best judges of his situation; and it was remarkable that Dr. Warren and sir George Baker were the least confident of a cure, and the other doctors had much greater hopes; but Dr. Willis, who at tended his Majesty more than any of the others, was more sanguine than them all. Sir Lucas Pepys stated circumstances which did not amount to a certainty of a cure, but which proved an abatement of his Majesty's disorder. Dr. Willis was of opinion that all the symptoms since the time of the last examination, were more favourable. In a word, all the physicians agreed in the probability of his Majesty's recovery, and that the length of the time had made no unfavourable changes: those, too, who understood the disorder best, thought it more favourable.

if an impropriety of transaction like that was imputed, he would not believe it till it was distinctly ventural to be said, and when he used the term venture, he did not mean to use it with regard to the exalted station of the person in question, but with regard to the transaction itself; nor did he (he repeated it) believe that any man would venture to charge blame of any kind on the respectable personage in question, who had lived for almost thirty years in this country without traduction, a pattern of the most unexampled affection, domestic tenderness and virtue; against whom the breath of calumny had not dared to send forth even a whisper; and who could not merit it at a moment, when visited by a calamity which rarely befals a private person, but which surely was not a little aggravated when it becomes the lot of the family of a person in so exalted a rank as the sovereign of the country. As to the fact itself, it appeared that Dr. Warren allowed that apparent circumstances of an amendment began to appear; and there was, in consequence, a wish on the part of her Majesty that the report might be such as should give the public the most favourable account of his Majesty's health; but would any man prove that any undue influence had been used for that purpose? Mr. Pitt explained in what manner the words" a comfortable way," had been introduced into the report, and then spoke of Dr. Willis, declaring that he was known in the country where he lived, by his character, and by the happiness which he had been the means of giving to the numerous families who were bound to bless him for the good effects of his skill. He mentioned another physician whose character was likewise high, but declared that if he wished to draw a true conclusion of his Majesty's state of health, and prospect of recovery he would wish to draw it from Dr. Willis more than from any other physician.

For his own part, he wished not to go at length in to the particulars of the last report, on which the Committee might safely rely, as there were those on the Committee who were anxious to sift, with the most scrupulous accuracy, every point likely to prove his Majesty's recovery. There had been those who gave no considerable degree of credit to Dr. Willis; if, therefore, any observations should arise from them, he conceived that they would be made in the same spirit, and with the same ability, as when they were urged in the Committee above stairs. Upon this occasion, he felt it but common justice to commend the skill, integrity, and good sense of Dr. Willis, which were evinced under a severe cross-examination, calculated to puzzle simplicity, and leave the coolness which should, of necessity, accompany the delivery of evidence, too unguarded. However it might suit with the political intrigue of the times, or be convenient to circulate them at present in London and its environs, he would not anticipate the remarks which might be made; but, if there were any, such remarks to be advanced, he desired, if they chose to discuss the credit of either this or that physician, At length, Mr. Pitt adverted to the that they might understand the nature of situation for which they were to provide, the imputation. In the course of the and this situation was no less than the cesinquiry above stairs, a circumstance had sation of the personal exercise of the roycome out, over which he would not draw al authority: a deficiency for which no a veil of delicacy, as he was not ashamed previous provision had been made. As to bring it forward. If it be stated to the cause of deficiency, he had every reathe discredit of any physician, that he had son to think, would prove but temporary, submitted to be unduly influenced by a they must deliberately consider what were great personage, let the committee know the cases for which they were to apply a to what physician the imputation of having remedy. The first object for which they consented to give an untrue account of had to provide, was to secure the estathe state of his Majesty's health applied:blishment of a government in the country,

vest all the powers in one person? He laid particular stress on the Regency bill in the reign of George 2, and observed, that there appeared at that time to have been a wish on both sides of the House to doubt what confidence should be placed in the regent. They were afraid of making a precedent, and therefore they gave the royal powers among many, appointing a council, without whose consent the regent could take no important step whatever. The will of the predecessor was, by one of the bills, to be the system followed, while the heir apparent continued a minor;-a principle which he owned he thought went too far, although it was a plausible principle, and was apparently most applicable to the present case. After reasoning upon the three different precedents, and touching upon the short protectorate of Richard 3, and the other protectorates or guardianships in the early periods of our history, and endeavouring to demonstrate by argument, that as, in no preceding instance, all the powers of royalty were given to one person, so, in the present instance, which certainly differed most essentially, they ought not to be, nor could they be, trusted in the hands of one person, without proving a hazardous, and, possibly, a pre

equal to its safety and the dispatch of public business. Out of the nature of such a provision another duty arose, of equal importance to the other: and this was, to take care that the measure embraced did not go beyond the necessity of the case. The Committee were to provide powers for the exercise of the government, and they must take care to place those powers in proper hands; but, above all things, to recollect that they were not placing a king on the throne. They were to remember that the throne was full, that no right any where existed to exercise the royal authority, but that which was conferred by that House; they were to take care to provide against any embarrassment in the resumption of the regal authority, whenever God, in his providence, should permit the rightful holder again to exercise it. They were to provide only for the necessity of the case, and not to exceed it; and therefore the measures which he should propose, would be to invest his royal highness the Prince of Wales with the whole royal authority, to be exercised in the name, and on the behalf of his Majesty, under such limitations and restrictions only as should be provided. The principle was not new, although the circumstances of the case happened to be unpre-judicial experiment, he declared that he cedented. No man would say, that the same power which the principle exercised ought to be given to the delegate; and if the House referred to precedents, they would find that no one instance could be met with of the whole of the royal prerogatives having been so delegated. On the contrary every precedent which bore the smallest analogy to the present situation, evinced the direct contrary, and that doubtless, with a view to facilitate and insure the resignation of the delegate, when the principle should be competent to exercise or to resume his authority. Referring them to the Act of Queen Anne (the Act of Succession), the Regency Act of George 2, and the Regency Act of the present King, Mr. Pitt added, let them look to the case of a sovereign disabled by infancy. Was the regent of the country invested with full and unlimited power to exercise the royal authority? Undoubtedly not. In the three regency bills in the statute books to which he adverted, were there not limitations? There were in every one. All the powers might be given, but then they were not given to one person. What was the principle in a case of minority? It was thought unsafe to

would give his vote for investing the Regent with all the powers which are necessary, but would not agree to give any which were not requisite to carry on the government of the country with energy and effect.

Mr. Pitt now observed, that he need not trouble the House with his first reso lution, as he had already stated its substance and effect. The second resolution (which he read) was, to restrain the Regent from exercising one branch of the prerogative peculiarly inherent in the Crown, and this was, the power of granting peerages, excepting to his Majesty's sons, being twenty-one years of age. This restriction he thought necessary, as the Regent ought not to confer any grant which might produce difficulties and embarrassments, when the happy hour of his Majesty's restoration to his health should arrive. The object of investing the Crown with the power of creating peers was, to enable the Sovereign to distribute rewards to eminent merit, and to give the Crown the means of choosing persons who should add to the number of one of the branches of the legislature. The creation of peers was one of those powers which belonged

explanation of it. The fourth resolution | subjects had taken advantage of his morestrained the Regent from exercising mentary absence of mind, and changed any power over the personal property of them, he flattered himself that no gentlethe King. Mr. Pitt on this occasion ob- man would object to such a mark of atserved, that he scarcely thought it neces- tention being paid to his Majesty. The sary to pass this resolution, as it was not Regent, indeed, was different from the probable that his Royal Highness would King; but at the same time the Regent interfere with his Majesty's personal pro- ought to have a retinue adequate to the perty in his life time; but, as they were importance and the high rank of his staacting upon parliamentary principles, he tion; and he meant to propose that he thought it his duty to submit it to the should have such a retinue, which would Committee. The last resolution would unquestionably be some increase of exbe for entrusting the care of the royal pense to the country; but, as it was unaperson, during his Majesty's illness, where voidably necessary to appoint a regent, it of course all men would be unanimous in was equally necessary to maintain the digagreeing that the royal person ought to nity of the character, and gentlemen would be placed in the guardianship of the not, he conceived, grudge a little expense Queen; and, with this trust, his intention on such an occasion. He recurred again was, to propose to put the whole of his to the power to be lodged in the hands of Majesty's household under the authority the Queen, and urged the necessity of of her Majesty, investing her with full considering the rank of the King, the powers to dismiss and appoint, as she rank of the Prince of Wales, and the rank should think proper. Without being in- of the Queen, who was consort of the sovested with this control, he imagined that vereign, and mother of the Regent. It the Queen could not discharge the impor- was not to be supposed, therefore, that tant trust committed to her care. He the influence arising from the patronage spoke of the officers of high rank in the holden by the Queen, would operate to household, who, though their places might the detriment of the Regent's governjustly draw forth the ambition of men of ment; and surely to conceive as much, the first rank and family in the kingdom, would be equally indecent and improper. were nevertheless only the first menial Mr. Pitt then handed his Resolutions to servants of his Majesty, and actually ne- the Chairman. They were as follow: cessary to direct and superintend the greater part of his Majesty's household. He stated that these officers, such as the Master of the Horse, Lord Chamberlain, Lord Steward, and others, were, by many, thought high officers of state; but the fact was otherwise; they were the menial servants of the Crown, and essential to its dignity and splendor. He argued against new-modelling the royal household, under the present circumstances, and spoke of the anxiety and pain which he conceived it must give his Majesty, to find all those whom he had chosen to be about his royal person discharged. Possibly, his Majesty's illness might continue but a few months, perhaps a few weeks; and, in such a situation, would it, he asked, be delicate and respectful to make a change? Those who were lords of the bed-chamber, he admitted, did no great duty at present, but the equerries were employed. He owned, that this part of the arrangement was a matter of some difficulty; but when he considered what his Majesty would feel, when he waked from his trance of reason, and asked for those attendants, and was told that his [VOL. XXVII.]

1. "That it is the opinion of this Committee, that for the purpose of providing for the exercise of the royal authority, during the continuance of his Majesty's illness, in such manner, and to such extent, as the present circumstances and the urgent concerns of the nation, appear to require, it is expedient that his royal highness the Prince of Wales, being resident within the realm, shall be empowered to exercise and administer the royal authority, according to the laws and constitution of Great Britain, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, under the style and title of Regent of the kingdom, and to use, execute, and perform, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, all authorities, prerogatives, acts of government, and administration of the same, which belong to the King of this realm, to use, execute, and perform, according to the laws thereof, subject to such limitations and exceptions as shall be provided.

2. "That the power so to be given to his royal highness the Prince of Wales shall not extend to the granting of any rank or dignity of the peerage of the realm to any person whatever, except to [3 P]