The King’s illness declared; it has long been suspected that the physicians were detained as much on the account of the father as on that of the daughter.[365]
BATTLE OF BUSACO
In the Apollo, General Simon, who was made prisoner at the affair of Busaco, came home. He tells a story of his having accompanied Masséna to reconnoitre the position of Busaco, and that upon his observing que la position était forte, Masséna with some asperity replied, ‘Yes, but I have seen many stronger forced.’ Simon construed this retort into a reproof, and answered only by requesting that if any attack was to be made, he might be entrusted to lead on that occasion. Accordingly he commanded a division on that day; the ascent was so steep that he was compelled to dismount, and was soon surrounded, and made prisoner.[366]
The King being incapable of affixing the sign manual to the Act for the further prorogation of Parliament, the two Houses met in consequence of the prorogation expiring on Nov. 1st. It being an unexpected meeting, very few persons, especially of Opposition, were present. Ministers, however, had foreseen the event for a day or two, and Treasury Notes were issued and messengers sent to Cheveley and other Ministerial houses in the country. Ld. H. supported the proposal of adjournment and deprecated all discussion, adding that he could have wished the adjournment had been from day to day only. Sheridan flourished, and affected to speak the sentiments of the Prince. He had artfully fortified Tierney in his unsettled feeling upon the occasion, and Tierney had injudiciously, in consequence of some strange crotchet, abstained from going down. The Prince resides at Windsor, and conducts himself with very unusual discretion; he has not seen or sent to any person whatever. Sheridan has attempted to see him, but hitherto without success.
2nd Nov.—Pss. Amelia died. She was the youngest, the prettiest, and the most beloved of all the Princesses; her life had been artificially prolonged but to suffer, as her complaints were incurable and of excruciating pain. Previous to her receiving the Sacrament, in compliance with the earnest entreaty of the Prince, she consented to see the Queen, with whom she had inflexibly refused to have an interview, saying that she ascribed the misery she had undergone for 10 years, and perhaps her actual hopeless situation, to her hardness of heart. After seeing her, she dictated a letter to the Prince telling him that his eloquence had prevailed, and taught her to survive resentment, the last feeling in the human breast.
The P. and D. of Cambridge are joint executors to her will, which the Prince has determined shall not be proved. The P. behaved throughout with the greatest tenderness, and previous to her death facilitated their interviews. The P. is behaving with the utmost circumspection and decorum, owing partly to the occupation of fulfilling his sister’s wishes and ordering the ceremonial of the funeral with which he is entrusted. He has not seen any of the Opposition.
THE KING’S ILLNESS
Ld. Grenville, who came to town yesterday (9th Nov.), has had two visits from Tommy Tyrwhitt.[367] He represents the first as an inspection of his state of mind and body (reports being current that he was bad and dying). He smiled and said he had passed muster very well. The 2nd visit was to state the condition of the King, but the communication was verbal, and the channel not such as to lead to anything very confidential. If the bulletins between this and Tuesday should be favourable, the news from Portugal good, and their nerves strong, it is supposed Ministers will hazard the attempt of an adjournment; if not, a summons for the meeting of the Privy Council will be issued, and an examination of the physicians take place on Wednesday, and their report be brought before the House and taken into consideration on the day following that which is fixed for the meeting. Probably even amongst themselves they are as yet undecided how to proceed. Ld. G. Leveson (who speaks the language of Ld. Harrowby probably, but does not adopt his views or sentiments) is of opinion that if the Regency should be proposed, it will be clogged with limitations and every species of restriction, and that any artifice will be resorted to likely to incense the Opposition and impel them to utter some rash expressions which will ruin them with the public.
14th Nov.—Our leading Lords are each to maintain their former doctrines in ’88. Ld. Grenville grounds his line upon the course he adopted when he was Speaker, and refers to his speech, or rather book, published with his authority. He even goes the length of consistency so far as to hint that he would advise the P. to suggest himself the limiting his powers as Regent; par parenthèse, if he were to drop such an opinion at C. house, his favour would vanish instantly. On the other hand, Ld. Grey is equally firm in maintaining his own opinion, which he urged so strongly formerly. If this difference between them should transpire before to-morrow, Ministers would avail themselves of it and get them debating amongst themselves. Grey and Lauderdale came up last night; I have been with them, and sitting for two hours by the bedside of the latter, who is ill, and will hardly be able to attend to-morrow. It is one of the few occasions when his absence will perhaps be an advantage, as he would proclaim opinions I fear he has imbued his companion with already too much, viz., that it would be manly and due to the country to express the necessity of the King’s abdicating even if he should recover from this temporary derangement, for the loss of sight and increasing deafness are infirmities incompatible with the performance of the kingly functions. This uttered in public will completely ruin their cause; for, strange as it may appear, the increasing maladies of the K. endear him to the country.
THE KING’S ILLNESS