Stratton Street,
Monday, Dec. 22nd, 1788.
MY DEAR LORD,
I should scarcely venture to anticipate a subject, the event of
which within twenty-four hours may belie any pretensions of
political sagacity, might not the difference of one day's post from
London eventually delay your receiving a letter for a week, should
wind and sea prove perverse, as when I passed my Christmas at
Holyhead. This, and the anxiety for intelligence, which must
necessarily arise from the suggestion in my note of Saturday,
induces me to pursue the matter I then opened, and the more
especially as the circumstance, I foresaw, is now more than likely
to occur. As I purpose closing this letter at the House of Commons,
and the last moment which the post may allow me, I shall have to
transmit fact in lieu of probability; at present, I state briefly
my grounds for the latter--namely, that the specific great
question, whether the Prince shall be Regent without any
limitations, and invested with the full prerogatives of royalty,
will be agitated and decided upon this Monday night. The turn of
debate and temper of the House on Friday, which induced me to
suppose such question might be pressed upon us, have induced others
to press it. This morning a printed paper hath been sent to certain
members, containing a motion for addressing, and an address at
length to the Prince, corroborating what Mr. Steele told me
yesterday, that _Fox's_ party had some design in view for Monday.
Letters having been sent in Fox's name to several members,
requesting attendance and _an answer_; and that Mr. Pitt had
written in like manner to such as he apprehended might be
withdrawing for the Christmas holidays, with the same unusual
request _of answer_. Two of these letters (pretty long), to Sir H.
Hoghton and to Mr. Pye, I afterwards had the perusal of.
The true friendly language, and which I openly hold, is that we
shall be stronger on the division than before; such language is
proper, because ordinary men consider numbers as a shelter for
their opinions and conduct, and some even consider it as the test
of truth. But this language hath not its origin in my judgment and
feelings. There are circumstances which impress great doubt on my
mind, whether the division can be so favourable to our wishes, as
was the last. Taking the data of the examination of the physicians,
the King's recovery therein presumed, gives a vantage-ground in
argument for limitations. But I am sorry to say this ground is now
shaken: the public is no longer sanguine in hopes, medical
gentlemen have generally conspired to render the object of
recovery much more doubtful at least, and the physicians about the
King have had dissensions and disputes amongst themselves. It is
now rumoured that Dr. Warren wishes to be re-examined. All this is
indeed not before the House of Commons, and the report of the
physicians is; I think, therefore, that though not so decisive, we
yet shall have a considerable majority on the premises; but even
for this dependant on other considerations--namely, how far
apprehensions of the King's actual demise may operate from, I
believe, the faithful report of the day, that a fever is come on,
and that for a day or two past the King has had a constant sweating
of the head, to which he was at no time before accustomed.
According to wishes or fears, men construe this crisis to portend
health or decease; the political effect in the alternative, being
in the first case uncertain, in the second case certain. The bent
of this is against us, as few narrow motives and personal
considerations may extend and favour the active spirit of
subornation which stalks in open day, with each hand full of
patents of honour and purses of money. Offers have been so prodigal
that not fifty years of patronage could accomplish the performance.
Those gentlemen who have rejected these kind tenders of service
speak openly, and no notice is taken. In these moments of public
curiosity, it may not be so well to trust names to a letter. I
could give you several.
The bearing of this letter is thus unfavourable to this night's
debate terminating _fully_ as we could wish, though yet I think
_for us_. Having thus far written, I shall pocket my paper for the
purpose of adding what I can at the House of Commons.
House of Commons,
Half-past Five, Monday, Dec. 22nd, 1788.
I dined at three, at a coffee-house, with my cousin, old William
Lawrence, who called on me; Smith, member for Sudbury, leader of
the Dissenters, joined us on the walk, and was of our dinner
party. Lawrence said he wished a compromise, a _limited regency for
a year_, and then to take up the business anew, if the King was not
recovered, on the other ground, and _he_ is a leading country
gentleman of their party, Smith is in an unqualified manner with
us; and Thornton, whose place in the House is next to me, being
equally staunch, I augur that we have all the Dissenters' interest
with us. Indeed, generally speaking, the House looks better for us
than I expected, and I doubt not our majority, yet thinking it will
not be great; indeed the House is not nearly so full as it was on
the late question, and the apprehensions I set out with of
temporizers and shirkers, as we called them at Eton, seem
confirmed.
Edmund Burke arose a little after four, and is speaking yet. He has
been wilder than ever, and laid himself and party open more than
ever speaker did. He is Folly personified, but shaking his cap and
bells under the laurel of genius; among other things, he said Mr.
Pitt's proposals could not be adopted, as gentlemen, as
_cavaliers_: the word will not be forgot.
Fox is present, but looks very ill. Pitt looks recovered. Your
brother in high glee at Burke. Burke stated the Chancellor to be
like to the God Priapus, and Pitt the carpenter. He run his idea to
a charming extravagance, and finished by declaring that "he could
not be a votary to Priapus, the false God! _vid._ Horace, &c."
The question is an amendment of Dempster's, to follow; the Lords
and Commons, &c., determine "to address the Prince of Wales, to
take on him the Regency, &c."
Adieu, my dear Lord. Your Marchioness in health, and a boy, and
yourself in all good that Providence can dispense, is the prayer of
your most faithfully affectionate and devoted friend, &c.