fore, the prerogative of commanding armies and equipping fleets; but, without the concurrence of parliament, he cannot maintain them. He can bestow places and employments; but, without his parliament, he cannot pay the salaries annexed to them. He can declare war; but, without his parliament, it is impossible that he can proceed in it. In a word, the royal prerogative, destitute as it is of the power of imposing taxes, is like a vast body, which cannot of itself accomplish its own motion; or like a ship com pletely equipped, but from which the parliament can, at pleasure, draw off the water, and leave it aground; and also set it afloat again by granting subsidies. In this high and important situation it pleased Providence, with one short interruption only, to continue his present majesty, from the year 1760 till towards the conclusion of the year 1810, when the malady, which had formerly caused a temporary suspension of his regal functions, again attacked him, and, as the event has proved, with overwhelming influence. Under these circumstances, Mr. Perceval, on the 20th of December of the above year, moved in the House of Commons three resolutions, copied from those of Mr. Pitt, on a like occurrence, în 1788-9. The first, Declarative of the present incapacity of the sovereign. The second, Of the competency of the two houses of parliament to supply that incapacity. And The third, That the proper mode of doing it would be by bill. Of these, the first passed unanimously. The second, with the single negative of Sir Francis Burdett. But, on the third, Mr. Ponsonby moved an amendment, That an address should be presented to the Prince of Wales, praying him to take upon himself the office of regent. On this motion a division took place, in which the amendment was rejected; the votes for it being 157, against it 269; majority in favour of the minister being 112. After various discussions, the regency bill was passed, declaring The interruption in the exercise of the regal authority, and appointing the Prince of Wales, with the style and title of Regent of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland; to exercise the same, in the name and on behalf of his majesty, under certain limitations, restrictions, &c. &c. That the regent's manual of G. P. or G. P. R. should be of the same force as the royal sign manual. That no act of regal power, during the regency, should be valid, unless done in his majesty's name, according to the provisions of the act. That the care of his majesty's person should be committed to the queen, during the continuance of his indisposition. That a council should be appointed for the queen. That the council shall have authority to examine the physicians, and other attendants on his majesty, on oath, respecting his majesty's health, &c. &c. In establishing a provision for the expenditure of the prince regent, reference was had to the sum hitherto granted under the term "civil list," for the support of his majesty's household, &c. In the 17th year of the present reign this sum amounted to 898,000l. annually; and in the 44th year the additional sum of 60,0001. was granted, making an aggregate of 958,0007. Out of this sum 100,000l. was appropriated for the expenses connected with his majesty's present calamitous situation; and, in lieu of that deduction, 50,000l. was added to the regent's income from the exchequer. From this brief display of the present situation, office, and revenue of the prince regent, the attention of the intelligent visitor is called to the enumeration of those departments of state, with their respective occupants, which comprehend the great movements of the executive government, and cannot fail to excite uncommon interest in a reflecting mind. Under the general term "Court," as applicable to this part of our Work, will be included also the establishments and revenue of the other branches, male and female, of the royal house. COURT. LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HON. Lord President.-Dudley, Earl of Harrowby. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent. John, Lord Eldon, Lord High Chancellor of Great Edward, Lord Archbishop of York. John, Earl of Westmoreland, K. G., Lord Privy Seal. John, Duke of Bedford. George, Duke of Marlborough. John, Duke of Atholl, K. T. James, Duke of Montrose, Master of the Horse to his Majesty. Arthur, Duke of Wellington, K, G. Henry, Marquess of Lansdown. Granville Leveson, Marquess of Stafford. James, Marquess of Salisbury, K. G. Francis, Marquess of Hertford, K.G., Lord Chamberlain, Ingoldsby, Marquess of Winchester, Groom of the Stole to his Majesty. Richard, Marquess Wellesley, K. G. A. Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale. George, Earl of Pembroke, K. G F James, Earl of Lauderdale. George, Earl of Winchelsea, K. G. Groom of the Stole to his Majesty. Thomas, Earl of Elgin. George-James, Marquess Cholmondeley. George, Earl of Macclesfield. Charles, Earl of Harrington. William Wentworth, Earl Fitz-William. John, Earl of Chatham, K. G. Henry, Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State for the War Department. Thomas, Earl of Aylesbury. Robert, Earl Grosvenor. Richard, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. Robert Bankes, Earl of Liverpool, First Lord Commis sioner of the Treasury, K. G. John, Earl of St. Vincent, K. B. Edward, Earl of Powis. Charles, Earl Grey. Francis, Earl of Moira. John-Joshua, Earl of Carysfort, K. P.. James, Earl of Courtoun. Richard, Earl of Donoughmore. Richard, Earl of Clancarty, President of the Board of Trade. F. C. Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth. Henry, Earl of Mulgrave, Master-General of the Ordnance. William Shaw, Earl Cathcart, K. T. Charles, Earl Whitworth, K. B. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Charles-Henry Somerset, Joint Paymaster of his Majesty's Forces. Lord Charles Spencer. Lord Robert Spencer. |