[[198]]the numerous visits made to the Princess Amelia by the king, and their affecting final interview. We believe we may, with truth, say those representations were erroneous; for the king's malady was of too serious a nature to admit of any new excitement, and the peculiar regard he entertained for this daughter would not allow his hearing of her sufferings in any shape, without feeling the most acute pain.

The Prince of Wales also still pursued the most dissipated rounds of pleasure, making his very name hateful to every virtuous ear. The house of royalty, indeed, seemed divided against itself.

General historians say that the year

1811

was not marked by any very particular events of much interest, either to kings or kingdoms; yet we must differ from them in this opinion, inasmuch as, at its commencement, the Prince of Wales was appointed Regent, and the king's person confided to the care of the queen, conjointly with archbishops, lords, and other adherents of her majesty.

The session was opened on the 12th of February; and the speech, delivered by commission, in the name of the regent, expressed unfeigned sorrow at the king's malady, by which the exercise of the royal authority had devolved upon his royal highness. It also congratulated parliament and the country on

[[199]]the success of his majesty's arms, by land and sea, and did not forget to beg for further SUPPLIES,—so much required.

Let us here inquire the cause that prevented the amiable regent from opening the session in person. Had his mistresses detained him too late in the morning? or had they played a designed part with him, to prove their superior domination? or had he been in his most privately-retired apartments, conversing with a few of the male favourites of his household in ITALIAN? If either of these do not give the true reason of his absence, we may be sure to ascertain it upon inquiry of the vintner or faro-table keeper. Here the different degrees of morality, contrived by custom and keeping the people in ignorance, are well illustrated!

The queen was much at Windsor at this period, she being obliged, by etiquette, to hear the bulletins issued by the physicians concerning his majesty's health, or her affection for the afflicted king would not have produced so great a sacrifice on her part.

In this year, the disgraced Duke of York was restored to his former post of commander-in-chief; although, but a short period before, he was found guilty of being privy to, if not actually and personally, disposing of situations in the army, by which traffic, very large amounts had been realized by one of his royal highness' mistresses.