d
to any of the late prince's sons, being under the age of eighteen years,
his mother, the princess dowager of Wales, should be guardian of his
person, and regent of these kingdoms, until he should attain the age of
majority, with such powers and limitations as should appear necessary
and expedient for these purposes. This message produced a very
affectionate address, promising to take the affair into their serious
consideration; and in the beginning of May the duke of Newcastle
presented to the house of peers a bill to provide for the administration
of government, in case the crown should descend to a minor. The bill was
read a second time, and committed, when a second message arrived from
his majesty, recommending to their consideration the settlement of
such a council of regency as the bill proposed, consisting of his royal
highness the duke of Cumberland, who at that time commanded the army,
the archbishop of Canterbury, the lord chancellor, the lord high
treasurer, or first lord commissioner of the treasury, the president
of the council, the lord privy-seal, the lord high-admiral of Great
Britain, or first commissioner of the admiralty, the two principal
secretaries of state, and the lord chief justice of the king's-bench;
all these great officers, except his royal highness the duke, for the
time being. This bill did not pass through the lower house without
violent debate and bitter sarcasms. The council of regency, though
espoused by all the ministry, including the paymaster-general, met with
fierce opposition, as an unnecessary and fatal restriction that would
impede the machine of government, and, as the council was constituted,
might be productive of the most pernicious consequence. Some of the
members ventured even to insinuate the danger of leaving at the head of
a large standing army, a prince of the blood vested with a share of
the regency, possessed of great personal influence, the darling of
the soldiery, brave, popular, and enterprising; supposed not devoid of
ambition, and not at all remarkable for any symptoms of extraordinary
affection towards the person of the heir-apparent. The history of
England was ransacked for invidious instances of royal uncles and
regents who had injured the sovereigns, and distressed the government,
by their pride, cruelty, and ambition. The characters of John Lackland,
and John of Gaunt, Humphrey and Richard dukes of Gloucester, were
called in review, canvassed, compared, and