The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-14 00:00:00

356

*tendered their 'resignation to the REGENT ; but, unlike
their predecessors, they did nor, on retiring from office,
destroy every voucher which could be necessary to their
successors. They did not sacrifice the public service to
the gratification of personal animosity. They continued
to wield the affairs of the Realm with attention and
regularity, until the persons destined to replace them
Ilould be appointed. Meanwhile powers were grant-
ed to Lord WELLESLEY to establish the basis of an
Administration ; and the Noble Marquis, wht; had lately
declared Lord Liv Kamm, and his friends totally incom-
petent to the management of State affairs, with a mutabi-
lity of opinion which did honour to his candour, or through
a wish to let his former colleagues feel the superior influ-
ence which he now possessed, derided them with an offer
to join him in forming an eficient Administration. His
overtures to the Opposition were no doubt more sincere.
But here he was met by a depth of counteracting policy
which baffled his own, and compelled him, after vain ef-
forts, to establish a Ministry, of which he was to be the
bead, to draw the curtain over his own brilliant prospects
for) ever : for, deprived of the support of an Adminis-
tration, which he had abandrncd and reviled, he now
found himself deserted by the Opposition, to which he had
insured the decisive triumph they had gained ; and
without numbers to invest him with Parliamentary
i ifluence, was reduced to the necessity of resigning his en-
vied task, and retiring to vent in the peaceful vales of the
country, the bitterness of his political disappointment.—
Foiled at his own weapon by the skill and tenacity of
Lords GREY and GRENVILLE, he had no sooner quitted the
field, when a nobleman of indisputed candour and libe-
rality, considered by all parties as a sincere frierrd to the
PRINCE and to the country, and therefore well calculated
to mediate for both, was invested with similar powers.—
The hopes of the Opposition Peers were now turned into
fearless confidence. The Nobleman who conducted the
regociations had hitherto been deemed one of their own
body : proposals had been made to every other class of
politicians, and had been rejected ; every attempted coali-
tion bad failed, and they thought therefore that they re-
mained alone the last resource of the nation. They felt
all their strength; and resolved to exert it ; not to serve
their country, but to gratify their pride and cupidity.—
. They still secretly resented the neglect of the PRINCE at the
expiration of the restrictions, against which, on interested
grounds alone, they had so stoutly contended. They
wished, now they thought it in their power, to humble
him in his turn. Well acquainted with the change
which his political sentiments had undergone under
the Administration of Mr. PERCEVAL, they com-
menced by requiring a total surrender of his opinions
on every important subject, or what was equal to it, the
_ adoption of measures of a tendency directly opposite to
those which he had hitherto sanctioned with his authority.
Desirous of giving effect to the vote of the Commons,
his ROYAL HIGHNESS admitted the unfettered introduction
of their policy, and invited them to office on their own
terms. Concessions, howeverfonly served to increase their
demands and their avidity. All political difficulties being
temoved, they created others of a different nature, that
dey might publicly Show the iron rule with which they
iptendeof to tyrannize over their Prince. Able to pursue
unshackled all the measures which they had so long re-
presented, as of vital importance to the prosperity, nay, to
the existence of the 'British empire, they refused to carry
diem into execution, unless they should be allowed, as a
preliminary coudition for treating, to re•cast theitEGENfs