Prince Regent, also excited a number of severe strictures, and the following among the

rest.

"The appointment of Colonel M'Mahon holds out the Prince Regent, at the very commencement of his office, as incompetent to discharge the functions of it, without such helps as none of his ancestors have ever had, except his immediate father after he had lost his sight. Next, we should wish it to be remarked, how deeply it injures Colonel McMahon. That gentleman has been represented as a most meritorious servant of his Royal Master; and yet would this appoint-' ment lead one to infer, that the Prince Regent, with one hundred thousand pounds in his hands, allowed him for the express purpose of rewarding such servants, will not give Colonel M'Mahon a halfpenny of it, but fobs him off upon the people (who have received none of his attentions) to provide for him in a new office. The nation is of necessity driven to one of these alternatives, either to suppose that his Royal Highness is a master that will not reward the fidelity of his adherents, though he has means allowed him by his people for that purpose (and that no one surely can credit); or that Colonel M Mahon is not that faithful friend which he has been represented. This charity, therefore, instead of being one that blesses alike the giver and the receiver, is one that is detri

U

mental to both; subjecting them alike to the most injurious, and, we trust, unfounded suspicions. The opinion which we wish to inculcate is, that the Prince is a very beneficent master-Colonel M'Mahon a very deserving servant; and that, on the matter being thus truly represented to them, as they before, shewed that they scorned to retain an useless office, they will now also shew that they scorn to burthen the people with a new one. The Prince, indeed, not able to govern the realm without the support of Colonel M'Mahon as his State Secretary, in addition to the three Secretaries of State! How demeaning the insinuation! Why, it is likening his Royal Highness to a bad President at a table who cannot keep his company in order without the help of a Vice."

At length, in February, 1812, the predominating influence of Mr. Perceval and his friends appeared to have obtained its meridian splendour. He had before damped the expectations of his opponents, when dreaming of coming into power, by hinting to them, that the prospect they entertained might not open upon them so pleasantly as they imagined; but when the following Letter appeared from the Prince Regent, the last spark of hope was extinguished, and a

cloud seemed concentrating upon every coun

tenance.

Letter of the Prince Regent to the Duke of York.

66 MY DEAREST BROTHER,

"As the Restrictions on the exercise of the Royal Authority will shortly expire, when I must make my arrangements for the future Administration of the Powers with which I am invested, I think it right to communicate those sentiments, which I was withheld from expressing at an earlier period of the Session, by my warmest desire, that the expected Motion on the Affairs of Ireland might undergo the deliberate discussion of Parlia ment, unmixed with any other consideration.

"I think it hardly necessary to call your recollection to the recent circumstances unden which I assumed the authority delegated to me by Parliament. At a moment of unexampled difficulty and danger, I was called upon to make a selection of persons to whom I should entrust the functions of the Executive Government. My sense of duty to our Royal Father solely decided that choice; and every private feeling gave way to considerations. which admitted of no doubt or hesitation. I trust I acted in that respect as the genuine Representative of the august Person whose functions I was appointed to discharge; and I have the satisfaction of knowing, that such was the opinion of per

sons, for whose judgment and honourable principles I entertain the highest respect.

"In various instances, as you well know, where the law of the last session left me at full liberty, I waved any personal gratification, in order that His Majesty might resume, on his restoration to health, every power and prerogative belonging to the Crown. I certainly am the last person in the kingdom to whom it can be permitted to despair of our Royal Father's recovery.

"A new era is now arrived, and I cannot but renect with satisfaction on the events which have distinguished the short period of my restricted Regency. Instead of suffering in the loss of any of her possessions, by the gigantic force which has been employed against them, Great Britain has added most important acquisitions to her Empire.

"The National Faith has been preserved inviolate towards our Allies; and, if character is strength, as applied to a Nation, the increased and increasing reputation of His Majesty's arms will shew to the Nations of the Continent how much they may still achieve, when animated by a glorious resistance to a foreign yoke. In the critical situation of the War in the Peninsula, I shall be most anxious to avoid any measure which can lead my Allies to suppose that I mean to depart from the present system. Perseverance alone can achieve the great object in question; and I cannot withhold my approbation from those who have honourably dis

tinguished themselves in support of it. I have no predilections to indulge, no resentments to gratify-no objects to attain but such as are common to the whole Empire. If such is the leading principle of my conduct, and I can appeal to the past in evidence of what the future will be, I flatter myself I shall meet with the support of Parliament and a candid and enlightened Nation.

"Having made this communication of my sentiments in this new and extraordinary crisis of our affairs, I cannot conclude without expressing the gratification I should feel, if some of those persons, with whom the early habits of my public life were formed, would strengthen my hands, and constitute a part of my Government. With such support, and aided by a vigorous and united Administration, formed on the most liberal basis, I shall look with additional confidence to a prosperous issue of the most arduous contest in which Great Britain was ever engaged.--You are authorised to communicate these sentiments to Lord Grey, who, I have no doubt, will make them known to Lord Grenville.

"I am always, my Dearest Frederick, your affectionate Brother,

"Carlton House, Feb. 13, 1812.

"GEORGE, P. R.

"P. S. I shall send a copy of this Letter imme diately to Mr. Perceval."