“ The son of Charles III., he succeeded to the throne in 1788, having married at an early age his cousin, Maria Louisa of Parma, by whom he was entirely controlled. When Manuel Godoy, a handsome private in the body guards, became her lover, she contrived to make him the friend of her husband; and she succeeded so well that they lived together on the most intimate terms, the favorite of the queen becoming also the favorite of the king. He was always ready to confer new favors upon Godoy ”