1804,
which commenced amidst much political dissension at home, and
preparations for increasing desolation abroad.
His majesty's health now became very indifferent, and, in February, an
official bulletin announced his malady. It was reported to be a very
slight attack; though we are sorry to say it was, to the king,
productive of great pain and agitation of mind by the misrule of the
queen, and the improprieties of his family! Little did the nation at
large imagine that the family of the sovereign (to whose individual
income they had so promptly and munificently contributed) were the
causes of his acute anxieties! His sons were deeply embarrassed by PLAY,
their female connexions chiefly of the most abandoned character, and
their engagements in the world, generally speaking, far beyond their
powers to discharge. His daughters were also composed of the FRAILTIES
of human nature. Born and educated in a court, under the severe tuition
of their mother, they believed themselves of superior worth. The
pleasures and enjoyments of life were ever waiting for their
acquiescence, and their exercise on horseback, attended by _certain_
persons, occupying _certain_ stations in life, afforded them a variety
of opportunities for conversation, in which the _softest subjects_ met
the ear!
At this period also, the king's already-distracted mind was farther
embittered by what he considered the loss of virtue in one of his
daughters; and the agony he endured, lest the circumstance should
transpire to the public, would defy any language to depict.
After calmness, in some measure, was restored to his majesty's wounded
feelings, his health gradually improved, and, on the 29th of March, he
was declared to be convalescent.
On the resignation of Mr. Addington, Mr. Pitt again assumed the reins of
government, and appointed his _protege_, Mr. Canning, treasurer of the
navy. Why do not the many biographers of this political character
explain the reason, if every thing were fair and straightforward, of his
quitting office in 1801, because the Catholic question was forbidden to
be mentioned, and returning to it in 1804, under an express stipulation
that no member of the government should agitate it contrary to the royal
inclination? Was the promise that had been given only binding for _three
years_? Was Mr. Canning's secession from office a trick? Was his return
to it a sacrifice,--a sacrifice of honour and principle,--to the
miserable gratification of obtaining _power_? Alas! the public had
little to thank Mr. Canning for; but they knew not, at that time, his
love of place and pension.
In October, it was said the king and prince were _reconciled_; but the
substance of that reconciliation was not made known to the nation. The
queen had resolved to oblige her favourite son, and promote his wishes,
by finally relieving him from any farther engagements with the princess,
his wife; though of the various abominable schemes then in action, the
king was kept entirely ignorant.
In this year, the health of Mr. Pitt began to fail; his ardour seemed
cooled, and he experienced short intervals of extreme debility and pain.