able to the practice of ancient times; that what he proposed had
been enjoyed by his present majesty in the life-time of his father;
and that a settlement of this nature was reasonable and necessary to
ascertain the independency of the apparent heir to the crown. The motion
was vigorously opposed by sir Robert Walpole, as an encroachment on the
prerogative; as an officious intermeddling in the king's family affairs;
and as an effort to set his majesty and the prince at variance. But a
misunderstanding, it seems, had already happened in the royal family.
The minister, in the midst of his harangue, told the house by his
majesty's command, that on the preceding day the king had sent a message
to the prince by several noblemen of the first quality, importing, that
his majesty had given orders for settling a jointure upon the princess
of Wales, suitable to her high rank and dignity, which he would in a
proper time lay before parliament, in order to be rendered more certain
and effectual; that, although his royal highness had not thought fit,
by any application to his majesty, to desire that his allowance of fifty
thousand pounds might be rendered less precarious, the king, to
prevent the bad consequences which he apprehended might follow from the
undutiful measures which his majesty was informed the prince had been
advised to pursue, would grant to his royal highness, for his majesty's
life, the said fifty thousand pounds per annum, to be issued out of the
civil list revenues, over and above the prince's revenues arising
from the duchy of Cornwall, which his majesty thought a very competent
allowance, considering his own numerous issue, and the great expense
which did and must necessarily attend an honourable provision for the
whole royal family; that the prince, by a verbal answer, desired their
lordships to lay him with all humility at his majesty's feet; to assure
him that he did, and ever should, retain the utmost duty for his royal
person; that he was very thankful for any instance of his majesty's
goodness to him or to the princess, and particularly for his majesty's
gracious intention of settling a jointure upon her royal highness;
but that, as to the message, the affair was now out of his hands,
and therefore he could give no answer to it; that his royal highness
afterwards used many dutiful expressions towards his majesty; adding,
"Indeed, my lords, it is in other hands, and I am sorry for it;"
or words to that effect