"His majesty could not, however, expect or desire the assistance of this house, but on a wellgrounded expectation that the prince will avoid contracting any debts in future.

"With a view to this object, and from an anxious desire to remove any possible doubt of the sufficiency of the prince's income to support amply the dignity of his situation, his majesty has directed a sum of 10,000l. per annum to be paid out of the civil list, in addition to the allowance which his majesty has hitherto given him; and his majesty has the satisfaction to inform the house, that the Prince of Wales has given his majesty the fullest assurances of his determination to confine his future expenses within the income, and has also settled a plan for arranging those expenses in the several departments, and for fixing an order for payment, under such regulations as his majesty trusts will effectually secure the due execution of the prince's intentions.

"His majesty will direct an estimate to be laid before this house of the sum wanting to complete, in a proper manner, the work which has been undertaken at Carlton House, as soon as the same can be prepared with sufficient accuracy, and recommends it to his faithful commons to consider of making some provision for this purpose."

This account was shortly after laid on the table.

On the day following the presentation of this paper, the commons carried up an address to the throne, humbly desiring that his majesty would order 161,000l. to be issued out of the civil list for the payment of the debt, and a sum of 20,000%. for the completion of Carlton House.

This proceeding had the usual fate of half measures, it palliated the evil only to make it return in double force. It shewed the king's displeasure, without ensuring the prince's retrenchment. The public clamoured at the necessity for giving away so large a sum of the national money; while the creditors, whom the sum, large

as it was, would but inadequately pay, boldly pronounced themselves defrauded. Whether the leaders of the legislature were rejoiced or discontented, remained in their own bosoms. But Pitt had accomplished the important purpose of suppressing for the time a topic which might have deeply involved his administration; and Fox's sagacity must have seen in this imperfect measure the very foundation on which a popular leader would love to erect a grievance. It gave him the full use of the prince's injuries for all the purposes of opposition. Hopeless of future appeal, stung by public rebuke, and committed before the empire in hostility to the court and the minister, the prince was now thrown completely into his hands.

F

CHAPTER VI.

THE PRINCE'S FRIENDS.

THERE seems to be a law of politics, by which the heir of the crown is inevitably opposed to the crown. This grew into a proverb in Holland, when the stadtholderate had become hereditary; and may have found its examples in all countries where the constitution retains a vestige of freedom. The line of the Georges has furnished them for three generations. Frederic, Prince of Wales, son of George the Second, was in constant opposition to the court, was the centre of a powerful party, and was even involved in personal dispute with the king. There is a curious similitude in his life to that of his late majesty.-The origin of the alienation was, the old "root of all evil," money. The opposition, headed by Pulteney, (the Fox of his day,) adopted the prince's cause, and moved in parliament for the increase of his income to 100,000. The king resented equally the demand and the connexion; and the dispute was carried on with the natural implacability of a family quarrel. -The prince collected the wits round him; the king closeted himself with a few antiquated and formal nobles. The prince's residence, at Cliefden, in Buckinghamshire, was enlivened by perpetual

festivity, balls, banquets, and plays; among which was the masque of Alfred, by Thomson and Mallet, written in honour of the Hanover accession, with Quin in the part of Alfred. St. James's was a royal fortress, in which the king sat guarded from the approach of all public gaiety. -Frederic, too, pushed the minister so closely, that he had no refuge, but in a reconciliation between the illustrious belligerents; and Walpole, perplexed by perpetual debate, and feeling the ground giving way under him, proposed to the prince an addition of 50,000l. to his income, and 200,000l. for the discharge of his debts. But Walpole's hour was come; opposition, conscious of his weakness, determined to give him no respite. The prince haughtily refused any accommodation while the obnoxious minister was suffered to remain in power. Walpole was crushed. The prince led opposition into the royal presence; and the spoils of office rewarded them for a struggle carried on in utter scorn alike of the king's feelings and the national interests, but distinguished by great talent, dexterity, and determination. Yet victory was fatal to them: they quarrelled for the spoils, and Walpole had his revenge in the disgrace of Pulteney for ever.

On the death of Prince Frederic, the next heir, Prince George, became the prize of opposition, headed by Pitt (Lord Chatham), Lord Temple, and the Grenvilles. Leicester-house, the residence