Privy Council to-day, on
the subject of a prayer. The Dissenters and the Jews have begun
upon that subject already. Indeed every demonstration of alarm
and affection has been shown through the whole town, and, as far
as can be learned, in all parts of the country.

I am, with the truest esteem and regard, my dear Lord,
Your most obedient humble servant,
Sydney.

The next letter from Mr. Grenville is of special importance; he lays
down the whole plan of the Ministry in reference to the proposed
Regency, developing and investigating the arguments with remarkable
clearness and penetration.

MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, Nov. 13th, 1788.

My dear Brother,

Your messenger has performed his journey with uncommon
expedition, and brought me your letters at a little after eleven
this morning. The account of to-day is, I think, more favourable
than that of the two preceding days. The King had last night a
strong return of his fever, which left him this morning more
composed than he has been for several days. Warren's account
adds that he even "understood questions that were put to him,
though he soon relapsed into his former inconsistency." The
material part of this, I think, is that it proves him never to
have been without fever, though it has been kept under, and
therefore affords ground still to hope for such a crisis as may
end this scene, either by his death or by his total recovery.
And there can be no doubt that even, for his sake, either of
those alternatives is preferable to his continuing in his
present situation, though with the possibility of recovering his
reason by intervals.

This circumstance affords an additional and strong reason for
delaying as long as possible the taking any decisive steps for
providing for carrying on the Government under the present
circumstances. It is intended to meet Parliament on the 20th,
and circular letters are to be sent to-day to all the members,
notifying the probability of this. But, as things now stand,
Pitt means immediately to propose to them to adjourn; and it is
most likely that this will meet with no opposition, especially
as Fox cannot be in town by that time.

If the present circumstances should still continue, Pitt means
to propose a Bill, declaring the Prince of Wales Regent, or