[1811.]
January 2nd.—Yesterday Ministers were left in a minority by 13, on the question of the household, the amendment conferring part of the patronage on the Prince of Wales, the rest on the Queen, with the care of his Majesty’s person. Evening at Miss Goldsworthy’s and Lady Aylesbury’s.
3rd.—Ministry yesterday left in a minority of 3, on the restrictions they intended to impose on the Regent. Lord Porchester proposed the amendment.
5th.—The Peers sat till five this morning. Opposition carried every question except the right of granting peerages. Majorities of 3.
18th.—The King walked on the terrace yesterday with Willis and Heberden, and was joined by Baillie. The fact is, Willis told him he might go, and he was delighted; Heberden consented through weakness; and the key of a tower staircase was procured before the page (Bolt) could refuse it. Sir H. Halford was in Town, and Baillie did not know it, until, coming into the apartment soon after, he missed his patient, and went down to him. The Queen did not know it till the evening. The effect was hurtful, as the irritation increased in consequence of the walks not being continued, which, considering the cold and damp of the north terrace (the only one not overlooked), and other inconveniences, it was impossible to allow. It was probably a manœuvre of Willis to please Ministers (and perhaps ordered by them), to make people suppose the King better, and to get more votes on the Regency Bill question, which came on that day; and they had a majority of 27.
25th.—The Chancellor and Mr. Perceval could not see the King yesterday, though the Chancellor had declared he would see him, as he would not put the Great Seal to the Bill without it; but though the physicians all declared he might, they would not either of them; probably not being satisfied with what they heard of his Majesty’s state; they say they will to-morrow; in the mean while a debate of importance will have taken place. Lord Moira carried (by two) the adjournment against proxies on Wednesday; his speech was uncommonly animated, and he very severely reprehended the Ministers, said the Chancellor had come as a champion, but in rusty armour, called them a nest of scorpions, and said the nation was not so stultified by the oppressions of late years as not to take notice of their proceedings.
26th.—The Chancellor and Mr. Perceval saw the King this morning, and the Great Seal is to be put to the Regency Bill, as they can now have no doubt of the unfortunate state of his mind.
30th.—Mr. Perceval saw the King this morning, and told him of the Regency, which he bore very well; indeed, he continues in high spirits—some delusions.
February 1.—The King saw Lord Liverpool and another of the Ministers this morning, and they say he had no delusions—talked over the Regency—very happy. The Prince sent a kind and dutiful message to the King by Sir H. Halford, saying he should be happy to give up power to him again, &c.
3rd.—The Prince does not change the administration; at least till he sees whether the King recovers in a short time.
5th.—The Prince made known to the Ministers that he only kept them as his father’s servants. It is said the King is really recovering.
9th.—The King saw the Queen yesterday and to-day, is much better, and walks on the terrace.
11th.—The King told the Queen the first day he saw her, that never son had made greater sacrifices to a father than the Prince had to him.
12th.—The Prince Regent saw the King this morning.
13th.—The Queen held her first Council to-day, and the physicians were examined.
April 11th.—Saw the Queen and Princess Augusta. The King much the same.
17th.—The Queen’s Council, who come every Wednesday and Saturday, made a good report of the King to-day.
20th.—This morning the King was thought to be much better; and in the afternoon, while he was walking with the Dukes of York and Kent, they thought him so far well, that it was found necessary to acquaint the Queen’s Council, that no new arrangement might be made.
23rd.—Went with the Queen and the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary to Frogmore, and went round the fields. The Duke of Sussex came at one.
27th.—The King walks on the terrace twice a day, but his mind is still subject to many delusions, and it is a sad time for all the family.
20th.—The King rode out to-day for the first time since his illness.
30th.—The King was not out this morning, and none of his family have seen him. The physicians were all here yesterday, and the Queen’s Council.
July 13.—I went every evening this week (except this) to Frogmore with the Queen and the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary. The King has been very ill the whole week, and continues so.
14th.—A bad bulletin, and the most attached seem hopeless of the King’s recovery.
15th.—The King has been dangerously ill all to-day, and has taken no nourishment—his mind more distracted than ever, and his fever very high. Willis was up with him all last night, and Sir Henry Halford stays. I was at Lady Ilchester’s in the evening.
16th.—The King took three jellies, and had a little sleep this morning. The account in the evening was the same, and that no new symptoms had appeared.
17th.—I was with the Queen, the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary, the Dukes of Cambridge and Cumberland, at Frogmore. The King a little, but very little, better; all the physicians remain. Great alarm in London.
18th.—The Prince came to Windsor for a short time, and had a conversation with the Queen. There seems to be no amendment.
19th.—The Prince will not give away anything vacant by death or resignation. The Ministers complain that Government cannot go on without it. He tells them he reserves them for the King to fill up on his recovery, and that it was their fault that these difficulties occurred, from the restraints they laid. He has sent Tucker to get money from his Duchy of Cornwall, that he may not be obliged to Ministers.
29th.—During the last week nothing very material has taken place. The King has been as ill as ever, and takes so little nourishment that it is scarcely possible he can recover any strength—his mind as much deranged as ever. I have been almost every evening with the Queen and Princesses Elizabeth and Mary at Frogmore. Yesterday the King was taken up, and put on his flannel gown; he took four basins of milk; and he was thought to be not so weak as was apprehended.
August 5.—The last week passed nearly like the former. I went several evenings with the Queen and Princesses Mary and Elizabeth to Frogmore. The Queen read Thomson’s “Seasons;” but on Thursday the Queen’s Council came unexpectedly to propose calling in more physicians, or, at least, that a consultation might be held. The Prince came down several times. The King had another paroxysm, and is still in a dreadful state of mind; and will take nothing now but water and biscuit. A consultation was held yesterday at Sir Henry Halford’s. John Willis, Munro, and Simmons were the additional members. Simmons, however, would not give his opinion, as he said he could not, without having seen the patient. He came from Oxfordshire, through Windsor, for that purpose; but it was not permitted, as the other two, J. Willis and Munro, had not seen his Majesty.
7th.—Yesterday, Sir Henry Halford called and told me that when Lords Aylesbury, Winchilsea, and the Archbishop of Canterbury came to propose John Willis, the Queen, by the advice of the Prince, to whom she sent at Sir Henry’s request, answered that she and all the family had taken a solemn oath by which they promised the King that they never would admit J. Willis to attend him again, and that from the information given in 1804, during his Majesty’s last illness, the Privy Council had declared that the King’s objections were not without a foundation, in consequence of which the then Ministers (Lord Sidmouth’s Administration) had sent Simmons, a new person. Her Majesty, however, to prove that she had no personal prejudice against J. Willis, and did not wish to exclude any advice which might be supposed beneficial to the King, consented that a consultation might be held, at which J. Willis, with the addition of Drs. Simmons and Munro, might be present. This was held at Sir H. Halford’s, and last night the answers were given. Princess Mary told me this morning they only recommended acting as circumstances might require, and suggested nothing new. The King was dreadfully ill last night; and Willis even said they never attended one so ill, except a gentleman who died within forty-eight hours after. Yesterday, amidst much incoherent matter, he said, on a sudden: “The King is dying;” but then went on to other ravings. This was told me last night by Miss Goldsworthy. He is grown exceedingly thin, and scarcely takes any nourishment.
14th.—The King has been nearly in the same state in which he was a week ago. He takes more nourishment, but his mind is in as bad a state as ever; and the worse the more food he takes. The Queen’s Council answered that for the present they would not insist on J. Willis being admitted. They seem to have a notion of a right to more than giving advice. The Prince spent his birthday (the 12th) here. He came the day before, and stayed till the 13th. He rode out with Princesses Sophia and Augusta in the morning, and afterwards came to Frogmore, where the Queen was with Princesses Elizabeth and Mary, and the Duke of Clarence; and I was with her. The Duke of Cumberland came with the Prince. We sat long at luncheon, and the Prince was very attentive. The Duchess of York came to dinner, and all the Dukes were there, except the Duke of Sussex, who is ill. I was with Princess Sophia one evening, and twice with Princess Augusta. It seems the King has made no will, but it is thought he has made two or three memorandums. The Prince has informed his sisters that he means, in case of the King’s death, to have their incomes increased, and to give them apartments at St. James’s, as also to keep a table for them.
I went almost every morning to Frogmore with the Queen and Princesses Elizabeth and Mary. The Queen read Rogers’s “Pleasures of Memory” and Cowper’s “Task,” and planted little oaks and geraniums.
19th.—The King’s bodily health seems to be improved, but his mind remains in as bad a state as ever. The Queen’s Council (which seems to be very despotically inclined) insisted on bark being given him. The Prince spent the Duke of York’s birthday here, as did all the family. Was every morning with the Queen, except Saturday and Sunday, and she read Cowper’s “Task.”
26th.—The King is certainly rather better; for he sleeps, takes nourishment, is not always so violent, and sometimes talks a little rationally, at least within the last three days. Great apprehensions have been entertained for the Duke of Sussex; and, though better, he is thought to be in a very bad way. All the family met to spend the Duke of Clarence’s birthday (the 21st) here. I was with the Queen and Princesses Mary and Elizabeth most mornings at Frogmore. The Queen read Cowper and Cicero’s “Letters,” and took me with her in the little carriage, drawn by a pony.
September 3.—There seems to be little if any difference in the state of the King. On Saturday the Queen’s Council presented a petition, signed by all but Lord Winchilsea and the Bishop of York, requesting that her Majesty would send for Simmons. Her reply was that she had promised the King he should neither have Simmons nor Willis. Lord Winchilsea wanted John Willis. I was every morning with the Queen and Princesses Elizabeth and Mary at Frogmore, except Saturday and Sunday. The Queen read Cicero’s “Epistles.” I was also with Princesses Augusta and Sophia.
9th.—Still the same uncomfortable state, and certainly no amendment. I was with the Queen and Princesses as usual.
Yesterday, the 8th, was the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen’s wedding-day. The Duke and Duchess of York, Duke of Clarence, and Duke of Kent, dined with her. The Prince was prevented by business: he is just returned from Lord Hertford’s.
16th.—Heberden and the other physicians quarrelling; the former thinking the King better. It does not appear that there is any improvement. I was not out much with the Queen this week. Looked over a manuscript of English history for Princess Elizabeth. Went to Princess Augusta, &c.
Nothing very remarkable happened here in the last three months of 1811. The King rather recovered his bodily health, but his mind remained the same. No one allowed to speak to him but John Willis. The Queen began to have small parties in her own drawing-room, consisting of the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, on the week-days; on the Sundays only her lady of the bedchamber and myself. On Christmas evening the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Walsingham. The Prince fell down at Oatlands, and hurt his foot and hand, which confined him a long while, and he took too much laudanum.