A Regency inevitable -- Prince of Wales waited on -- He
undertakes the Regency -- French and English prisoners of war --
Roman Catholic soldiers -- Roughness of manners -- Passing of
Regency Bill -- The Prince's companions -- Inauguration of the
Prince as Regent -- Improvement in the health of the King.
All the year the Lords and Commons had been incubating a Regency, and
matters were so far advanced, that on the 8th of January, the House
of Commons received a message from the Lords that they had "ordered
the Lord President, and the Lord Privy Seal to attend his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales with the several Resolutions agreed to
by the Lords and Commons, for the purpose of supplying the defect of
the personal exercise of the royal authority during his Majesty's
illness, on the part of their lordships, and desired that that House
would appoint a proportionate number of their members to go with
them. Also that they had ordered Earl Harcourt, and Earl Morton, to
attend her Majesty with the Resolution and Address agreed to by the
Lords and Commons respecting the care of his Majesty's royal person,
and the direction of such part of his Majesty's household as may be
requisite for the comfort of his Majesty, and for the maintenance
of the Royal dignity; and desired that the House would appoint a
proportionate number of their members to go with them."
The Commons chose, as under, to go with the Lords to wait upon the
Prince of Wales:--The Chancellor of the Exchequer (the Right Hon.
Spencer Perceval), the Secretary of State for the Home Department
(the Right Hon. Richard Ryder), the President of the Board of Control
for the affairs of India (the Right Hon. Robert Saunders Dundas,
afterwards Lord Melville), and Sir William Grant, the Master of the
Rolls; whilst the members chosen to wait upon the Queen were Lord
John Thynne, Lord Palmerston (Secretary at War), Lord Clive and
Colonel Desbrowe.
On the 11th of January these two deputations went in great state,
the one to the Prince, the other to the Queen. The Prince received
them in the grand drawing room of Carlton House, standing with his
Chancellor, William Adam, Esq., and Earl Moira on his right hand, the
Duke of Cumberland and Mr. Sheridan on his left; whilst behind him
were four Officers of his household, Mr. Tyrwhitt, Colonel M'Mahon,
General Bloomfield, and General Turner.
The Lord President, as chief of the deputation, then read a paper,
informing the Prince that "they were a Committee appointed to attend
his Royal Highness with the resolutions which had been agreed to by
the Lords and Commons, for the purpose of supplying the defect of
the personal exercise of the royal authority, during his Majesty's
illness, by empowering his Royal Highness to exercise that authority
in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, subject to such
limitations and restrictions as shall be provided.
"And that they were directed to express the hope which the Lords
spiritual and temporal, and Commons entertain, that his Royal
Highness, from his regard to the interests of his Majesty, will be
ready to undertake the weighty and important trust proposed to be
invested in his Royal Highness, as soon as an Act of Parliament shall
have been passed for carrying the said resolutions into effect."
The Lord President first read and then delivered to the Prince the
Resolutions, and he replied:--
"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
"I receive the communication which the two Houses have directed you
to make to me of their joint Resolutions, on the subject of providing
for 'the exercise of the Royal Authority during his Majesty's
illness,' with those sentiments of regard which I must ever entertain
for the united desires of the two Houses.
"With the same sentiments I receive the expressed hopes of the Lords
and Commons, that from my regard for the interest of his Majesty and
the Nation, I should be ready to undertake the weighty and important
trust proposed to be invested in me, under the Restrictions and
Limitations stated in those Resolutions.
"Conscious that every feeling of my heart would have prompted me,
from dutiful affection to my beloved Father and Sovereign, to have
shown all the reverential delicacy towards him inculcated in those
Resolutions, I cannot refrain from expressing my regret, that I
should not have been allowed the opportunity of manifesting to his
afflicted and loyal subjects that such would have been my conduct.
"Deeply impressed, however, with the necessity of tranquilizing the
public mind, and determined to submit to every personal sacrifice,
consistent with the regard I owe to the security of my Father's
Crown, and the equal regard I owe to the welfare of his people, I
do not hesitate to accept the office and situation proposed to me,
restricted as they are, still retaining every opinion expressed by me
upon a former and similar distressing occasion.
"In undertaking the trust proposed to me I am well aware of the
difficulties of the situation in which I shall be placed; but I shall
rely with confidence upon the Constitutional advice of an enlightened
Parliament, and the zealous support of a generous and loyal people. I
will use all the means left to me to merit both.
"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
"You will communicate this my answer to the two Houses, accompanied
by my most fervent wishes and prayers, that the Divine Will may
extricate us, and the nation, from the grievous embarrassments of our
present Condition, by the speedy restoration of his Majesty's health."
The Queen gave an answer, couched in a similar spirit to the
deputation which waited upon her.
Whilst the Lords and Commons are debating on the Regency Bill (and
they took the whole of January to do it), let us see what was
happening in England.
There was a subject that touched many, and all over Britain, from the
highest to the lowest, and that was the British Prisoners of War in
France. Truly we had many more French prisoners in England than there
were English in France; _The Morning Post_, October 15, 1810, placing
the numbers respectively at 50,000 and 12,000. The French prisoners
here, were not treated too well; but the English prisoners in France,
were treated worse, and many thousands of hearts must have yearned
towards those poor Captives, and many thousands were willing to part
with their means, although there were then many, and urgent, calls
upon their purses, in order to alleviate their lot.
Lloyd's was then the Centre of benevolence, as the Mansion House now
is; and the leading Merchants and Bankers issued an advertisement in
_The Times_ of January 7th, saying that their means of helping these
prisoners were exhausted, and they appealed for fresh funds.
"The Committee beg to state that there are upwards of 10,000 British
Prisoners in the different Prisons in France, for the most part
in great distress, and that the subscription is intended for the
alleviation of their sufferings in some degree, by assisting them
with articles of clothing, bedding, fuel, and such other necessaries
as they stand in most need of.
"They think it proper to add that the relief from the last
subscription, was intrusted to the care of some of the most
respectable persons detained in France, among whom were Clergymen,
and several officers both Naval and Military, and that they have
made so satisfactory a distribution of the funds, and rendered such
particular details thereof, as to entitle them to the highest credit.
The same Gentlemen, there is reason to expect, will kindly undertake
the distribution of a new subscription."
Needless to say that the appeal was nobly responded to.
Scant courtesy seems to have been paid to the prisoners on either
side, almost degenerating into pettiness: for, this month, an Order
was issued from Whitehall, that no French women should be allowed
to land in this country, who might have left France to see their
husbands. The reason assigned for this very peculiar proceeding,
was, that the French Government would not permit Lady Lavie and
family, to join her husband, Sir Thomas, who was a prisoner at Verdun.
But pettiness in official circles seems to have obtained. Can we
barely imagine, at a time when every soldier was wanted, and it might
be thought that good treatment, at all events, might have allured men
to the ranks, that they trod upon their tenderest feelings? Yet so it
was, and it was mainly owing to the exertions of _The Dublin Evening
Post_ that the following "General Order" was issued:--
"ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, DUBLIN,
"_January, 1811_.
"Reports having been circulated, that Catholic soldiers have been
prevented from attending Divine worship, according to the tenets
of their religion, and obliged, in certain instances to be present
at that of the Established Church, the Commanding Officers of the
several Regiments, are to be attentive to the prevention of such
practices, if they have, in any instance, existed in the Troops under
their command, as they are in _violation_ of the Orders contained in
the Circular letter of the 14 May, 1806, and, since, _repeated to the
Army_. And the Catholic soldiers, as well as those of other Sects,
are to be allowed, _in all cases_, to attend the Divine Worship of
the Almighty according to their several persuasions, when duty does
not interfere, _in the same manner, and under the same regulations_,
as those of the Established Church.
"WM. RAYMOND, Dep. Adjt. Gen.
"N. RAMSEY, Maj. Assist. Adjt. Gen."
_The Morning Chronicle_ commenting upon this, says: "So late as
Friday morning last, some of the artillery, privates and drivers,
quartered in Enniskillen, continued to do duty with _turned coats_,
the most mortifying punishment ever inflicted on a brave man, and
this, merely for having attended, _according to law_, to the Worship
of their Church: but on the evening of that day, the scene was
somewhat changed, the General Order arrived, and on the following
morning, the officer accused of the oppression, departed for Dublin,
and, on Sunday, the Catholic soldiers of the garrison were marched
to the Roman Catholic Chapel, accompanied by the officers of that
religion."
It would seem that all parties were trying to make the Services
unpopular: the navy, especially, by impressment--and even the Militia
did not escape--for in January, a number of farmers and others were
summoned before the magistrates at Stafford for making deductions
from the wages of those servants who were enrolled in the Militia
and who had been absent for their training. It must be remembered
that in those days farm labourers were hired at Statute fairs, for
a twelvemonth, and the 15th clause of 48 Geo. III. cap. 3, had to
be shown to those summoned, whereby they learned that no ballot,
enrolment, or service under the Act should make void or in any manner
affect, any indenture of apprenticeship, or contract of service. And
so they had to pay their men.
They were rather a rough lot in the Country, and this anecdote is
thus recorded in _The Times_ of January 31, 1811:--"The following
_ludicrous_[3] circumstance occurred on Tuesday week at Bristol:--A
couple of Jews being apprehended in the act of stealing several
articles from the stables of the White Hart Inn, were hauled into
the yard by two stout fellows, whither the whole fraternity of
the currycomb were immediately summoned. The long beards of these
disciples were then stuck together with pitch (their hands being
previously tied behind them); and, whilst thus face to face, a
profusion of snuff mixed with hellebore, was administered, which
caused them to sneeze in such a manner, that by the frequent and
violent bobbing of noses one against the other, a copious stream of
blood issued from either nostril, whilst the enraged Culprits were
kicking and capering about in all directions."
[Footnote 3: The italics are mine.--J. A.]
Chronologically, we must now turn to the Prince of Wales, who, one
would imagine, was desirous of emulating the Squires of old, who
spent the eve of their knighthood in vigil, prayer, fasting, and
watching their armour--so before he became Prince Regent, he must
needs partake of the Holy Eucharist, and did so at the Chapel Royal
St. James' on Sunday the 27th of January, _the sole object of which
was to obtain a certificate that he was in the Communion of the
Church of England_. This public act of worship was a stately affair.
The Prince was in the Royal Closet during the major portion of the
service, the Bishop of London and sub-dean duly bowing to the royal
presence, at their entrance. Afterwards, attended by the Earl of
Moira, and Lords Dundas and Keith, he went up to the Altar, took his
seat under a canopy, made his offering in a gold dish, and then the
Dean, Prince, and the three Lords Communicated.
On the 5th of February the Lords and Commons had their final
conference over the Regency Bill, they agreed to the interpolation of
two words "and Commons," and the thing was all but finished. It only
wanted what was done immediately afterwards, the Royal Commissioners
to give the Royal Assent, the Deputy Clerk of the Crown to read the
title of the Act, the Clerk Assistant of the Parliaments to utter
the words "Le Roi le veult"--and the Prince of Wales was _de facto_
Regent.
[Illustration: Robeing the Regent; or, the Road to Preferment.
(_Published February 1, 1811, by Walter and Knight, Cornhill._)]
Knowing his proclivities, it was imagined that he would give places
to all his _entourage_, and, accordingly, we have the caricature of
"Robeing the Prince, or the Road to Preferment." To the extreme left
is Earl Grey, who says "A bason of _Grey_ pease soup is better
than porter for your Highness," but Whitbread is of opinion that
"If his Highness should want any refreshment, here's a pot of my
best brewing." Grenville offers his services to the Prince. Sheridan
hopes "your Royal Highness will not forget _Old Sherry_; pray allow
me to brush the Royal shoes, they seem quite mouldy with lieing by
so long." Colonel Bloomfield is tying his garter. Whoever is holding
the looking-glass exclaims, "What an honour this is! but I hope for
greater." The Regent tells Sheridan, "Fear not, my friend, all in
good time." Col. McMahon says, "Why! can't you see you have given
him the wrong sleeve; do give it to me, you'll make a fine figure of
him!" But the person holding the robe replies, "Don't push so, Col.,
you won't let any one come near his Highness but yourself." Mr. Adam,
the Prince's Chancellor, soliloquises thus, "A dam good prospect now,
however." Sir John Douglas calls out, "Who wants me?" and Col. Geo.
Hanger, hopes "you won't forget poor Georgy."
Perhaps the three best known of these Companions of the Prince are
Sheridan, Col. McMahon, and George Hanger. The first belongs to
history, and the second will be noticed by and by. Col. Hanger came
of a noble Irish family, but in his youth led a wild harum scarum
life. Of course he entered the army, and whilst holding the King's
Commission he fell in with, and joined a gang of gipsies, when he
fell in love with a dusky beauty, and married her according to the
customs of her tribe, which, probably, only involved the jumping over
a broomstick. He introduced her to his brother officers, and all
went well for about a fortnight, when she eloped with a bandy-legged
tinker. His tastes were congenial to those of the Prince, and he
made himself useful, bought horses for him, looked after his racing
arrangements, and was one of his equerries, which post he kept until
he was, by his extravagance, compelled to resign it. He was more
than once imprisoned for debt, but turned steady after the death of
his brother Lord Coleraine (called _blue Hanger_, from the colour of
his garments) in 1814, when he succeeded to the title, which became
extinct on his death in 1824.
Meanwhile, all was being prepared for the assumption of the Regency,
Carlton House was being brushed up, chandeliers cleaned, &c., a
congenial task for its occupier, the Hanoverian creams were publicly
exercised, and made to pass between files of soldiers, and, at last,
the 6th of February, the day appointed for the Prince to take the
oaths, arrived. The following is probably an official _communiqué_,
as it appears in all the Newspapers of the period:--
"The 6th of February being the day appointed for swearing in the
Prince of Wales as Regent, before his taking upon himself that
important office, about twelve o'clock a party of the flank companies
of the grenadiers, with their Colours, the band of the first
regiment, drums and fifes, with white gaiters on, marched into the
courtyard of Carlton House, where the colours were pitched in the
centre of the grand entrance; the band struck up 'God save the King,'
and continued playing that national piece alternately with martial
airs during the day, until near five o'clock. Colonel Bloomfield,
one of the Prince's principal attendants, having written to the Earl
of Macclesfield, the Captain of his Majesty's yeomen of the guard,
informing him it was his Royal Highness' command that as many yeoman
of the guard should attend at Carlton House, as usually attended
upon councils being held by the King in state, the noble Earl not
being in London, the letter was opened by the person in waiting,
who ordered six yeomen and an usher to attend at Carlton House,
which they accordingly did; and they, together with the Prince's
servants in state, lined the grand hall and staircase: several of the
lifeguards men were also in some of the rooms, in a similar manner
as on Court-days at St. James' Palace. About a quarter before two
o'clock, the Duke of Montrose arrived, being the first of the privy
councillors who attended; he was followed by all the royal dukes, and
a very numerous assembly of privy councillors, who had all arrived
by a quarter before three o'clock. The whole of the magnificent
suite of state apartments were opened, and the illustrious persons
were ushered into the Gold Room (so called from the style of
the ornaments). Almost every privy councillor then in town was
present--exceeding above a hundred in number.
"About half-past two o'clock, Earl Moira, of his Royal Highness'
council, being also a privy councillor to the King, brought a message
from the Prince to the President of the Council, Earl Camden,
desiring his attendance on the Prince in an adjoining room, according
to the usual form, to communicate to him officially the return to
the summons, &c. The noble Earl accordingly went with Earl Moira,
made the necessary intimation to his Royal Highness, and returned to
the company; who, during this time of waiting were highly gratified
with seeing the Princess Charlotte on horse-back, accompanied by two
grooms, make the tour of the beautiful gardens in the rear of the
palace. Her Royal Highness appeared to be in excellent health and
spirits.
"After Earl Camden's return, the Prince approached in grand
procession, preceded by the officers of his own household, and
several of his own council, among whom were Earl Moira, Lords
Keith, Cassilis, Hutchinson, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. M. Angelo Taylor,
Mr. Tyrwhitt, Colonel McMahon, Colonel Bloomfield, General Hulse,
Mr. Bicknell, &c., &c. (His Chancellor, Mr. Adam, was, by accident
not present, and there was a delay, in consequence of his Royal
Highness' anxious desire of his presence.) The Prince was also
accompanied by all the Royal Dukes. They passed through the room
where the privy councillors were assembled, through the Circular
drawing room, into the grand saloon (a beautiful room in scarlet
drapery, embellished with portraits of all the most distinguished
Admirals who have fought the battles that have given us the dominion
of the seas); and here the Prince seated himself at the top of the
table, his Royal brothers and cousin seating themselves on each hand,
according to seniority, and all the officers of his household, not
privy councillors, ranging themselves on each side of the entrance
to the Saloon. The privy councillors then proceeded, all in full
dress, according to their rank--the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York, the Lord President, the Lord
Privy Seal, &c., &c., &c., and, as they severally entered, they made
their reverence to the Prince, who made a graceful return to each,
and they successively took their places at the table; and lastly,
Mr. Fawkener and Sir Stephen Cottrell took their seats as Clerk, and
Keeper, of the Records.
"The Prince then spoke to the following effect:--
"'MY LORDS,
"'I understand that by the Act passed by the Parliament, appointing
me Regent of the United Kingdom, in the name, and on behalf of
his Majesty, I am required to take certain oaths, and to make a
declaration before your lordships, as prescribed by the said Act.
I am now ready to take these oaths, and to make the declaration
prescribed.'
"The Lord Privy Seal then rose, made his reverence, approached the
Regent, and read from a Parchment the oaths as follows. The Prince
with an audible voice pronounced after him:--
"'I do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful, and bear
true allegiance to his Majesty King George.
"'So help me, God.'
"'I do solemnly promise and swear, that I will truly and faithfully
execute the office of Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, according to an Act of Parliament passed in the
fifty-first year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third
(entitled "An Act" &c.), and that I will administer, according to
law, the power and authority vested in me by virtue of the said Act;
and that I will in all things, to the utmost of my power and ability,
consult and maintain the safety, honour, and dignity of his Majesty,
and the welfare of his people.
"'So help me God!'
"And the Prince subscribed the two oaths. The Lord President then
presented to his Royal Highness, the declaration mentioned in an Act
made in the 30th year of King Charles II., entitled, 'An Act for
the more effectual preserving the King's person, and government,
by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament,'
and which declaration his Royal Highness audibly made, repeated,
and subscribed. The Lord President signed first, and every one of
the Privy Councillors in succession signed these instruments as
witnesses, and the same was delivered into the hand of the Keeper of
the Records.
"The Prince then delivered to the President of the Council a
Certificate of his having received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
at the Chapel Royal of St. James, on Sunday the 27th of January,
which was also countersigned, and delivered to the Keeper of the
Records, who deposited all these instruments in a box at the bottom
of the table.
"The Lord President then approached the Regent, bent the knee, and
had the honour to kiss his hand. The Royal Dukes followed, and
afterwards, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and all the rest, according
to the order in which they sat at the long table, advancing to the
chair on both sides. During the whole of this ceremony, his Royal
Highness maintained the most graceful and dignified deportment; and
it was remarked, that there was not the slightest indication of
partiality of behaviour to one set of men more than to another.
"The Ceremony being closed, a short _levée_ took place in the drawing
room, where his Royal Highness addressed himself to the circle;
and, afterwards, he gave an audience to Mr. Perceval, who had the
honour of again kissing his hand as First Lord of the Treasury and
Chancellor of the Exchequer."
The Regent did wisely in not changing his Ministry, and Perceval
turned dutifully towards the rising sun. It was said that in a visit
he and the Chancellor (Lord Eldon) paid the King on Jan. 26th, that
he turned his back on the King, a monstrous piece of rudeness in
Court etiquette. Probably the poor old blind, half-demented Monarch
never observed it; but others did, and there were several epigrams
thereon, the following being the best--
"The people have heard, with delight and surprize,
That his Minister's conduct has op'd the K----'s eyes;
That with just indignation his Royal breast burn'd,
When he thought he saw Per----l's back on him turn'd;
Exclaiming, 'Thank G--d! I've recover'd my sight,
For I now see you, Sir, in your own proper light.'"
The Queen had the Custody of the King's person, but had to account
to a Council consisting of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
and several Noblemen of high rank, and her first Council under the
Regency was held on Feb. 13th.
About this time there was an improvement in the King's health; so
much so that on the 8th of February the Queen and the Princess
Augusta were allowed to have an interview with him, and on the next
day and for two or three others, he appeared on the Terrace and
walked for a time accompanied by the Physicians in attendance upon
him.