we

"Regent ;-there were many differences "with respect to 'his powers; and we ad"mit, that many of the circumstances

"

appear that such a discussion would be "at ali required. On the practical question, "that is, as to what is fit to be done, there "would not, we are convinced, be any material "difference of opinion between the persons by "whom the measures would probably be proposed, and those more immediately interested in them; the theoretical questions, we trust, would be avoided on all hands. "We take this opportunity of correct"ing the mis-statement of a Weekly Pub lication, in which it was insinuated that "in 1788, there was an intention of join"ing others in the Government with the "Prince of Wales. The fact is, that the "Prince was to have been sole Regent,

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intend to cheat with these falsehoods, will, 'ere long, perceive them. But, with all this before their eyes; with the certainty of being and of meriting to be, objects of" which should guide the judgment in contempt and of scorn with all men of "this respect now, are materially altered sense and of worth, they proceed on, "since 1788. But the question of absoquite regardless of the consequences, prolute or limited Regency is not necessavided they can secure the delusion of the "rily connected, though it has been most twenty four hours in which they are improperly confounded, with that of the writing.On Saturday last, the 17th "indefeasible right of the Regency. Such instant, there was published in the same "a right would imply an absolute Regent, print, an article worthy of notice, as it "but the rejection of the claim of right touches upon the measures to be adopted in "does not necessarily imply a limited case the King should not recover. This is a Regent. The discussion of Claims of matter which interests one; because Right is always to be avoided, if possi much must depend upon it.I will "ble. In the present case, even if the here insert the article, and offer such re- "hopes of his Majesty's speedy and entire marks upon it as appear to me likely to "recovery were less strong, it does not be useful.- Although the attention "which his Majesty has paid to business, within the last few days, has been the "cause of some return of fever, "are most cordially rejoiced at stating that every account concurs in repre"senting his Majesty as likely to be soon completely restored to his affectionate People. It is therefore less necessary" than ever, as well as less becoming, to "speak of the measures, which the two "Houses of Parliament would have adopt"ed, in the event of his Majesty con"tinuing unable to attend to public bu"siness. But we cannot omit a few com"ments upon a most extraordinary ar "ticle which appeared in the Morning" under certain restrictions, the principal "Chronicle of yesterday-premising, how-" of which were, that he should not, for "ever, that we will not be drawn into a "three years, grant pensions for life, or controversy upon subjects which do not "Peerages. The Queen was to have a require discussion --Nothing can be “Council, to assist in the care of his Ma"more entirely misiepresented than the "jesty's person and household; and this proceedings of Thursday, if they are "may possibly have led the Weekly "made to authorise the idea, that in the "Writer into his mistake.-It is hardly " event of a Regency becoming necessary, "necessary to advert to what is said, as the Heir Apparent to the Throne would "to the Irish Bishops, &c, sitting in Con"be declared, DE JURE, Regent. This "vention. The Livery of London, or "claim of divine and indefensible right "Freeholders of Middlesex, might equalwas brought forward, not by the Princely claim that right!"-FIRST: the himse but by Mr. Fox and Lord reader will see, that on the day when the Loughborough, in 1788. It was no bulletin stated the King to have more fever, soner urged, than those who urged it this writer ascribes it to the attention which wished to avoid a decision upon it. the King had paid to business, which was, we "But it was then too late; it was neccs- are here told, the cause of the return of the sary to decide, and the claim was most fever. -SECOND: This writer confounds decisively rejected. At the time, there divine and indefeasible right, with hereditary "was not any precedents either in favour right. With respect to the former, it has "of the claim or against it. The pre- been denied, and the nation, in choosing a "eedeat then created, is certainly as de-king, at the time of the Revolution, acted "cisive as a precedent can be. There was not then, nor is there now, any doubt as to the person to be appointed

26

upon the principle of the denial. But, does this writer, in the Morning Post (who by-the-bye, from the decency of h

language, appears to be but an occasional "of the administration of affairs; a prowriter), mean to deny the hereditary right?" ject for dividing the Royal Family from And this, I think, he must deny, before he" each other; for separating the court denies the right of the Prince of Wales to "from the state; a scheme disconnecting be Regent, in case of the King's incapacity" the authority to command service from to exercise the functions of Royalty. If the power of animating it by reward, this right be not in the Heir Apparent, it "and for allotting to the Prince all the is, of course, in nobody. Who, then, is to" insidious duties of the government, settle the point? If a Regent is to be "without the means of softening them to chosen, he may or may not be of the Royal "the public, by any one act of grace, Family. Step aside from the line of de- "favour, or benignity.". -This was the scent, and there is no boundary left. Be- description, which the Prince himself gave sides, who is to choose the person to supply of the scheme that was proposed to him. the place of the King? The two Houses of Whether I was right, then, in my former Parliament? Why, if they can do this description of the thing which PITT meant without the King's assent, what can they to set up instead of the kingly office, let not do? They cannot authorize the mak- the reader judge.- -This writer in the ing of a Turnpike Road without the King's Morning Post affects to believe, that I had assent; and yet, according to this writer, fallen into a mistake, and that I meant, that they can appoint, of their own will, a per- it was proposed, in 1788, to make some son, any person, to supply the place of the other persons joint Regents with the Prince King himself, to the exclusion of his heir I meant no such thing, and I could mean and even the whole of his family; for, no such thing, having, as I had, all the this is a necessary deduction from the asser- proceedings before my eyes. 1 meant tion, that the Prince of Wales's claim of what was really the fact, that the scheme right to the Regency was unfounded. The of 1788 was intended to keep from the Regeney, like the crown, must go by de Prince all real power.--This writer tells scent or by election; if the former, which us, that the Prince was to be sole Regent. this writer denies, then the Prince's claim He does, indeed, allow, that there was to of right was undoubted; and if the latter, be A COUNCIL to assist the QUEEN, the choice might fall upon any body else who, under the advice of this Council, was as well as one of the Royal Family. only to have the care of the King's person; Which, I take it, is a doctrine for the only that, and management of the housepreaching of which an accusation of Ja- bold and the appointment of the officers therecobinism and even of treason would not have in, such as master of the horse, lords of satisfied the venal tribe, if I had been the the bedchamber, &c. &c. &c.; only that preacher.THIRD this writer (who is and, which I had like to have forgotten, not the same that writes in the Morning the management of the King's privy purse Post generally) throws out, that the times of sixty thousand pounds a year; only and circumstances are altered now that these little matters were to be left in the it is desirable to avoid the theoretical hands of the QUEEN and COUNCIL, questions; and that there wil, he is con- while the Prince was to be denied the vinced, be very little difference of opinion power of making peers, or of granting any between the persons by whom the measures office in reversion, or any pension, or any would probably be proposed and those place whatever, except for the King's more immediately interested in them. pleasure; and, of course, no such grant or appointment could have any security. Well might the Prince complain, as he did complain, that this was an attempt to degrade both him and the kingly office. Who is there so blind as not to see, that, under the operation of such a scheme, the Prince could have had no real power; and, that, if it had continued long, the kingly office must have fallen into the state that His Royal Highness anticipated? Yet does Mr. GEORGE ROSE the Elder speak of the Minister's conduct upon tha occasion in strains of the highest euld gium. "At that juncture," says he

Very well. I am glad to hear this, not being able to persuade myself, that the Prince would be content with any thing short of the whole of the kingly power and authority. Yet, though circumstances -are altered, I cannot see, that they are so much altered as to make wholly unfitting -the measure contained in the propositions of 1788, if it was futing then. So far, however, was that measure from being fitting, that it was, as his Royal Highness himself (see page 885,) described it: "a project for producing weakness, and disorder, and insecurity in every branch

Nov. 15. " His Majesty is much the same "to day as he was yesterday."--Nov. 15-nine o'clock P. M." His Majesty has "had a little increase of fever this after"noon."--FRIDAY, NOV. 16. "His Ma jesty has had some sleep in the night, "and his fever is again a little abated." -Nov. 16. "His Majesty has had a little increase of fever this evening."

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-SATURDAY, Nov. 17. "His Majesty "has had a restless night, and has, upon "the whole, been more feverish for the "last two days." -Nov. 17-Nine o'clock, P. M. "His Majesty's fever has "continued, but without an increase this " evening." -SUNDAY, Nov. 18, "His " Majesty had some sleep in the night,

"this moraing."--MONDAY, Nov. 19. "His Majesty has passed a quiet night

“there were particular circumstances in the" is better this morning."-THURSDAY, "political state and political opinions of Europe, which tended more than ever "to endear to every good and virtuous man "the monarch they saw re-established, and "the tranquillity which that happy event "had restored. The display of wisdom "and of firmness evinced by Mr. Pitt "during that interval of national anxiety "which the King's illness occasioned, did "him infinite honour: he took that high ground, which his virtue as well as his ability entitled him to take; and with a dignity and courage inspired by both, "rebuked at once the fears of the timid, "and supported the rights of his Sove reign: not less faithful to his country "than loyal to his King, he devoted his "services to both in a manner equally" and there is a little abatement of fever "manly and disinterested *.”——This was written and published only four years ago, and two years after the King had visited though without sleep, having slept se Cufnells. This is the description which "veral hours yesterday evening. This Mr. Rose gives of conduct, of which the "morning he is quite as well as he was invention of the above-mentioned project" yesterday."--From these reports there made a part; and which project, of course, is by this writer, looked upon as necessary to support the rights of the King, though, as we have seen, its obvious tendency was to withhold from his Son all the real powers of sovereignty.The writers of this bitter faction have always thus dealt in insinuations. Look at the above-quoted passage, reader, and say what you think it means; say what you think it fairly meuns. And, to use a vulgar phrase, why was this subject ripped up in the year 1806 What good could it do? And what ob ject but one could it possibly have, especially when thrusted into a work upon finance? JOHN BOWLES, in Mora-political pamphlets, has, I must confess, acted in a more manly way. He has spoken out, and, if what he says be bad, it is at least, free from the charge of meanness. He has insinuated, but he has not assailed with insinuations only.- At page 917, I brought down the Official Bulletins to the morning of the 13th instant. I shall here insert them to the evening of yester day, the 19th instant.TUESDAY, Nov. 13, 1810, seven, E. M. "The King has had "a little increase of fever this day, but his Majesty is now rather better."- -WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14. "The King has had "some sleep in the night, and his Majesty

* ROSE's Brief Examination into the Revenue, &c. published in 1806, by J. Hatchard.

is not much to be collected; and, as to what is said in the news-papers, beyond these reports, no reliance whatever can be placed, not even the smallest degree. Those, therefore, who wish to avoid being deceived, will wait for the official developement; for, they may be assured, that that is the only way to avoid deception.

PORTUGUESE CONSPIRACY.--The reader will, doubtless, recollect the account, which was given us, by the Morning Post, early in last month, of a horrible conspiracy in Portugal, in the city of Lisbon, which extended itself, we were told, through the whole kingdom. In the Register of the 6th of October, at page 545, the subject was taken up, and descanted upon somewhat at large.The Morning Post had asserted, that great numbers of the nobles and gentlemen, that many eminent merchants, that a Judge and a Marchioness, were amongst the conspirators; that arms and clothing for 5 thousand men were provided, that the plot extended far and wide; that it was the design to assassinate the English; and that the con spirators had been seized (some of them in their beds) and sent off to Africa with out a trial. Whereupon the Morning Post bestowed great praises upon the vigilance and the vigour of Lord Viscount Talavera.

If the reader will look back to pages 557 and 558, he will see my reasoning upon the statements of the Morning Post, and

came in for a share of the merit.- -That this solemn contradiction has arisen from the article in the Register, just referred to, is more than I can positively say; but, I

arisen from the desire of Lord Talavera and Mr. Stewart not to be thought parties to a measure, which had been so much praised in the Morning Post.The measure, be it remembered, as described in this print, was too moderate for the writer. He had told us, that many most respecta

on, some of them in their beds; had been prevented from seeing their children or their friends; and had been shipped off to Africa without a trial. And, upon the supposition that all this was true; nay, after having stated it as truth, this writer, who is continually uttering vehement attacks upon the tyranny of Buonaparté, told us, that he "knew not whether he should altogether commend the moderation with "which the individuals had been disposed "of."This is, by far, the most material circumstance belonging to the affair. Here is an English news-paper writer, who, in giving what he supposes to be a true account of a conspiracy in Portugal, to defend the liberties of which country an English army is sent, tells us, that many of the most respectable people have been seized upon suspicion, have not been suffered to see their children or friends, and have been transported without any sort of trial or examination; and he adds, that he does not know, whether he ought to commend the moderation, with which these people have been disposed of. This is the fact, upon which I wish the reader to dwell for a moment; and, then, I wish him to ask himself, what he thinks men of this description would gladly see done in England.

he will see the conclusion drawn, and, indeed, naturally and inevitably proceeding from such premises.--The article appeared in the Morning Post of the second of October; my commentary was pub-think, there can be no doubt of its having lished on the sixth of October, and which commentary went all along upon the condition that the statement of the Morning Post was true.--Now, mark what has since happened: the Portuguese government, in the LISBON GAZETTE of the 29th of October, contradicts the statements the positive, the detailed, the cir-ble and very aged persons had been seized cumstantial statements of the Morning Post; and even complains of the calumnies of that print, for, as will be seen, no other print, can the Portuguese, Government mean.- "It appearing by positive in"formation received by the l'olice, that "the residence of certain individuals in "this country might prove prejudicial to "the public tranquillity und peace, in cir"cumstances so critical as the present, "the Government adopted the resolution "provisionally to remove them from Portugal. This measure having been grossly "calumniated in an English newspaper of the 2d instant, the Governor of the kingdom "has ordered the said calumnies to he contradicted, and to declare, that neither "Marshal-Gen. Lord Wellington, nor the "Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty, nor any other individual of the English nation, had the least share in the "above proceedings, nor any previous notice thereof, because it was merely the result "of authentic information, communicated by the police. The other absurd ac"counts of a conspiracy, of arms found, &c. " are so notoriously false, that they deserve "no refutation. Offences of that descrip❝tion, did they really exist, would he "visited with punishments far more ri"gorous. (LISBON GAZETTE, Oct. 29.)" This is very good. Here, we have the Portuguese Government protesting against the statements of this English newspaper, though, as it will be remembered, the Morning Post paid that government the highest compliments for having done those violent and tyrannical acts, which it now appears, that the government never had in contemplation. And, it is well worthy of remark, that particular pains are here taken to convince the world, that our Commander and our Envoy had no hand whatever in the shipping of any body off; though the Morning Post had taken as great pains to make the people of England believe, that both of them

-As to what did really happen at Lisbon, upon the occasion referred to, I cannot say. The contradiction in the Lisbon Gazette is not so full as to enable me to form any judgment upon that subject; nor, indeed, is it any business of mine.

SPANISH WAR. LORD BLANEY.-Under the head of CADIZ and date of the 26th of October, the following article has appeared in the London news-papers, and especially in the TIMES of yesterday."The expedition that sailed for the coast "of Malaga has not been successful. It "disembarked at Malaga, and was re"ceived by 4,000 French troops, to whom "the greater part of the foreigners who lately

"passed from the enemy's army, and enlisted "under the Spanish and English colours, de"serted. The regiment of infantry of "Toledo sustained a very brisk fire, and "covered the retreat and embarkation of "the remainder of the forces. Our loss consists of 400 men; and the English Commander of the expedition (Lord "Blaney) was wounded and taken pri"soner. Such are the particular accounts "which we have received respecting this "unfortunate expedition; they will teach "us what we have to expect from men who "have once abandoned their colours."

running away. Now, I must confess, that I do not think he will be starved quite so soon as our Viscount's people seemed to expect; though, doubtless, he must be starved in the long run.Our papers all agree, that Massena was laughed at. By whom they do not say; but, we are to suppose, of course, that he was laughed at by our own people. The Morning Post, beginning with the thirteenth of November, tells us, that Massena is retreating; that he has already begun to move his heavy baggage; that Lord Talavera did not mean to follow him with his whole I do not see why this should teach you any army; that he meant to follow him with such thing. You have often enough been his cavalry and light troops only; that told of this before. You have been told, deserters had been constantly coming in that those who had betrayed others would at the rate of from sixty to 100 of a day, betray you. Nay, it is curious enough, that they all agreed in representing the but, I believe, that these men, so com- French army as soffering the extreme plained of here, are the very persons, of of want and wretchedness; that Lord Ta the enlistment of whom out of DUPONT'S | lavera had been heard, in conversation army, Mr. WARDLE complained, in the with his officers, to laugh at Massena, for House of Commons, and, at the same getting so completely into the mire; that time, foretold the consequences of em- Lord Talavera was very secret, and, perploying them. Ile wanted to save the haps, meant to fall upon the French at the money, laid out upon the enlistment of these last moment. To this intelligence the forcigners. He wanted to leave that money Morning Post added these words. "We in the people's pockets. It was a part of "have the happiness once more of relieving what he would have saved to the nation. "the public mind of suspense and false Oh! how the venal writers; how the "rumours, by laying before it authentic whole set abused him for that proposition! "news from our brave army in Portugal. And, how dearly we shall, I fear, pay for "The French are retreating! And that too the rejection of his truly wise and public-"without daring to hazard an attack upon spirited advice. The account here" us."--So much for that true news. given of this adventure under LORD BLANEY (whom, I must say, I never heard of before,) may possibly be a mere romance; but, I do not think so any more for our not having seen much of it in the public prints. It is not an adventure to talk much about. It is a thing to keep quiet, and especially as the heroes of Dupont's army; the "fine body of men" (for so they were called), who "left the tyrant's ranks "for liberty's sake," are so deeply concerned in it.--I should not wonder, if we were never to hear of this affair again: especially if it be true, And, here we have another instance of the nature of our press. I hope the Spanish Cortes will take care to provide for a press, that shall not be a bar to any thing but falshood.

PORTUGUESE WAR.- -We were told, forty days ago, that the battle must be fought in six days; and, we now find, that it was not fought ten days ago; or, at any rate, we find, that Massena was not, ten days ago, either dead from starvation, or

On the fourteenth the same paper told us, that the French had only 60,000 men, horse and foot, while our force consisted of 34,000 British, 30,000 Portuguese, troops of the line, 10,000 Spaniards from Romana's army, and 10,000 Portuguese Militia. Thus have I all my men. I have not so often mustered my 60,000 fighting men for nothing, for I have them all here, and 24 good thousands at their back.Besides this force in Soldiers, we have, the same paper of the same date tells us, 120 forts, upon which are mounted nearly 1,000 cannons, besides the train of artillery belonging to our army, and 25 gunboats placed upon the river. We have now in the Tagus, adds the writer, 2 three-deckers, 7 two deckers, 3 frigates, and smaller vessels; therefore, we conclude, that we have now nothing to fear, the enemy being destitue of provisions, and losing by desertion and otherwise not less than 100 men a day. Then he tells us, that Lord Talavera has immortalized himself; that he will go into Lisbon crowned with laurels; that