On the 14th of February the King was taken ill so seriously that bulletins had to be issued. His malady was stated to be “an _Hydrops Pectoris_, or a water in the chest of the body;” to counteract which they scarified his legs.[20] The probability is, that this treatment was not the proper one, for I observe that the next day’s bulletin is signed by four, instead of two doctors, who, however, on the succeeding day, certify that their patient _could walk_. On the 26th, which was Sunday, prayers were offered up in all churches and chapels of the Metropolis, and a week later throughout England, for His Majesty’s recovery. On the 27th of February, there was a long debate in Parliament on the subject of His Majesty’s health; some members holding that, looking at the gravity of our relations with France, the people were not kept sufficiently informed as to the King’s illness. Addington, then Prime Minister, contended that more information than was made public would be injudicious, and prejudicial to the public good; and after a long discussion, in which Pitt, Fox, Windham, and Grenville took part, the subject dropped. Towards the end of March, the King became quite convalescent, a fact which is thus quaintly announced in the _Morning Herald_ of the 28th of March: “We have the sincerest pleasure in stating that a certain personage is now perfectly restored to all his domestic comforts. He saw the Queen for the first time on Saturday (March 24th) afternoon. The interview, as may well be conceived, was peculiarly affecting.” Yet another Fast Day; this time on the 25th of May, and its cause—“for humbling ourselves before Almighty God, in order to obtain pardon of our sins, and in the most solemn manner to send up our prayers and supplications to the Divine Majesty, for averting those heavy judgments which our manifold provocations have most justly deserved; and for imploring His blessing and assistance on our arms, for the restoration of peace and prosperity to these dominions.” A contemporary account tells how it was kept: “Yesterday, being the day appointed for the observance of a solemn Fast, was duly observed in the Metropolis, at least as far as outward show and decorum can go. Every shop was shut; for those who on similar occasions, kept their windows open, have probably learnt that, to offend against public example and decency, is not the way to ensure either favour or credit. Most of the Volunteer Corps attended at their several churches, where sermons suitable to the day were preached.” The Addington Ministry was on its last legs, and died on or about the 11th of May; and a very strong government was formed by Pitt, which included the Duke of Portland, Lord Eldon, Lord Melville, the Earl of Chatham, Dundas, Canning, Huskisson, and Spencer Perceval.