jesty's Illness, should be committed to the Queen's most Excellent Majefty, together with the fole Direction of fuch Portion of His Majesty's Household, as fhall be deemed requifite and fuitable for the due Attendance on His Majesty's Sacred Perfon, and the Maintenance of His Royal Dignity; and that, for the better enabling Her Majefty to discharge this important Truft, it is alfo expedient, that a Council fhould be appointed to advise and affift Her Majefty, in the feveral Matters aforefaid, and with Power, from Time to Time, as they may fee Cause, to examine upon Oath the Phyficians and others, attending His Majefty's Perfon, touching the State, of His Majesty's Health, and all Matters relative thereto. ORDERED, That the Lord Prefident and the Lord Privy Seal do attend His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, with the feveral Refolutions agreed to by both Houses of Parliament, for the Purpose of fupplying the Defect of the perfonal Exercise of the Royal Authority during His Majefty's Illness, on the Part of the Lords; with Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Ryder, Mr. Robert Dundas, and the Mafter of the Rolls, appointed to attend His Royal Highness on the Part of the Commons. Die Veneris, 11° Januarij 1811. THE Lord Prefident reported, That he, and the Lord Privy Seal, had (according to Order) waited on His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, with the Refolutions of both Houses of Parliament; and that His Royal Highnefs was pleased to return the following Answer: My Lords and Gentlemen, I RECEIVE the Communication which the Two Houses have directed you to make to me of their joint Refolutions on the Subject of providing for "The Exercife of the Royal Authority during His Majefty's Illness," with thofe Sentiments of Regard which I must ever entertain for the united Defires of the Two Houses. With the fame Sentiments I received the expreffed "Hopes of the Lords and Commons, that, from my Regard for the Intereft of His Majefty and the "Nation, I fhould be ready to undertake the weighty "and important Truft propofed to be invested in me," under the Restrictions and Limitations ftated in those Resolutions. 66 Confcious that every Feeling of my Heart would have prompted me, from dutiful Affection to my beloved Father and Sovereign, to have shewn all the reverential Delicacy towards Him inculcated in thefe Refolutions, I cannot refrain from expreffing my Regret that I should not have been allowed the Opportunity of manifesting to His afflicted and loyal Subjects that fuch would have been my Conduct. ་ Deeply impreffed, however, with the Neceffity of tranquillizing the Public Mind, and determined to fubmit to every perfonal Sacrifice, consistent with the Regard I owe to the Security of my Father's Crown, and the equal Regard I owe to the Welfare of His People, I do not hesitate to accept the Office and Situation propofed to me, restricted as they are, ftill retaining every Opinion expreffed by me upon a former and fimilar diftreffing Occafion. In undertaking the Truft propofed to me, I am well aware of the Difficulties of the Situation in which I fhall be placed; but I fhall rely with Confi dence dence upon the conftitutional Advice of an enlightened Parliament, and the zealous Support of a generous and loyal People. I will ufe all the Means left to me to merit both. My Lords and Gentlemen, You will communicate this my Answer to the Two Houses, accompanied by my most fervent Wishes and Prayers that the Divine Will may extricate us and the Nation from the grievous Embarraffments of our prefent Condition, by the speedy Restoration of His Majesty's Health. B 4 |