H́nh ảnh trang
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Rt. Hon. Robert Saunders Dundas S President of the Board of Controul

(now Lord Melville)..

Right Hon. George Rose.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

for the Affairs of India.

Vice-President of the Board of Trade and Treasurer of the Navy. Secretary at War.

Joint Paymasters-General of the Forces.

Joint Postmaster General.

Secretaries to the Treasury.

Master of the Rolls.

Attorney-General,
Solicitor-General.

[blocks in formation]

275

STATE PAPERS.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

I

My Lords and Gentlemen, RECEIVE the communication which the two houses have directed you to make to me, of their joint resolutions on the subject of providing for the Exercise of the Royal Authority, during his Majesty's illness, with those sentiments of regard, which I must ever entertain for the united desires of the two houses.

With the same sentiments, I receive the expressed hopes of the Lords and Commons, that from my regard for the interest of his Majesty and the nation, I should be ready to undertake the weighty and important trust proposed to be invested in me, under the restrictions and limitations stated in those resolutions.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

opportunity of manifesting to his afflicted and loyal subjects that such would have been my conduct.

Deeply impressed with the necessity of tranquillizing the public mind, and determined to submit to every personal sacrifice consistent with the regard I owe to the security of my Father's Crown, and the equal regard I owe to the welfare of his people, I do not hesitate to accept the office and situation proposed to me, restricted as they are; still retaining every opinion expressed by me upon a former and similar distressing occasion.

In undertaking the trust proposed to me, I am well aware of the difficulties of the situation in which I shall be placed, but I shall rely with confidence upon the constitutional advice of an enlightened parliament, and the zealous support of a generous and loyal people. I will use all the means left to me to merit both.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

You will communicate this my Answer to the two houses, accompanied by my most fervent wishes and prayers that the Divine Will may extricate us and the nation from the grievous embarrassments of our present condition, by the speedy restoration of his Majesty's health,

T 2

HER

HER MAJESTY'S ANSWER.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen, "That sense of duty and gratitude to the King, and of obligation to the country, which induced me in the year 1789 readily to promise my most earnest attention to the anxious and momentous trust at that time intended to be reposed in me by parliament, is strengthened, if possible, by the uninterrupted enjoyment of those blessings which I have continued to experience under the protection of his Majesty since that period; and I should be wanting to all my 'duties, if I hesitated to accept the sacred trust which is now offered

to me.

"The assistance in point of council and advice, which the wisdom of parliament proposes to provide for me, will make me undertake the charge with greater hopes that I may be able satisfactorily to fulfil the important duties which it must impose upon

me.

"Of the nature and importance of that charge I cannot but be duly sensible, involving, as it does, every thing which is valuable to myself, as well as the highest interests of a people endeared to me by so many ties and considerations, but by nothing so strongly as by their steady, loyal, and affectionate attachment to the best of Kings."

Abstract of the Regency Bill, as passed.

1. Declares the interruption in the exercise of the royal authority, and appoints the Prince of Wales, with the stile and title of Regent of the United Kingdoms of Great

Britain and Ireland, to exercise the same in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, under the limitations, restrictions, &c. hereafter specified.

2. The Regent's sign manual of" George P. R." or " G. P. R." to be of the same force as the royal sign manual.

3. The powers and authorities given by the act, to cease when his Majesty shall be restored to a capacity of the personal exercise of the royal authority.

4. Provided that all persons holding offices or pensions from appointment of the Regent or her Majesty under this act, continue to enjoy the same after the resumption of the royal authority by his Majesty, until he declares his will to the contrary; and the same respecting all orders and acts of government made by the Regent.

5. No acts of regal power during the regency to be valid, unless done in his Majesty's name, and according to the provisions of this

act.

6. Enacts the oaths to be taken by the Regent; viz to be faithful to the King-duly to exercise the office of Regent according to the powers of this act-and to maintain the settlement of religion as established in Scotland.

7. Enacts that the Regent shall repeat the declaration against popery, and produce a certificate of his having received the sacrament in one of the royal chapels.

8. Enacts, that until the 1st of February, 1812, if parliament shall be then assembled, and shall have been sitting six weeks previously; or if assembled, but not have been sitting six weeks, then till the expiration of six weeks sitting; or if not then assembled,

then

then until the expiration of six weeks after assembling and sitting next after the 1st of February, 1812, the Regent shall not grant the rank and title of peerage, or summon to the house of lords by a title of heir apparent, or determine the abeyance of any peerage which now is or shall be in abey

ance.

9. Also, that he shall not till after the expiration of such term aforesaid grant any office or employment in reversion, or for any longer term than during his Majesty's pleasure, except such offices and employment for life, or during good behaviour, as by law most be so granted; provided that nothing herein contained shall extend to prevent the granting of pensions to the judges, &c according to acts here enumerated.

10. Provided also that nothing in this act shall extend to the granting of pensions under the provisions of some other acts enumerated.

11. Enacts that nothing in this act shall extend to empower the Regent to give his assent to bills for altering the succession to the crown, or for altering the establishment of the churches of England and Scotland, according to acts here enumerated.

12. Provides that the Regent shall continue to be resident in Great Britain or Ireland, and not marry a papist.

13. Enacts that the care of his Majesty's person shall be committed to the Queen during the continuance of his indisposition, and that the sole direction of his Majesty's household shall be vested in her, except the lord chamberlain, the captain of the yeomen of the guard, and the captain of the band of gentlemen pensioners; and

that she shall have power to no minate to all vacancies in the household, that may occur, except the lord chamberlain, the gentlemen and grooms of the bedchamber, his majesty's equerries, the captain of the yeomen of the guard, and the captain of the gen tlemen pensioners; this power to continue till the expiration of the regency; provided, that her majesty shall not have power to remove any officer who shall have been appointed by his Majesty ; also, that during this period no appointment shall be made to the office of lord chamberlain, now vacant, but its duties shall be performed by a vice-chamberlain ; also that no gentleman or groom of the bedchamber, or equerry to his Majesty, shall be removed, or vacancy in those posts filled up, during this period.

14. That no officer in the household put under the direction of her Majesty, shall appoint to any. office under him, for a longer term than during his Majesty's plea

sure.

15. Appoints a council for the Queen, names the present members (eight in number) and empowers her Majesty to fill up vacancies in the same, out of the privy council.

16. Appoints an oath to be taken by the council.'

17. That the council shall have authority to examine the physi cians and other attendants on his Majesty, upon oath, and to take such other means of ascertaining the health of his Majesty as may appear necessary.

18. That three or more of them shall meet in the first week in April 1811, and on some day in the first week of every third month thereafter,

« TrướcTiếp tục »