The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the timesAshton, John
History
The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the times
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
The Princess Amelia died on the 2nd of November, and was buried with
due state. In her coffin were “8,000 nails—6000 small and 2,000 large;
eight large plates and handles resembling the Tuscan Order; a crown at
the top, of the same description as issued from the Heralds’ Office;
two palm branches in a cross saltier, under the crown, with P. A. (the
initials of her Royal Highness). They are very massy, and have the
grandest effect, being executed in the most highly-finished style,
and neat manner possible. Forty-eight plates, with a crown, two palm
branches in cross saltier, with the Princess Royal’s coronet at top;
eight bevil double corner plates, with the same ornaments inscribed,
and one at each corner of the cover.”
The King’s illness placed Parliament in a very awkward position. It
stood prorogued till the 1st of November, on which day both Houses met,
but sorely puzzled how to proceed, because there was no commission, nor
was the King in a fit state to sign one. The Speaker took his seat,
and said, “The House is now met, this being the last day to which
Parliament was prorogued; but I am informed, that notwithstanding His
Majesty’s proclamation upon the subject of a farther prorogation, no
message is to be expected from His Majesty’s commissioners upon that
subject, no commission for prorogation being made out. Under such
circumstances I feel it my duty to take the chair, in order that the
House may be able to adjourn itself.” And both Houses were left to
their own devices. The head was there, but utterly incompetent to
direct.
So they kept on, doing no public work, but examining the
King’s physicians as to his state. They held out hopes of his
recovery—perhaps in five or six months, perhaps in twelve or
eighteen; but, in the meantime, really energetic steps must be taken
to meet the emergency. On the 20th of November the Chancellor of the
Exchequer moved three resolutions embodying the facts that His Majesty
was incapacitated by illness from attending to business, and that
the personal exercise of the royal authority is thereby suspended,
therefore Parliament must supply the defect. It was then that the
Regency of the Prince of Wales was proposed, and in January, 1811, an
Act was passed, entitled, “An Act to provide for the Administration of
the Royal Authority, and for the Care of the Royal Person during the
Continuance of His Majesty’s illness, and for the Resumption of the
Exercise of the Royal Authority.” The Prince of Wales was to exercise
kingly powers, which, however, were much shorn in the matters of
granting peerages, and granting offices and pensions; whilst the Queen,
assisted by a Council, was to have the care of His Majesty’s person,
and the direction of his household.
As a proof of the sympathy evinced by the people with the King in his
illness, all pageantry was omitted on the 9th of November, when the
Lord Mayor went to Westminster to be sworn in.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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