, while the Duke of Kent and Willis watched by the
door. As in the previous seizure, intervals of calm and reasonableness
alternated strangely with fits of delirium or even of violence. Now and
again he spoke collectedly, and at such times those about him rejoiced
to hear the familiar "What, what," wherewith he prefaced his
remarks.[597]

Frequently he declared that he would uphold the Church of England; or
again his thoughts started away from the loathed spectre of a Regency.
On 2nd March the illness took so violent a turn that his life seemed in
danger; but, as was the case twelve years before, long spells of sleep
supervened and brought his pulse down from 136 to 84. His powers of
recovery surprised every one about him. By 6th March he was so far well
as to be allowed to see the Dukes of York, Kent, and Cumberland. Not
until 9th March did he undergo the more trying ordeal of seeing the
Prince of Wales. On that same day he requested to see Pitt, who very
properly declined, suggesting, with all deference, that Addington was
the proper person for an interview.[598]

Meanwhile, at or just after the crisis of the illness, Pitt gave a very
important pledge. If we may trust the far from convincing statements of
Lord Malmesbury, who had the story from Pelham, the King on 7th March
charged Willis to inform Pitt of the improvement in his health, and to
add the biting words: "But what has not _he_ to answer for who is the
cause of my having been ill at all?" Pelham further asserted that Pitt,
in a "most dutiful, humble and contrite answer," wrote down his resolve
to give up Catholic Emancipation.[599] Now it is almost certain that
Pitt sent no such letter, for none exists either at the Public Record
Office, Orwell Park, or Chevening. Tomline asserts that Pitt sent by
Willis a verbal assurance that he would not agitate Catholic
Emancipation again during the King's reign; whereupon George III
exclaimed: "Now my mind will be at ease." The bishop, however, believed
that Pitt's assurance was reported in a more emphatic form than was
warranted; and the statesman does not seem to have considered himself
absolutely bound by it. Yet the written assurance sent by Rose to the
King on behalf of Pitt seems binding during that reign.[600]

Thus had the King conquered--by madness. No incident in the life of Pitt
is more unfortunate than this surrender. The King had made an ungenerous
use of the privileges of an invalid, and the pressure whi