ating the malady, as daily announced
at St. James's, may be proper enough to keep alive the hopes of the
public, who will argue on mere words, in reality, within this
fortnight the King hath remained from day to day without any
variation in symptoms: so this very morning Dr. Gisborne told me,
as his opinion, resulting from conversation with his brother
physicians in immediate attendance. My friend Dr. Milman seems to
be of the like opinion. That _possibly_ His Majesty may recover the
perfect use of his understanding is not less believed than hoped
for: cases have been stated, more desperate than the present,
wherein the recovery hath been perfect. Yet much mischief is
already done, or rather the basis of mischief is already and
irremoveably laid. In future times, designing, ambitious and
profligate men may start the idea that what has been may be, and
in the desperate effort of factious opposition, even venture to
arraign the temper and health of mind, though it shows its perfect
state, and the wise measures of Government should put such daring
insult at defiance.

If the King remains a length of time in the same state, I would, on
such too probable circumstance, join my speculations to your
Lordship's, could I imagine any resting-place, or outlet, in the
labyrinth of cases and deductions which the subject affords. I had
best, therefore, confine my correspondence, and take up the
immediate matter and language of the mere day, unless I meant a
book rather than a letter.

The language touches on the hopes and views of partymen, and on the
interests of the country as complicated with the present
Administration remaining in power. My business calling me often
into the city, I speak as an eye-witness to the temper of men at
the Royal Exchange, and Lloyd's Coffee-rooms, never did
Administration stand so high in opinion of the moneyed and
commercial world: throughout the city, the fears of losing Pitt
from the finance make as much of the regrets of anticipation, as
the fears of losing the King from the throne. Should the change of
Ministry (too much apprehended) take place, it is thought that
Fox's party--to temporize with the public opinion, too strong
directly to meet in the teeth--will propose a coalescence of some
sort; but so narrowed, an