copy of the resolutions, but am disappointed. You will, however,
probably see them in the "Morning Chronicle," if that comes out
early enough for the post. The first states the fact of the King's
present inability to attend to business, "and that the _personal
exercise_ of the royal authority by His Majesty is thereby for the
present interrupted."

The second: "That it is the right and duty of the Lords and Commons
(describing them as in the preamble to the Bill of Rights) to
provide the means of supplying the defect in the personal exercise,
&c., in such manner as the exigency of the case may appear to them
to require."

The third: "That for the above purpose, and for maintaining entire
the constitutional authority of His Majesty, it is necessary that
the said Lords and Commons should determine on the means by which
the royal assent may be given in Parliament to such Bill as may be
passed by the two Houses, respecting the exercise of the royal
power, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, during the
continuance of His Majesty's indisposition."

I believe I have given you very nearly the words, which I ought to
remember, having employed very near the whole of two days in
settling them with Pitt and our lawyers.

Our principle is, that the King's authority remains entire. That no
legislative act can be done but with the formal sanction of his
assent. That no person can take upon him to give that assent,
except by the direction and authority of the two Houses, who have
the right, in the present emergency, to act for the King; but must,
even in doing that, adhere as nearly as possible to the forms of
the Constitution.

Fox opposed these resolutions, in one of the best speeches I ever
heard from him; but I think indiscreetly supporting and enforcing
all his old ground of the Prince of Wales's right. Towards the end,
he made a violent personal attack on Pitt, intimating that he was
desirous, through envy, to weaken the hands of those _who were to
be his successors_. This opening was not neglected by Pitt, but
laid hold of in a manner which enabled him to speak of his own
conduct towards the King and the Prince, and towards the country in
the present moment, and to contrast it with that of his opponents.
I never heard a finer