William Godwin's Diary

Events

The Prince of Wales and his two brothers negotiated a £300,000 loan from the Dutch, mortgaging the Duchy of Courland and the bishopric of Osnaburgh. From Godwin's entry, it appears that the Duke of Portland (1738-1809) and William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, second Earl Fitzwilliam (1748-1833) were believed to have stood as securities for the loan, indicating the prince's strong ties to the whig opposition.