XXXI. On the twenty-third of February, the day before CHAP. that to which the house of peers had adjourned, Mr. 1789. Pitt, who was dining with lord Chesterfield, received Recovery a letter from the king, written in his own hand, and of his announcing his recovery: the epistle was short; but majesty. it expressed his majesty's great satisfaction at the idea of a renewed intercourse with his minister after its long suspension, and of restoring the functions of his government; for which purpose Mr. Pitt was requested to confer with the lord chancellor, and to visit the king next day at Kew. On the twenty-fourth, the chancellor informed the lords that he had been admitted to several interviews with his majesty, and had a conference for an hour with him that very day; also that his majesty's mind was clear, and his conceptions distinct; so that he appeared capable of conversing on any topic: under these circumstances, several adjournments of the peers took place, as well as of the commons, to whom similar information was imparted by the minister. At length, conformably to notice, a commission under the great seal was read to the two houses, on the tenth of March, authorising the commissioners previously appointed by letters patent for opening the parliament, to declare certain additional causes for holding the same; after which the chancellor observed, that his majesty being, by the blessing of Providence, recovered from his afflicting malady, had commanded him to convey to parliament his warmest acknowlegements for the proofs they had given of affection to his person, of zeal for the honor of his crown, and concern for the security and good government of his dominions; doubting not but that the late serious interruption of public business would afford additional incitement to apply themselves, as soon as possible, to the different objects of national concern which required their attention. Notice also was taken of the Prussian alliance; and the commons were informed that the estimates of the current that by Mr. Pitt's measures the connexion between England and Ireland might have been broken, from the regency of each kingdom becoming a distinct and separate power. СНАР. year would be immediately laid before them. An XXXI. address of congratulation and thanks to his ma1789. jesty was passed by the lower house without a dis sentient voice; and the same unanimity prevailed regarding a motion for a message to the queen, congratulating her on an event in which she was so peculiarly interested. Actuated by that religious principle which formed a distinguishing part of his character, the king determined to return public thanks to Almighty God, in the cathedral of his metropolis, for the mercy which had been vouchsafed to him: accordingly, on the twenty-third of April, which was appointed to be held as a day of public thanksgiving throughout the realm, his majesty, attended by the queen and royal family, the two houses of parliament, and all the great officers of state, judges, and foreign ambassadors, repaired in procession to St. Paul's. He entered at the west end of the church, where a military band was stationed, which played appropriate music, until he reached the area under the great dome: it then ceased; and the organ, accompanied by the voices of above 5000 children of the charity schools, placed on circular seats gradually rising between the pillars, burst forth in that simple but sublime melody, the hundredth psalm: the king was evidently affected ; and, turning to the bishop of Lincoln, near whom, as dean of the cathedral, he was walking, said with great emotion, 'I now feel that I have been ill.' 15 He then stopped; but soon recovering himself, proceeded to the choir, where the humility with which he at first knelt down, and the fervor with which he appeared to pour forth the thanksgivings of a grateful heart to the supreme disposer of life and death, made a deep impression on the minds of those who beheld him. In the evening, a general illumination and other demonstrations of joy took place, not only in the metropolis, but in every town, and almost every village of the realm grand galas, concerts, drawing-rooms, and visits to the theatres followed his majesty's recovery; nor, amidst the general exultation, did the steady, 15 Tomline, Life of Pitt, vol. ii. p. 488. XXXI. 1789. consistent, and constitutional conduct of Mr. Pitt CHAP. remain unacknowleged: it would indeed be difficult to cite a period in our annals, when any king was more generally revered by his people, or any minister stood higher in the confidence both of the sovereign and the public. In a conversation, which his majesty held soon after his convalescence with Mr. justice Hardinge, he greatly commended the conduct of the house of commons in regard to the regency question; adding, that his illness had eventually been a great source of happiness to him, as proving 'how nobly the people would support him when he was in trouble.' CHAP. XXXII. 1789. Parlia mentary proceedings. CHAPTER XXXII. GEORGE III. (CONTINUED.)-1789. Plan of fortifying the West Indian islands adopted-Shop tax repealed-Mr. Beaufoy's motion respecting the corporation and test acts-Lord Stanhope's to repeal the penal laws-Mr. Wilberforce's motion for the abolition of the slave trade-Debates on it in the house of commons-Opinions in the country at large-Sir William Dolben's bill renewed-Lord Sidney resigns his office of secretary of state-Mr. Grenville succeeds himMr. Addington elected speaker-Mr. Pitt's financial scheme for the year-Finances of the East India Company, &c.-Affairs in the impeachment of Warren Hastings-Prorogation of parliament-The royal family visit the southern coast-Return to Windsor, levees, &c.-State of affairs in the north of Europe, in the Netherlands, and in France. ONE of the earliest subjects that engaged the attention of parliament, was a plan formed by the master-general of the ordnance for the fortification of the West Indian islands, which, after considerable discussion, was adopted: Mr. Fox also succeeded in his motion to repeal the shop tax, which was found to fall very heavily on the metropolis and other great commercial towns, where the rent of houses is necessarily high. On the eighth of May, Mr. Beaufoy again moved the repeal of the corporation and test acts; being strongly supported by Fox, who laid it down as an axiom in policy, that no human government has any jurisdiction over opinions, as such; more especially over religious opinions: when these produce acts injurious to society, the law knows how and where to apply the remedy. If the reverse of this doctrine were adopted; if the actions of men were to be prejudged from their opinions; the seeds of everlasting jealousy and distrust XXXII. 1789. would be sown; unlimited scope would be given to CHAP. the malignant passions; each man would be incited to divine the sentiments of his neighbor, in order to deduce from them mischievous consequences, and thence prove that he ought to incur disabilities, be fettered with restrictions, and harassed with penalties: from such intolerant principles had flowed every species of party zeal, every system of political persecution, every extravagance of religious hate. There were many men, not of the establishment, to whose services their country had a claim: surely, such citizens might be permitted, without absurdity, to say;-though we dissent from the church, we are friends to the constitution; and on religious subjects are entitled to think and act as we please. Ought the country to lose the talents of such men; and his majesty be prevented from dispensing the favors of the crown, except to one class of his subjects? These acts, it was contended, had subsisted for more than a century: true; but with repeated suspensions : for the indemnity bills were, literally speaking, annual acts: where then would be the impropriety of suspending them by an act of perpetual operation? Let not Great Britain be the last to take advantage of the general progress of human improvement: indulgence to other sects, and a desire to promote charity and good-will, were the best proofs any religion could give of its divine origin. The minister opposed this motion on the same ground as in 1787. In reply to Mr. Fox's assertions, he observed, that government had a right to prevent any civil inconvenience which peculiar opinions were likely to produce, without waiting till the inconvenience was actually felt: he considered the established church as a part of the constitution; and the acts in question as justifiable on the principle of self-defence: he spoke of the great tranquillity which reigned at present in respect to religious differences; and declared, that if any thing could interrupt the harmony which subsisted between sects that once contended with bitter animosity, it would be done by awakening competition, |