se. Every article of it was warmly
contested on the same grounds as when the resolutions were discussed,
and some amendments and variations were introduced; the peerage clause,
in particular, being limited to three years. Thus altered, the bill was
sent up to the lords; and on the 17th, their lordships, in committee,
made two important additions to it: one placing all the palaces, parks,
houses, gardens, &c, under the control and management of the queen; and
the other committing to her the care of all the royal offspring under
the age of twenty-one.

RECOVERY OF HIS MAJESTY.

The hopes of power and place which opposition had formed, and for the
realization of which they had so stoutly contended, were suddenly dashed
to the ground. While thus contending, it had been rumoured abroad that
his majesty was fast recovering. This was essentially true; and Pitt
had for some days been halting between two opinions, namely: whether
he should proceed with, the regency-bill, or whether he should stop the
proceedings. His opponents also had been perplexed as to the proper mode
of procedure; whether to let the bill pass at once without opposition,
and accept office, or to wait a little longer, and see whether there was
any chance of retaining it. At length, however, all the perplexities by
which both parties were surrounded were clean swept away. On the
very day that the lords committed the bill, as sent up to them by the
commons, it was publicly declared that the king was convalescent. This,
no doubt, was a grievous disappointment to the Whig leaders, for it
brought all their hopes and designs to a sudden termination. They had,
however, only themselves to blame for this disappointment, inasmuch as
they might, but for their opposition, have taken the reins of government
into their hands two months ago. But hope now fled, and desire failed.
On the 19th of February, Lord Chancellor Thurlow announced from the
woolsack, in his peculiar sonorous tone of voice, that from the reports
of the physicians, his majesty had been for some time in a state of
convalescence; that the accounts just received conveyed the happy news
that the improvement in his health was still progressive; and that,
therefore, it would be indecorous to proceed in the present measures,
he had no doubt, he said, that the house, participating in the general
happiness of every man in the kingdom, would consider it necessary to
wait a few days before they went further