(Secret and Separate.) Whitehall, Nov. 13th, 1788.
My dear Lord,
I am not at all surprised that your Excellency should
participate in the distress, which every honest man feels upon
the present unhappy state of the King's health. The account,
however, of this morning is rather more favourable than those of
some days past; though certainly not such as to lay any part of
our anxiety at rest. There does not, however, appear any
symptoms which seem to threaten His Majesty's life with
immediate danger. He had more fever yesterday than for some days
past, but since it has subsided, he has been in a state of more
composure than before.
The Parliament will meet this day sevennight, and adjourn; if in
the intermediate time there should not be an opportunity of
receiving His Majesty's pleasure for a prorogation.
You may easily believe that the hurry and ferment is great at
present. People in general, of all ranks, seem to be truly
sensible of the calamitous effects to be dreaded from an
unfavourable termination of His Majesty's disorder. But, as you
may easily imagine, there are not wanting those who are thinking
of extracting _good_ to _themselves_ out of this misfortune; nor
are they over anxious to conceal their eagerness to accomplish
their ends. I am old enough to have been in the scene on a
demise of the Crown, an event which does not bring the virtues
of men more into light than the contrary qualities. I do not
promise myself a more agreeable picture of mankind, than one
which I have never thought of but with disgust and detestation.
I refer your Excellency to my official despatch for the business
which has passed in a Committee of the Privy Council to-day, on
the subject of a prayer. The Dissenters and the Jews have begun
upon that subject already. Indeed every demonstration of alarm
and affection has been shown through the whole town, and, as far
as can be learned, in all parts of the country.
I am, with the truest esteem and regard, my dear Lord,
Your most obedient humble servant,
Sydney.
The next letter from Mr. Grenville is of special importance; he lays
down the whole plan of the Ministry in reference to the proposed
Regency, developing and investigating the arguments with remarkable
clearness and penetration.