thereafter, and declare the state of his Majesty's health, and trasnsmit a copy of such declaration to the president of the privy-council, or in his absence, to one of the principal secretaries of state, who shall cause the same to be inserted in the books of the privy-council.

19. That when it shall appear to her Majesty, and to any four or more of her council, that his Majesty is restored to such a state of health as to be capable of resuming the personal exercise of the royal authority, the same shall be noti fied by an instrument signed by her Majesty and four or more of her council, and addressed to the president of the privy-councii, or one of the secretaries of state, who shall communicate the same to the Regent, and forthwith summon a privy-council, and cause the same instrument to be entered on the books of the privy council,

.), 20. That if after the said in strument be thus entered, his Majesty shall think proper, by his sign manual, to require the president of the privy-council, or one of the secretaries of state, to summon a council in his Majesty's presence of not less than nine privy councillors named by himself (not members of the Queen's council) they are hereby required to, assemble accordingly at the time and place appointed by his Majesty, for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

21. That if his Majesty, by the advice of six or more of the privycouncil so assembled, shall signify his pleasure to resume the exercise of the royal authority, and to issue a proclamation, declaring the same, such proclamation shall be issued countersigned by six or more of

the said privy-council, and all the powers and authorities granted by this act shall thenceforth cease.

22. Enacts that if the Regent, or the Queen, should die during the continuance of this act, a proclamation shall be issued by the privy-council declaring the same; upon which, the parliament, if adjourned or prorogued, shall forthwith meet.

23. Provides that in case such proclamation shall issue subsequently to the expiration or dissolution of a parliament, and before the day appointed for the assembling of a new one, the last preceding parliament shall immedi, ately convene and sit for 6 months, and no longer.

24. Enacts that in case of the death of the Queen, all the powers respecting the care of the royal person vested in her, shall be vested in her council, until due provision shall be made in relation thereto by parliament: provided, nevertheless, that nothing in this act be construed to empower the Regent, or the council, to nominate or remove officers of the household subject to the nomination or removal of her Majesty.

25. Enacts that the nominations to offices by the Regent or Queen, under this act, shall vacate seats in the house of commons, as if made by the King.

26. That authorities of any kind issued by his Majesty, by virtue whereof sums of money are directed to be paid for the use of the Queen or royal family, shall continue and be of force during the regency established by this act, and that warrants for their payment shall be issued from the treasury as usual.

27. Enacts

1

27. Enacts that the lords of the Treasury shall direct the sum of 60,000l. annually to be issued from the civil list revenues to the keeper of his Majesty's privy purse, out of which, the said keeper shall make payments, not exceeding a sum mentioned, to such persons, and for such purposes, as has been beretofore done; and also another sum mentioned to the order of her Majesty; and shall invest the remainder in some of the govern ment securities in his name, in trust for his Majesty; as also the surplus of the revenues of the duchy of Lancaster.

28. Directs an oath to be taken by the keeper of the privy purse, and the person appointed to receive for her Majesty, that none of the money has been applied to the use or benefit of any member of the House of Commons, or for the purpose of procuring an interest in any place returning members of parliament.

29. Enacts a number of provisions respecting the care and management of his Majesty's personal property.

30. Gives power to the Regent, by the advice of the commissioners of the Treasury, to make grants out of the droits of the crown and admiralty, in such manner as his Majesty has been accustomed to do.

Correspondence between the Regent

and Mr. Perceval.

The following are circulated as copies of the letters that passed between his Royal Highness the Regent and Mr. Perceval, on the annunciation of his Royal High

ness's determination to retain the present Ministers in his service.

THE REGENT'S LETTER.

Carlton-House, Feb. 4, 1811. The Prince of Wales considers the moment to be arrived, which calls for his decision with respect to the persons to be employed by him, in the administration of the executive government of the country, according to the powers vested in him by the bill passed by the two houses of parliament, and now on the point of receiving the sanc tion of the great seal.

The Prince feels it incumbent upon him, at this precise juncture, to communicate to Mr. Perceval his intention not to remove from their stations those whom he finds there, as his Majesty's official servants. At the same time the Prince owes it to the truth and sincerity of character, which, he trusts, will appear in every action of his life, in whatever situation placed, explicitly to declare, that the irresistible impulse of filial duty and affection to his beloved and afflicted Father leads him to dread that any act of the Regent might, in the smallest degree, have the effect of interfering with the progress of his Sovereign's reco

Mr. Perceval feels it his duty to express his humble thanks to your Royal Highness, for the frankness with which your Royal Highness has condescended explicitly to communicate the motives which have induced your Royal Highness to honour his colleagues and him with your commands for the continuance of their services, in the stations intrusted to them by the King. And Mr. Perceval begs leave to assure your Royal Highmess. that in the expression of your Royal Highness's sentiments of filial and loyal attachment to the King, and of anxiety for the restoration of his Majesty's health, Mr. Perceval can see nothing but additional motives for their most anxious exertions to give satisfaction to your Royal Highness, in the only manner in which it can be given, by endeavouring to promote your Royal Highness's views

for the security and happiness of the country.

Mr. Perceval has never failed to regret the impression of your Royal Highness, with regard to the provisions of the regency bill, which his Majesty's servants felt it to be their duty to recommend to parliament. But, he ventures to submit to your Royal Highness, that, whatever difficulties the present awful crisis of the country and the world may create in the administration of the executive government, your Royal Highness will not find them in any degree increased by the temporary suspension of the exercise of those branches of the royal prerogatives, which has been introduced by parliament, in conformity to what was intended on a former similar occasion; and that whatever Ministers your Royal Highness might think proper to employ, would find in that full support and countenance which, as long as they were honoured with your Royal Highness's commands, they would feel confident they would continue to enjoy, ample and sufficient means to enable your Royal Highness effectually to maintain the great and important interest of the united kingdom.

And Mr. Perceval humbly trusts, that, whatever doubts your Royal Highness may entertain with respect to the constitutional propriety of the measures which have been adopted, your Royal Highness will feel assured, that they could not have been recommended by his Majesty's servants, nor sanctioned by parliament, but upon the sincere, though possibly erroneous, conviction, that they in no degree

trenched

tachment of a loyal and affectionate people, for the most effectual assistance and support; and his Royal Highness will, on his part, exert his utmost endeavours to direct the powers with which he is invested, to the advancement of the prosperity, welfare, and se- . curity of his Majesty's dominions.

We are directed to inform you, that his Royal Highness has great satisfaction in being enabled to state, that fresh opportunities have been afforded during the late campaign for distinguishing the valour and skill of his Majesty's forces both by sea and land.

The capture of the islands of Bourbon and of Amboyna has still further reduced the colonial dependencies of the enemy.

The attack upon the island of Sicily, which was announced to the world with a presumptuous anticipation of success, has been repulsed by the persevering exertions and valour of his Majesty's land and sea forces.

The judicious arrangement a dopted by the officers commanding on that station, derived material support from the zeal and ardour which were manifested dur ing this contest by the inhabitants of Sicily, and from the co-operation of the naval means which were directed by his Sicilian Majesty to this object.

In Portugal, and at Cadiz, the defence of which constituted the principal object of his Majesty's exertions in the last campaign; the designs of the enemy have been hitherto frustrated. The consummate skill, prudence, and perseverance of Lieutenant-Generab Lord Viscount Wellington, and the discipline and determined bravery of

of the officers and men under his command, have been conspicuously displayed throughout the whole of the campaign. The effect of those distinguished qualities, in inspiring confidence and energy into the troops of his Majesty's allies, has been happily evinced by their general good con. duct, and particularly by the brilliant part which they bore in the repulse of the enemy at Buzaco. And his Royal Highness commands us further to state, that he trusts you will enable him to continue the most effectual assistance to the brave nations of the peninsula, in the support of a contest which they manifest a determination to maintain with unabated perseverance; and his Royal Highness is persuaded that you will feel, that the best interests of the British empire must be deeply affected in the issue of this contest, on which the liberties and independence of the Spanish and Portuguese nations entirely depend.

We have it likewise in command to acquaint you, that discussions are now depending between this country and the United States of America; and that it is the earnest wish of his Royal Highness that be may find himself enabled to bring these discussions to an amicable termination, conistent with the honour of his Majesty's crown, and the maritime rights and interests of the united kingdom.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,We are directed to acquaint you, that his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has given his commands that the estimates for the expenditure of the current year should be laid before you; and his Royal Highness has great satisfac

tion in acquainting you, that although the difficulties under which the commerce of this kingdom has laboured, have in some degree affected a part of his Majesty's revenue, particularly in Ireland, yet that the revenue of Great Britain in the last year, though unaided by any new taxation, is greater than was ever known in any preceding year. And his Royal Highness trusts to your zeal and liberality to afford his Majesty adequate supplies for the support of the great contest in which he is necessarily engaged.

My Lords and Gentlemen,-We are commanded by his Royal Highness to declare to you, that it is the most anxious wish of his heart, that he may be enabled to restore unimpaired into the hands of his Majesty the government of his kingdom; and that his Royal High ness earnestly prays that the Almighty may be pleased in his mercy to accelerate the termination of a calamity so deeply lamented by the whole nation, and so peculiarly afflicting to his Royal Highness himself.

Prince Regent's Message, March 12.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up a message from the Prince Regent: it was read from the chair, and was in substance as follows:

The Prince Regent, in the name and in the behalf of the King, thinks proper to inform the House of Commons, that the maintenance of a body of Portuguese troops in British pay had been at tended with the most important effects in the conduct of the war.

The