Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Regency -- England
"'So help me God!'
"And the Prince subscribed the two oaths. The Lord President then
presented to his Royal Highness, the declaration mentioned in an Act
made in the 30th year of King Charles II., entitled, 'An Act for
the more effectual preserving the King's person, and government,
by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament,'
and which declaration his Royal Highness audibly made, repeated,
and subscribed. The Lord President signed first, and every one of
the Privy Councillors in succession signed these instruments as
witnesses, and the same was delivered into the hand of the Keeper of
the Records.
"The Prince then delivered to the President of the Council a
Certificate of his having received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
at the Chapel Royal of St. James, on Sunday the 27th of January,
which was also countersigned, and delivered to the Keeper of the
Records, who deposited all these instruments in a box at the bottom
of the table.
"The Lord President then approached the Regent, bent the knee, and
had the honour to kiss his hand. The Royal Dukes followed, and
afterwards, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and all the rest, according
to the order in which they sat at the long table, advancing to the
chair on both sides. During the whole of this ceremony, his Royal
Highness maintained the most graceful and dignified deportment; and
it was remarked, that there was not the slightest indication of
partiality of behaviour to one set of men more than to another.
"The Ceremony being closed, a short _levée_ took place in the drawing
room, where his Royal Highness addressed himself to the circle;
and, afterwards, he gave an audience to Mr. Perceval, who had the
honour of again kissing his hand as First Lord of the Treasury and
Chancellor of the Exchequer."
The Regent did wisely in not changing his Ministry, and Perceval
turned dutifully towards the rising sun. It was said that in a visit
he and the Chancellor (Lord Eldon) paid the King on Jan. 26th, that
he turned his back on the King, a monstrous piece of rudeness in
Court etiquette. Probably the poor old blind, half-demented Monarch
never observed it; but others did, and there were several epigrams
thereon, the following being the best--
"The people have heard, with delight and surprize,
That his Minister's conduct has op'd the K----'s eyes;
That with just indignation his Royal breast burn'd,
When he thought he saw Per----l's back on him turn'd;
Exclaiming, 'Thank G--d! I've recover'd my sight,
For I now see you, Sir, in your own proper light.'"
The Queen had the Custody of the King's person, but had to account
to a Council consisting of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
and several Noblemen of high rank, and her first Council under the
Regency was held on Feb. 13th.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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