w days, would enable his majesty to resume the government. All that
the commissioners, therefore, obtained for their pains and their loyalty
were thanks and a splendid entertainment, at which the leaders of
the prince's party were present. Entertainments had, indeed, from the
commencement of his majesty's illness, been the order of the day at
Carlton-house; the Saturday and Sunday of every week being set aside for
that purpose; a mode of proceeding which brought great scandal on the
prince and his party. The Whigs, by their recent conduct, in fact,
rendered themselves unpopular in the eyes of the soberer part of the
nation; and it may be questioned whether, if they had gained office
under the regency-bill, they could have retained it for any lengthened
period, even if his majesty had still been confined to Kew Palace as
a maniac. The very city of London, which had once been the centre of
opposition, was now on the side of Pitt and the king, and the feeling
was universal throughout all England.

As the regency-bill had not passed, it was not deemed necessary to
adhere to the method prescribed by it for announcing the king's recovery
and restoration to his royal capacity; the declaration in parliament,
the bulletins of the physicians, and the suspension of those bulletins
by royal order, were considered sufficient ground to enable his majesty
to resume the functions of his office. Several adjournments of both
houses took place subsequent to Lord Chancellor Thurlow's announcement
of his majesty's recovery; but at length, on the 10th of March, a
commission, under the great seal, was read to lords and commons,
authorising the commissioners, previously appointed by letters patent
for opening the parliament, to declare certain additional causes
for holding the same. After the commission had been read, the lord
chancellor observed, that his majesty being, by the blessing of
Providence, recovered from his malady, had commanded the commissioners
to convey to them his warmest acknowledgments for the proofs they had
given of affection to his person, of zeal for the honour of his crown,
and concern for the security and good government of his dominions. The
commissioners were also ordered, he said, to acquaint the two houses
that, since the close of the last session, his majesty had concluded a
treaty of defensive alliance with the King of Prussia, and that he
had endeavoured, during the last summer, to prevent the extension of
hosti