night than the night before; but is
in other respects the same as before. I fear there is very
little hope of amendment, as he has no fever, and his pulse and
appetite are as good as ever. The King had some lucid intervals
this morning, conversing with great composure with a page, whom
he recollected but to have seen since his illness; and he also
mentioned his son, Prince Augustus, who is going to the South of
France. He soon, however, returned to his unfortunate agitation
and delirium, in which he still continues. Sad state!

Ever yours affectionately, in haste,
R. A. N.

LORD SYDNEY TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

(Secret and Separate.) Whitehall, Nov. 13th, 1788.

My dear Lord,

I am not at all surprised that your Excellency should
participate in the distress, which every honest man feels upon
the present unhappy state of the King's health. The account,
however, of this morning is rather more favourable than those of
some days past; though certainly not such as to lay any part of
our anxiety at rest. There does not, however, appear any
symptoms which seem to threaten His Majesty's life with
immediate danger. He had more fever yesterday than for some days
past, but since it has subsided, he has been in a state of more
composure than before.

The Parliament will meet this day sevennight, and adjourn; if in
the intermediate time there should not be an opportunity of
receiving His Majesty's pleasure for a prorogation.

You may easily believe that the hurry and ferment is great at
present. People in general, of all ranks, seem to be truly
sensible of the calamitous effects to be dreaded from an
unfavourable termination of His Majesty's disorder. But, as you
may easily imagine, there are not wanting those who are thinking
of extracting _good_ to _themselves_ out of this misfortune; nor
are they over anxious to conceal their eagerness to accomplish
their ends. I am old enough to have been in the scene on a
demise of the Crown, an event which does not bring the virtues
of men more into light than the contrary qualities. I do not
promise myself a more agreeable picture of mankind, than one
which I have never thought of but with disgust and detestation.

I refer your Excellency to my official despatch for the business
which has passed in a Committee of the