The first, and graceful, feeling of the Monarch, that he was bound to make a public expression of his thanks to Heaven, for his recovery, caused his ministers and friends, and particularly the Queen, much embarrassment. They were afraid of the excitement and its probable consequences. But George III. was now in the condition once noticed by Hunter, the surgeon, in himself. "My mind," said the latter, "is still inclined to odd thoughts, and I am tempted to talk foolishly; but I can govern myself." The King was in better health than is here indicated, and he bore himself throughout the day-the 25th June, 1789 as became a grateful man, abounding in piety, and not dispossessed of wisdom. The disgraceful rivalry of his eldest son had almost marred the day. The followers of the latter were posted along the first part of the route between the palace and St. Paul's, and their cheers, associated with his name, put him in high good humour, which was however converted into as high displeasure, when the running fire of cheers between Charing Cross and the cathedral was raised only in honour of his father. His conduct, and indeed that of his brothers York and Cumberland, as also of their cousin the Duke of Gloucester, in the cathedral, during service, disgusted all who witnessed it. They talked aloud to one another during the whole otherwise solemn proceeding; and it is only to be regretted that no man was present, with courage equal to his authority, to sternly reprove, or summarily remove, them.

The scene at St. Paul's, as regarded the King himself, was at once magnificent and touching. The internal arrangements were excellent, and the King was composed and devout throughout the service; attentive to the latter, and especially to the anthem, which he had himself selected. His air of sincerity and gratitude was most marked. The Queen was much affected at the solemnity of their first entrance; and the King, who looked reduced, scarcely less so. Lady Uxbridge, who was in attendance on the Queen, nearly fainted away. "As the King went out of the church," writes Mr. Bernard to the Marquis of Rockingham, "he seemed to

be in good spirits, and talked much to the persons about him; but he stared and laughed less than I ever knew him on a public occasion." Mr. Fox and most of the opposition party were there; and while the Queen returned thanks for the King's recovery, as she looked upon the sons near her, who interrupted the solemnity of the scene by their talking, she might have felt that she had other things to be thankful for also. She must have known, by the conduct of the Prince of Wales, that had the King's illness lasted much longer, he would have accepted the invitation of the Irish parliament, and assumed a regency in Ireland, with sovereign power. He would have accomplished then what O'Connell, so long after, failed in achieving-a government altogether independent of, and in antagonism with, England.

After the return of the procession, the Prince of Wales and Duke of York entered Carlton House, where having put on regimentals, they proceeded to the ground in front of Buckingham House, at the windows of which the royal family had stationed themselves, the King and Queen being most prominent; and there, heading the whole brigade of guards, fired a feu-de-joie in honour of the occasion. The grave Lord Bulkeley, a spectator of the scene, thus describes the remainder of the proceedings: "The Prince, before the King got into his carriage-which the whole line waited for, before they filed offwent off on a sudden with one hundred of the common people, with Mr. Wattier in the middle of them, huzzaing him; and this was done evidently to lead if possible a greater number, and to make it penetrate into Buckingham House. The breach," adds Lord Bulkeley, "is so very wide between the King and Prince, that it seems to me to be a great weakness to allow him any communication with him whatever; for under the mask of attention to their father and mother, the Prince and Duke of York commit every possible outrage, and show every insult they can devise, to them. . . . I believe the King's mind is torn to pieces by his sons," adds the noble lord. And then, in allusion to the King's expressed desire to visit Hanover, the writer remarks thereon: "He expects to relieve

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himself by a new scene, and by getting out of the way and hearing of the Prince of Wales, with the hope of being able to detach the Duke of York, whom he fondly and doatingly loves, and prevailing on him to marry on the continent; of which there is no chance, for in my opinion he is just as bad as the Prince, and gives no hopes of any change or amendment whatever, in thought, word, or deed."

A very short time after the King's recovery, the first remark made by the sufferer, on growing convalescent, to Lord Thurlow, was-"What has happened may happen again. For God's sake! make some permanent and immediate provision for such a regency as may prevent the country from being involved in disputes and difficulties similar to those just over." Thurlow and Pitt agreed on the expediency of the measure, but were at issue relative to the details. When the measure did come before parliament, Queen Charlotte was equally indignant against the Prince of Wales and against those who advocated his claims. It may be added here that the conduct of her three eldest sons continued to be of the most insulting nature to the Queen. They could not forgive her for allegedly standing between them and the power which they coveted. From congratulatory balls, at which she had announced her intention to be present, they kept away all persons over whom they had any influence; and at a ball given by the French ambassador on the 30th May, the Prince of Wales and the Dukes of York and Clarence would neither dance nor remain to supper, lest they should have the appearance of paying the smallest attention to her Majesty, who was present.

The assertion of the Prince of Wales that his royal father would approve of what he had done, and censure Pitt, proved to be totally unfounded. The King conveyed to the parliament, through the lord chancellor, his approval of the measures taken by ministers, and expressed his gratitude that so much zeal had been manifested by them and parliament for the public good, and for the honour and interest of the crown. Following this came a sweep of all who held removable offices under the crown, and who had opposed the Queen's interests and the King's

Among the

cause, by supporting the views of the Prince. ejected were the Duke of Queensberry, the Marquis of Lothian, Lord Carteret, and Lord Malmesbury.

Mr. Wright, in his "History of England under the House of Hanover, illustrated from the caricatures and satires of the day," states that the popularity of the ministers did not increase in the same proportion as that of the King; for the reason that though the people approved of the constitutional measures they had adopted at the late crisis, the same people very well knew that they were as little impelled by patriotism. as their adversaries. Mr. Wright notices" a rather celebrated caricature," by Gillray, entitled "Minions of the Moon," published a little later. It is dated the 23rd December, 1791, but is generally understood to refer to this affair. It is a parody on Fuseli's picture of "The Weird Sisters," who are represented with the features of Dundas, Pitt, and Thurlow. They are contemplating the disk of the moon, which represents, on the bright side, the face of the Queen, and on the shrouded side that of the King, now overcast with mental darkness. The three minions are evidently directing their devotions to the brighter side.

CHAPTER IX.

ROYALTY UNDER VARIOUS PHASES.

Bishop Watson, a partisan of the Prince-The bishop's reception by the Queen-The Prince's patronage of the bishop-Bishop Watson's views on the Regency-Laid on the shelf—The Prince and the bishop's "Apology" -Ball given on the King's recovery by Brookes's Club; Mrs. Siddons, as Britannia-The Queen's drawing-room on the occasion-Mrs. Siddons's readings at Buckingham-house-Gay life of the Duke of York-Popularity of the Duke of Clarence - His boundless hospitality at the Admiralty-Duel between the Duke of York and Colonel LennoxLittleness of spirit of the Princes-Royal visit to Lulworth CastleAssault on the King-Caricatures of the day-Marriage of the Duke of York-Ceremonious royal visit to the young couple-Caricatures of the Duchess of York-Unhappy in her marriage-The Duchess and Monk Lewis-Alleged avarice of the King and Queen-Dr. Johnson's opinion of the King-Etiquette at Court-The sailor Prince "too far gone" for a minuet-The Royal family at Cheltenham-The mayor and the master of the ceremonies- -Questionable taste of the Queen in regard to the drama-Moral degradation of England during the reign of the two first Georges - Mrs. Hannah More's ideas on morality; and Rev. Sidney Smith's witty remark on it—A delicate hint by the Queen to Lady Charlotte Campbell-The Prince's pecuniary difficulties-The Prince and affairs of the heart-Mésalliance of the Duke of Sussex.

AMONG the few bishops who took the "unrestricted" side, on the Regency Bill, Bishop Watson of Llandaff was the most active. No doubt his activity was founded on conscientiousness, for many able men of the period were to be found, who were by no means violent partisans, yet who were ready to maintain that, according to the constitutional law, the right of exercising the power of regent, in the case of incapacity on the part of the reigning sovereign, rested in the next heir, the Prince of Wales. There is as little doubt as to the Queen's having looked with considerable disfavour on all who held such sentiments. Among those who did, was, as I have said, the