suggesting this arrangement, he truly avowed that he had "no predilections to indulge;" having now become as indifferent to the principles, as to the persons, of the Whig leaders. His es trange ment from the hig leaders. influence of Restrained for a time, by the possibility of the king's recovery1, from making any changes, he had easily become satisfied with existing arrangements,- his contentment being increased by a liberal civil list. This result was imputed to secret counsels,-to the persuasion of the queen, the Hertford family, and the court. Parliament and the press resounded with denunciations of these covert influences.2 But the events of Paramount this period had a deeper import than the intrigues of the Crown a court, and the disappointments of a party. They marked the paramount influence of the crown, in the government of the country. Here were the two great parties in the state looking to royal favour alone, as the source of their power. It was never doubted by ministers, that, if they retained the confidence of the prince regent, they would be able to command. the support of Parliament. It was never doubted by the opposition, that, if invited to accept office, they would be able to maintain their position as firmly as those ministers, whom they were seeking to displace. Both parties were assured, that the support of Parliament would follow the confidence of the crown. The Whigs had relied upon the personal friendship of the prince regent but ministers, having supplanted their Negotiations on of Mr. Per ceval, 1812. rivals in court favour, continued to govern the The assassination of Mr. Perceval made an unexthe death pected opening for a new ministry: but the court appears to have been resolved that no considerable change should follow. Overtures were made to Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning, to strengthen a government to whose policy they were opposed: but,—as had doubtless been expected, they refused such conditions. The old government would have been at once revived, had not the Commons addressed the regent, on the motion of Mr. Stuart Wortley, to take measures "to form a strong and efficient administration."2 Lord Wellesley was now commissioned to form a ministry: but none of the existing ministers would listen to his overtures; and the opposition declined to accept such a share of the cabinet as was offered to them; and thus his lordship's mission failed, as the court had, probably, intended.3 Lord mission. At length Lord Moira,-the intimate friend of the prince, and the unconscious tool of the court,—was charged to consult with Lord Grey and Lord Grenville, on the formation of an administration. He stated that 1 Twiss's Life of Eldon, ii. 209— 213; Court and Cabinets of the Regency, i. 305. 2 Hans. Deb., 1st Ser., xxiii. 231, 286. 3 Court and Cabinets of the Regency, i. 353; Stapleton's Life of Canning, 200; Moore's Life of Sheridan, ii. 241; Lord Colchester's Diary, ii. 382–384. 66 household. he had received this commission without any restrictions upon the consideration of such points as they judged useful for his service. Nothing could exceed the apparent fairness of this proposal; but, as Lords Grey and Grenville had received information that no changes would The royal be permitted in the royal household', they inquired whether they should be at liberty to consider appointments to those great offices in the household, which were usually included in political arrangements, on a change of ministry. Lord Moira, having obtained the prince's consent to part with the officers of the household, if he should advise it, had assured his royal highness, before he undertook this mission, " that he should not part with one of them." In execution of his promise, he now said that it would be impossible for him to concur in the necessity of changing the household on the formation of a new ministry; and upon this issue the negotiations were broken off. As the views of Lord Moira on the one side, and of the Whigs on the other, had been well known before Lord Moira received his commission 2, this proposal would seem to have been as illusory as those which had preceded it. But there was yet another artifice practised upon the opposition leaders. Though Lord Moira had determined not to agree to any alteration in the household, Lord Hertford, Lord Yarmouth, and other officers had resolved to resign their offices at court, should the opposition undertake to form a government. But this important information was prevented, by court intrigues, from reaching the noble lords who were conducting the negotiations.3 Mr. T. Grenville to Marquess of Buckingham, 30th April, 1812. -Court and Cabinets of the Regency, i. 335. From same to same, June 1st.-Ibid., 336. 2 Mr. T. Grenville to the Mar quess of Buckingham.—Ibid., i. 357. The re They insisted upon the change in order to give "to a The leaders of the opposition were persuaded gent's ani- of the hollowness of all the proposals which had against the been made to them; and, knowing the hostility of mosity Whigs. the court, were as unwilling as their opponents, that these overtures should lead to any result. Had they been less lofty and unbending, they might perhaps have overcome the obstacles which they dreaded. The regent had not the stubborn will of his royal father, and might have been won over to their side again, if they had once established themselves at court. So thought many of their disappointed followers: but the great lords judged otherwise, and proudly shrank from the ungracious task of combating the disfavour of the prince, and the intrigues of his courtiers. The prince, indeed, had now become so violent against the opposition, that we are reminded of George III. in the days of the coalition. "He told Lord Wellesley that he had Twiss's Life of Eldon, ii. 214-220; 1 Debates in House of Lords, 3rd, 42; Horner's Mem., ii. 111, 311; Lord Grenville to the Marquess of Buckingham, June 6th and 9th, 1812; Court and Cabinets of the Regency, i. 353, 377; Mr. T. Grenville.-Ibid., 354; Life and Opinions of Earl Grey, 300-308. no objection to one or two of them individually, but as a body he would rather abdicate the regency than ever come into contact with them." And again, after the failure of Lord Moira's mission,-" three times that day, before dinner and after dinner, he declared that if Lord Grey had been forced upon him, he should have abdicated." 2 tution of Lord These negotiations, meanwhile, had served their pur- Reconstipose. The old administration was immediately recon- the minisstituted, under the Earl of Liverpool; and when com- try under plaints were made in the House of Commons, that a Liverpool. strong administration had not been formed, in compliance with their address, the blame was thrown upon the impracticable leaders of the opposition. Ministers were now safe, and gained an easy triumph over Mr. Stuart Wortley and Lord Milton, who endeavoured to unsettle the government, by further representations to the regent.3 Tory po litics. Henceforth the ascendency of Tory politics, which AscendGeorge III. had established, and which the regent had y of ency been expected to overthrow, was maintained more firmly than ever. By the influence of the crown it had been. created; and by the same influence it was upheld during the regency, and throughout the reign of George IV. All opposition being thus defeated, and the ministers and the court party being agreed, the prince regent had no further need of personal interposition in the government of the country. ings On his accession to the throne, he was dissatis- Proceedfied with ministers, for resisting his demands for a against larger civil list but submitted to their judgment, and the Queen, even, in his speech to Parliament, disclaimed any wish for an increased revenue.1 Soon afterwards 1 Court and Cabinets of the Regency, i. 323. 2 Moore's Mem. by Lord John Russell, i. 360. 3 June 11th, Hans. Deb., 1st Ser., xxiii. 397. 4 Twiss's Life of Eldon, ii. 363; Com. Journ., lxxv. 110. 1820. |