Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
But this he did not do, as there were already rumours of a Regency, yet
his conduct towards his father seems to have been very bad. Grenville,
writing to his brother, the Duke of Buckingham, November 23, 1788,
says: 'Think of the Prince of Wales introducing Lord Lothian into the
King's room when it was darkened, in order that he might hear his
ravings at the time that they were at the worst. Do not let this fact
come from you; it begins to be pretty well known here, and, no doubt,
will find its way to Ireland; but it is important that we should not
seem to spread the knowledge of anything which can injure his Royal
Highness's character in public opinion.'[52]
There was much intriguing as to a Regency, the Ministry at first
suggesting that the Government should be carried on by a Commission;
but on December 30, 1788, Pitt wrote a letter to the Prince of Wales,
stating that His Majesty's Ministers had come to the conclusion to
offer him the Regency of the kingdom, under certain restrictions.
The Prince replied at once, expressing his sorrow at the occasion
of his proposed elevation, but accepting the trust. Of course, this
suggestion of the Government could not be acted upon without mature
deliberation, and it was not until January 30, 1789, that the following
resolutions of the Lords and Commons were presented to the Prince
of Wales: 'That his Royal Highness be empowered to exercise the
Royal authority under the title of Regent.'--'That the power given,
should not extend to the granting of any Peerage, except to the Royal
issue.'--'Nor to the grant of any office in reversion, or any office,
salary, or pension, than during his Majesty's pleasure; or to the
granting his Majesty's real, or personal estates.'--'That the care of
his Majesty be committed to the Queen, who should nominate all persons
to the offices in the household.'
Needless to say, the Prince made no objections, and by February 12
the Regency Bill had gone through all its stages in the House of
Commons, and was ordered to be sent to the Lords. But the proverbial
'slip 'twixt cup and lip' occurred. On February 19 the Lord Chancellor
informed the House of Lords that, according to the report of his
physicians, the King's health was steadily mending, and they therefore
abstained from further consideration of the Regency Bill.
The physicians' hopes were fully justified; the King got better
rapidly, and on February 27 his perfect recovery was announced,
the prayer for the same was discontinued, and a form of prayer of
thanksgiving for his restoration to health was ordered to be read in
all churches and chapels throughout England and Wales. Rejoicings and
illuminations were the order of the day, and on April 23, the day of
general thanksgiving, the King, Queen, and Royal Family went in state
to St. Paul's Cathedral, to return thanks to God for His mercy in
giving the King his health and reason once again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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