CHAPTER CLXX. CONTINUATION OF THE LIFE OF LORD LOUGHBOROUGH DURING THE CHAP. CLXX. A.D. 1788. by Lord I AM enabled to let in a flood of new light upon this interesting portion of our history. It has always been notorious that Lord Loughborough was the chief adviser of the Prince of Wales and of the Whigs when the royal authority was sus- Measures pended; but little has hitherto been known of the measures proposed which he urged. Had they been adopted, they probably Loughwould have led to civil war, and it is impossible to defend borough for restoring him from the charge of rashness and recklessness in proposing the exercise them. I adhere to the doctrine, that when the two Houses of the Exeof Parliament, on due inquiry, have found and resolved that the Sovereign is disabled, by mental infirmity, from exercising the functions of Royalty, the next heir to the throne is entitled, during the continuance of this disability, to carry on the Executive Government as Regent, with the same authority as if the disabled Sovereign were naturally dead;instead of admitting that upon such an emergency power is vested in the two Houses of Parliament to elect as Regent whomsoever they please to confer upon him, or withhold from him, any of the prerogatives of the Crown, and to transfer to another, at their pleasure, any portion of the royal patronage. The view of the question which is consonant to our monarchical constitution would probably have met with general acceptation, but for the circumstance that it suited the interests of an unpopular party, and would have been fatal to an Administration which deservedly stood high in public favour. We shall find that Lord Loughborough, although he did not openly recommend a course different from this, and although he stoutly denied that he had ever done so, in reality pressed the Prince of Wales to supersede the constitutional jurisdiction cutive au thority. CHAP. A. D. 1788. He is called the Prince of Parliament, and, by his own authority, to place himself upon the throne during his father's lifetime. His Majesty's indisposition, although it had been coming on for some months, was long anxiously concealed from the public; but in the end of October and beginning of November it was so much aggravated, that rumours of it were spread abroad. Lord Loughborough had heard nothing beyond these, when he received the following note: "The Duke of York presents his compliments to Lord Loughin to advise borough, and having a commission of the utmost consequence from the Prince of Wales to communicate, desires he will do him the favour to come to Carlton House as soon as he conveniently can. "Carlton House, 4 o'clock, Thursday, 6th Nov."* of Wales. secretary. Immediately obeying this summons, all the details of the royal malady were disclosed to him, and he was told that to him, in the absence of Mr. Fox, the Prince must look for counsel; that a confidential communication would be made to him daily, upon the state of the King's health; and that he must, as a great constitutional lawyer, consider what steps ought to be taken in such an unprecedented emergency. Intrigues The person who acted the most important part at this of Mr. J. time is as yet not much known to fame, — Mr. J. W. Payne, W. Payne, the Prince's the Prince's private secretary. This obscure, good-natured, but not very profound or trust-worthy individual, had much influence over the mind of his royal Master, and was actuated by a keen love of intrigue. Accordingly he opened separate negotiations with the two rivals and enemies,- Lord Loughborough and Lord Thurlow, holding out to each the certain prospect of favour under the new régime, which might be expected speedily to commence. He was stationed at Windsor, where the Prince had established himself to watch over his father's illness. Letters from Mr. Payne to The following are letters which he wrote to Lord Loughborough: "MY DEAR LORD, "7th Nov. "In situations of difficulty and moment, one generally looks to * Rossl. MSS. those friends, who from presuming are most willing, we know also are most able to administer advice. On this presumption, I shall make no further apology for troubling you. 66 CHAP. CLXX. A.D. 1788. illness. "I am sorry to tell you, His Majesty is now in a very alarming Lord situation, so bad, that I fear his dissolution is almost the best that Loughborough can be hoped. He has at present, with a more considerable degree respecting of wandering, a most violent heat, accompanied at the same time the King's with a great chilness: every moment we fear something dreadful. Knowing the friendship and opinion the best of friends entertains for you coincides so much with my own, I venture to say to you at a time when he sees nobody, that if anything that can suggest itself that can be of use, I shall be happy to be made a vehicle of to his advantage. He has this morning talked to me of rejecting any rule, where somebody was not united to him. I told him, I was persuaded he would be advised to the contrary by his best friends, on the truest principles of public good, if any unfortunate accident should happen. I speak my mind freely to him without much prejudgment, and therefore I only mention this to you as it passed. "I need not say to you, I beg I may not be understood to have had any communication with you on this subject, as I have no authority for so doing, and therefore you need not acknowledge any such. Seeing the Prince as much as I do, I am anxious to have the best opinions, and those I know to be most friendly to him, during his great agitation of spirits, in which he displays the most filial and affectionate duty and regard to a very unhappy family. "I have been up two nights, and a most violent headache will not add to the coherency of saying any more, than that I am, "Most sincerely and obediently, "Your Lordship's faithful servt. "Friday, 8 o'clock at night. "J. W. PAYNE. "If you should have any thing to say, direct to me at the Prince's at Windsor; but I hope to be in town the day after to-morrow for a few hours." "MY DEAR LORD, "Nov. 9th and 10th, 12 o'clock at night. "I received your first letter this morning in bed, and as the Prince was then asleep, I waited till he was up to communicate the contents of it. I shall best give you his reception of it in his CHAP. A.D. 1788 REIGN OF GEORGE III. own words: Tell Lord Loughborough I am persuaded no less of his attachment than I desire him to be of mine, and shall always receive his advice with the same great degree of pleasure I do upon this occasion, and without which I shall not act for any material decision of my present delicate situation.' I can add on my own part, that he expressed the highest respect for all the sentiments contained in it, and which I am convinced will not be lost upon him. As I wrote fully to Sheridan on the subject of His Majesty's situation, I was on the point of addressing myself to you on the subject of your last letter, which I had just received, when I was called away; so I despatched the messenger with what was finished, that you might have the communication contained in it before you went to bed; since when, matters have gone worse, and continue to increase with the night; but as I do not mean to send this letter till I am up, I will give you the particulars at that time. The Prince has been just applied to, to lay his commands upon all the officers and servants to obey implicitly the directions of the physicians, with respect to the force that might be necessary to use in the course of the night, as their patient was growing much more peremptory; and from what I can understand from the best authority, the last stroke to this unhappy affair cannot be far off. It is what every person in a situation to see, is obliged to wish, as the happiest possible termination to the present melancholy scene. "I took the liberty of mentioning to the Prince the very liberal accommodation of your conduct in promotion of his service. He said, Well, if the C. chooses to remain where he is, Lord L. can have the Privy Seal or President for the present, and settle the other arrangement afterwards, if it is more to his mind.' I tell you this only in strict confidence, as I have no authority to say it; but the regard I know he bears you assures me he would think all precaution of secrecy unnecessary with you. I have not yet read to him the contents of the transcript enclosed in your last, nor the declaration that accompanied it, as he is now very much fatigued; but it shall be the first thing I do in the morning. I have, however, informed him of the receipt of it, and he desires me to thank you for it. "I need not suggest to your Lordship's better judgment how material it is that there should be no appearance of the smallest intercourse between this place and town, as it might serve to inflame some certain people, who, I have reason to think, are not quite convinced that a reform might take place; and all active CLXX. A.D. 1788. communication where you are may be well enough accounted for, CHAP. and expected, without a certain person (who sees nobody) be supposed to be informed, or at least be engaged in it. The person I allude to said to me to-night, 'I hope Lord L. and S. are in close communication together on this occasion,' and I assured him I knew that you were both privy to everything each other did: at which he was much pleased. "I trust to your Lordship's friendship to myself, no less than your known zeal for H. R. H., for a free communication of your advice on the present occasion, as I cannot flatter myself I can be of any essential service to the person I am most obliged to, more than in being the medium of conveying more worthy opinions than my own, and I trust I need not add, that nothing you can say shall not be as sacred as in the repository of your own bosom." "Half-past ten, Monday morning. "The King's fever is hardly anything to-day; his pulse is not much above 70. The other distemper fixed, and no appearance of the smallest abatement with the amendment of his health. I think something must soon be thought of; for I think all secrecy with regard to His Majesty's situation any longer almost unadvisable. Pray give me your opinion. "Ever, my dear Lord, yours, &c., "J. W. P." "MY DEAR LORD, "10th Nov., Monday night. "I have just now received the favour of yours, and am sorry I can give no better accounts on the subject of it; the King continuing in the same situation. I am happy to find your Lordship's opinion so strongly corroborate my own. An Act of Regency must necessarily precede the occasion for the exercise of it, as the third state would be wanting to give force to it. No law can be passed before that chasm is filled up, and the succession must be to the uninfringed right of the past inheritor, only subject to a possible resumption in case of competency. Some form may perhaps be necessary in requesting the next heir to assume the reins of government, but the first occasion of publick business must be the time, and that cannot be long postponed. The Prince's task seems to me to be an easy one. He is far from anxious to interfere of his own will, and nothing can possibly proceed without application to him. King William, in a weaker degree, seems |