The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-15
Concerning the stems already taken by Mr.. Pitt

| concerning the steps already taken by Mr.. Pitt
the prince is silent N,tnng done BY the two
houses of parliament can be a proper subject of
his animadversion; but when, previously to an,
discussion in pal lament the outlines of scheme
OF government are sent for his consideration, in
which It is proposed that he shall be personally
and principally concerned, and BY witch IN.
royal authority, and the public welfare, may De
deeply 'hected, the prince would he unjustfa
Bile, were he To withhold any xp'cit declaration
OF his sentiments. HIS silence might be con-
strued into a previous appreciation of plan, the
accomplishment of which every motive of duty
70 ms father sovereign, well as Of regard
Tor the public interest, obliges him TO consider
as injurious to- both.
In the state of deep distress, in which the
prince and the whole royal family wsre inyoly
ed, by the heavy calamity which has fallen Upon
the king, and at a moment when government; ,
deprived OF it's chiefenergy and support, seemed
peculiarly to need the cordiyl and united aid of
all descriptions Of good subjects, it was not ex-
pected by the prince, that plan should be Of
fered to his consideration, by which government
was to be rendered difficult, ifnot inpracticable
IN the hands OF any person intended to represent
the king authority, much less in the hands of his
eldest son-the heir apparent Of his kingdoms,
and the person most bound to the maintenance
OF his maJesiy's just prerogatives and authority,
as we'll as most interested IN the happiness, the
prosperity, and the glory of the people.
The prince forbears to remark the several
parts of the sketch of the plan laid before him ;
ne apprehends it must have been formed witt.
sufficient deliberation to preclude the probability
ct any argument of his producing an alteration
OF sentiment IN the projectors of it. But he trusts
| with confidence, t. the wisdom and Justice of
parliament, when the whole of this subject, and
the circumstances connected with it, shall come
under their deliberation
| He observes, therefore, only generally on the
heads communicated by Mr.. Pitt--apd it is with
deep regret the prince make the observation, that
1 he sees in the contents OF that paper, project
for producing weakness, disorder, and iuse curl
ty in every branch o the administration ola fairs
| A project for dividing the royal family from each
| other-for separating the court from the state /;
and therefore, by dist dining government from its
| natural and accustomed support, scheme for
| disconnecting the authority to command service,
| from the pow er OF annatns it by reward and
for slotting to the prince all the invid Gus duties
OF government, without the means of softening
them to the public, by any one act of grace, ia
vor, OF benignity.
| The princes feelings contemplating this
plan, are also rendered still more painful to him,
| by observing that it is not founded any gene
raj principle, but is calculated to infuse jeal.u-
sizes and suspicious (wholly groundess, he trusts
| IN that quarter, whose confidence it vii, ever be
the first pride of his life to merit and obtain
| With regard to the motive and object of the
limltat Ions and restrictions proposed, the Prince
N .
formation is offered him by his msjesty's minis
tiers on these points. They have informed him
tvhat the powers are which they mean to refuse
him, not sphy they withheld.
The prince, however, holding IS he does, that
it is an undoubted and fundamental principle OF
1t is cous tuition that the powers and p'erog,
tves of the crown are vested there as a trust for
e benefit of the people and that they are sa-
cred only as they are accessory to the preserva-
t on OF that posc and balance of the constitution
winch experience has proved to be the true Sc
cu'tty of the liberty of the subject-rnust be al.
lowed to observe. that the plea of public utility
ought to be strong, manifest, and urgent, which
calls for the extinction suspension of any one
of those essential rights in the supreme power
or its representative or which Justify the
prince IN consentlng, that in MS person exper
ment shall be made, to ascertain with how small
portion of the kingiy power the exc utive GO
vernment ofthis country may be carried on.
The prince has only TO add, that il security
for MS majesty's repossessng his rightful go
Ivernment, whenever L shall please Providence
IN bounty TO the country, to- remove the ca amty
with which he rs afflicted, be any part of tn OBJ
Iect OF this plan, the prince has only to be con-
yinced that any measure is necessary, or ever
conducive, to that end, to be the first to urge il
a the preliminary and paramount consideration
OF any settlerhentin which he would consent &c
share.
1t attention to what is presumed might be
his mnjesty's feelings and wishes on the hap
py day OF his recovery, be the object, it is will
the tr1est sincerity the prince expresses hi
hrm conviction, tn at no event would be more re
pugnant to the feelings of lis royal f.ther, thai
the knowledge, that the government of his so
and representative had exhibited the sovereg
power OF the realm in state of degradation, O
curtaiied authority and diminished energy
state hurtful IN practice TO the prosperity anC
God government of his people, and injurious il
its precedent TO the security Of the monarch, ant
the ghts of his family
Upon that part OF the plan which regards tn
k'1gs re ii aud personal property, the prince feel
himself compelled to remark, thati was not nece.
'ary for MIR. Pitt, nor proper to suggest to tn
prince, the restraint he proposes against tn,
princes granting away the kings real and per
sond property The prince does not conceive
that during the kings life, he is by law, entitled
to make any such grant ; and he is sure, that h,
has never shewr the smallest inclination to DOS
sess any such power. But it remains with Mr.
Pit To consider the eventual interests ottbc row
al family, and to provide proper and natural Sc
curity against the Encouragement OF them b,
others
The prince has discharged an indispe rs able
duty, III thus giving his free opinion on the plsr
submitted to his consideration.
! His convection of the evils which may arise I,
the kings interests, to the peace and haJpines,
OF the royal family, and to the safety and wei
fare OF the nation, from the government Of she
country remaining longer IN its present MANNED
and debilltated state, 0utweighs IN the prince.
mind, every consideration, and will determine
him to undertake the painful trust imposed nm