eight days before the Bills had
passed the Commons. It is evident from the tone of this memorandum, that
the subject matter of it had previously occupied much anxious
consideration, that the determination to resist the Bills in some shape
was already adopted, and that nothing remained to be settled but the
_modus operandi_. It will be seen, that in this memorandum the
difficulties attending the royal interference at different stages of the
measure are fully designated, and that the mode of proceeding finally
adopted by His Majesty is distinctly pointed out. The opening line, and
the note at the foot, are in the hand-writing of Lord Temple; the body
of the memorandum is in a different and not very legible hand.

Dec. 1st, 1783.

To begin with stating to His Majesty our sentiments upon the
extent of the Bill, viz.:

We profess to wish to know whether this Bill appear to His
Majesty in this light: a plan to take more than half the royal
power, and by that means disable [the King] for the rest of the
reign. There is nothing else in it which ought to call for this
interposition.

Whether any means can be thought of, short of changing his
Ministers, to avoid this evil.

The refusing the Bill, if it passes the Houses, is a violent
means. The changing his Ministers after the last vote of the
Commons, in a less degree might be liable to the same sort of
construction.

An easier way of changing his Government would be by taking some
opportunity of doing it, when, in the progress of it, it shall
have received more discountenance than hitherto.

This must be expected to happen in the Lords in a greater degree
than can be hoped for in the Commons.

But a sufficient degree of it may not occur in the Lords if
those whose duty to His Majesty would excite them to appear are
not acquainted with his wishes, and that in a manner which would
make it impossible to pretend a doubt of it, in case they were
so disposed.

By these means the discountenance might be hoped to raise
difficulties so high as to throw it [out], and leave His Majesty
at perfect liberty to choose whether he will change them or not.

This is the situation which it is wished His Majesty should find
himself in.

Delivered by Lord Thurlow, Dec. 1st, 1783.
Nugent Temple.

The sequel is matter of history. On the 17th of December, the