CHAP. 1788. camp on the fleetness of his horse. The Vizier and the Austrians marched back to their former positions. No further action of importance took place, except the capture of Viplanka by a detachment under General Harrach; and this campaign, so great in expectation, so small in real achievement, was terminated by a truce for three months*. Coxe's House of Austria, chap. xlix. CHAPTER THE SIXTY-FOURTH. 1788-1789. Affairs of England.--The Duke of York-the Earl of Mansfield retires, succeeded by Lord Kenyon-contest for Westminster.-Illness of the King-his intellects affected. -Meeting of Parliament—the two Houses adjourn.-Privy Council-opinion of the physicians—they are examined by Committees.-Dr. Willis-their Report.-Mr. Pitt moves for a Committee in the House of Commons-observations of Mr. Fox-their effect-answer of Mr. Pitt-Mr. FoxMr. Pitt-Mr. Burke-Mr. Pitt in reply to Mr. Burke.— Committees appointed. Similar motions in the House of Lords by Earl Camden-Lord Loughborough-the Lord Chancellor.-Committees appointed.-Report from the Committee of the House of Commons.-Discussions renewed. Mr. Fox-Mr. Pitt-Mr. Sheridan-Mr. Pitt.Discussions in the upper House introduced by Earl Fitzwilliam Lord Chancellor.- Sentiments of the Prince of Wales, expressed by the Duke of York-Duke of Gloucester. Report of the Lords' Committee.-The House of Commons in a committee on the state of the nation.-Mr. Pitt moves resolutions. -Debate on the Prince's right.Debate on bringing up the Report.-Amendment moved by Mr. Dempster-Mr. Burke-Lord North.-Amendment lost. Conference.-Debate in the Lords.-Earl of Abercorn-Lord Rawdon. - Amendment moved.-Debate-Lost -Protest.-Death of Mr. Cornwall, the Speaker,—Observations.-State of the King.-Mr. Pitt's letter to the Prince of Wales.--The Prince's answer.-Mr. Grenville chosen Speaker.-New inquiry into the state of the King's health. Examination of Physicians.-Report of the Committee. CHAP. 1788. Affairs of England. The Duke of Observations of Mr. Burke-Mr. Pitt.-He moves his first In England some changes had taken place in the two Houses of Parliament. His Royal Highness Frederick, Bishop of Osnaburgh, his Majesty's second son, had completed his education and gained experience, particularly under the auspices of the late King of Prussia, who behaved toward him with great kindness, shewing a real admiration of his talents and regard for his person. His reception at Vienna had been equally honourable and cordial, the Emperor always treating him with regard and confidence*. He was successively appointed Captain and Colonel in the Horse-Guards, and Colonel of the Coldstream regiment of foot, and he had a peerage conferred on him, by the title of Duke of York and Albany†. After these honours had been bestowed, his Royal Highness * Sir Robert Murray Keith to Lord Carmarthen, July 1784. State Papers. was absent; he had returned to England, but had not yet taken his seat. CHAP. LXIV. 1788. Mansfield The venerable Earl of Mansfield vacated the high judicial post which he had so long occupied with ho- The Earl of nour to himself and with signal benefit to his country. retires. His retreat was occasioned entirely by corporeal infirmities, and not by the decay of his mental faculties. He was succeeded by Sir Lloyd Kenyon, Master of the Rolls, who had before been created a Baronet, and was now raised to the peerage by the title of Lord June. Kenyon. The Attorney-general, Sir Richard Pepper Lord Kenyon. Arden, was advanced to the station which Lord Kenyon had occupied; the office he vacated was conferred on Sir Archibald Macdonald, and Sir John Scott was appointed Solicitor-general. Succeeded by Westminster. In the course of the summer, Lord Hood, by ac- June. cepting a seat at the Admiralty board, had occasioned Contest for a vacancy for Westminster. It was expected that, as he had before been the favourite candidate, he would be again returned without a struggle; but an opponent was suddenly produced in the person of Lord John Townshend, who, after a contest of fifteen days, resembling in every particular, except duration, the late celebrated conflict, was declared duly elected. King. His Aug. 16 Before the close of the late session, the health of Illness of the the King had been visibly impaired; but as no alarming symptoms were observed, quiet, abstinence from business, and the course generally adopted in bilious cases, were deemed sufficient. After the prorogation, his Majesty went to Cheltenham; but, finding no benefit from the medicinal waters, speedily returned. disorder increased, and, was observed to affect his affected. intellects; the regularity of the levees at St. James's was interrupted; and when, at length, he did make his appearance at one, his conversation and demeanour left no doubt of the nature of his malady. There was a period of fluctuation, of occasional paroxysms, succeeded by intervals of clear understanding and demonstrations of accurate perception and an undiminished power of reasoning; but soon, however, the paroxysms, accompanied with highly bilious affections, brought on Oct. 24. СНАР. 1788. Oct. 25. Nov. 11. Meeting of Nov. 20. so violent a fever, that his Majesty became totally and constantly deprived of the use of reason, and his life was for several days in imminent danger*. After some time, the King was removed from Kew to Windsor, where the physicians usually consulted by him attended constantly; the Gazette formally announced his indisposition, and alarm and consternation were diffused in every quarter. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York became resident at Windsor; several of the ministers were frequently in conference with the physicians, and the Lord Chancellor had interviews with the heir apparent. Some leading members of the opposition party were also consulted by the Princes; but Mr. Fox, their great chief, being absent on a continental tour, an express was dispatched to solicit his return. He was met with at Bologna, whence he intended. proceeding to Rome; but he returned with an extraordinary speed, making a journey of more than eight hundred miles in nine days. The opposition party did not conceal their exultation at the probable change which they expected from the attachment of the heir apparent, while the friends of ministers expressed confident hopes of his Majesty's speedy re-establish ment. It had been the intention of ministers to defer the meeting of Parliament until after Christmas; but as the term of prorogation expired, and there was no competent authority to extend it, and as many members were arrived in town, anxious for the important crisis, the two Houses assembled on the day prefixed; but they met only to adjourn. The Lord Chancellor stated that he had usually, by the King's command, summoned the peers to convene for dispatch of business; but that was now become impossible. On the motion of Earl Camden, the House adjourned Tomline's Life of Pitt, vol. ii. p. 108. In whatever relates personally to the King at this crisis, I have drawn my information principally from this work: I have also consulted "Histoire de ce qui s'est passé pour l'establissement d'un Regence, par M. L. Dutens." Sir George Baker, Dr. Heberden, Dr. Warren, Dr. Reynolds, and Sir Lucas Pepys; and Dr. Addington occasionally. |