent for post-horses, signed by the Secretary of State, which serves as a pass.

Had you frequent opportunities of seeing Bergami in the presence of her Royal Highness? Yes—Did you, on these occasions, observe any thing improper in the conduct of Bergami towards her majesty? Never, nothing to be expected. Was the Countess of Oldi in attendance during the time you were? At the Villa Borghese and thence months. Had you an opportunity of remarking on her manners? Yes; I generally sat next her at dinner. Was she a woman of low and vulgar manners? Certainly not. What was her appearance? She was very good looking, and a lady of respectable, modest manners. What was Bergami's conduct towards you when her Royal Highness was not present? Rather more respectful than necessary; he always required to be pressed to sit down. Is it an uncommon circumstance in Italy for men to go into ladies' bed rooms when they are in bed? It is very common practice. Were you ever in her Royal Highness's bed room? I was once; but I have been in other ladies' bed-rooms.

You have been in the East, Yes, Have you seen a Moorish dance used in that country? Yes; not only in the East, but in Spain. Will you describe it generally if you can do so? (a laugh.) ; The Lord Chancellor. Sir W. Gell has the gout.—Will you, Sir William, describe it in words? I believe every one has seen the Spanish boleros, so, in this dance sometimes the attitudes are those of defiance, and the performers run up to each other; at other times the attitudes are amorous. The dance prevails in the East in Spain—Whilst you were at Naples were the Nobility, English and Neapolitans in the habit of waiting on her Royal Highness? Yes,— Will you name some? The Marquis of St. Germain & Lady Holland, Lord & Lady Oxford, Lord and Lady Landaff Eliz. Forbes, and many others whom I do not remember.—Was it there, or at Genoa, that Lord Exmouth dined with her Royal Highness? I don't know,— When you were last at Rome Was Bergami received into the families of the Roman nobility? I don't know; I believe he did not go out.