1789,
the king was declared convalescent, so as to be able to resume his duties, and defeat those air-drawn schemes of power, which his queen was about to assume.
The insulted sovereign thus freed the people, for a time, from the artful stratagems and devices arising from the charnel house of oppression.
It is certain, that his majesty was free from all violent paroxysms, and generally manifested a quiet and unobtrusive disposition in all things. But then this was the utmost of his improvement. Reason's empire was fatally shook, and the recollection of the past incapacitated him for forming an opinion either upon the present or the future.
The queen, in the mean time, resolved not to be entirely debarred of her prospects of patronage; for, under the specious disguise of kingly authority, her
[[93]]majesty gave appointments and honours to the hirelings around her, and carried "majorities" whenever she pleased.
![[93]](#9008006848925025622_93.png.id-1920690328067306388.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
It was not deemed prudent that the king should open the House in person; therefore, the chancellor delivered the speech in the name of his majesty.
During this session, Mr. Wilberforce pleaded ably for the abolition of West Indian slavery, though to very little advantage.
Some excesses of an unhappy description were practised by the Duke of York; but they were passed over without any public punishment or parental rebuke, although a family of high respectability suffered the loss of their only daughter, a most beautiful and accomplished girl, nearly twenty years of age! She was a victim of the duke's sensuality, and destroyed herself by poison soon afterwards,—such were the extreme sentiments of honor and virtue entertained by her. Some of her family yet live to mourn her loss and regret the privileges of royalty!
In this year a revolution broke out in France, and innumerable lives were lost. The opposite views which Burke and Fox took of this event dissolved the friendship that had so long existed between them.
In February,