CHAP. XXII.

On

the Consequences produced by the personal Character of George III.

GEORGE III. is now no more. This circumstance authorizes us to review his character with the same freedom, as we may that of any of those Monarchs who have preceded him. I have already mentioned the character which he displayed at the commencement of his reign; that he was sober temperate - of domestic habits addicted to no vice-swayed by no passion.

f

The whole tenour of his life has justified the impression, which was first received of him. Those who approached him formed another opinion of his character; in which, however, the event has

he

taken. They thought, that he was a weak man, and that we should probably have a reign of favouritism. These ideas were entertained even by sagacious men; but they were conceived erroneously. George III. was not a weak man. His objects were little, and injudiciously chosen : but no Monarch ever displayed more dexterity in his choice of the means to obtain those objects. So far from his life having been a reign of favouritism, he does not appear ever to have entertained kindness for any minister whom employed, except for the Earl of Bute: and after he found, that this nobleman wanted the courage necessary for his purposes, he seems to have withdrawn all his favour from him, and never more to have wished to replace him in office. But George III. had been educated by his mother. She had formed her ideas of sovereign power at the court of her father, the Duke of Saxe Gotha; and she could never bring herself to be of opinion, that sovereignty should be exercised in Great Britain in a manner different from that in which she had seen it exercised at

her father's court. In Saxe Gotha, sovereignty is property: in Great Britain it is magistracy. In Saxe Gotha, the Sovereign's personal wishes and opinions are to be obeyed, and he is his own. minister; in Great Britain, the Sovereign is to choose for his ministers those, whom he thinks most qualified to advise measures beneficial to the country. If he does not approve of the measures they recommend, he may remove his ministers and appoint others; but whatever measures are carried into effect, the advisers ought not only to be responsible, but distinctly known and recognized as the advisers. This is not an opinion, which has been only theoretically adopted by those who have treated of the English Constitution; it has been explicitly declared in Parliament. A statute once existed, enacting, that every measure recommended by the Privy Council should be signed by those Privy Counsellors who advised it. This law sufficiently declared the principles of our Constitution. It completely negatived the idea of the King

manner

did not choose to have their names so openly exposed, and the act was repealed. The sentiment, which the Princess Dowager had most anxiously impressed on the King's mind was this, that he should be his own minister; that he should vigilantly observe every attempt of his ministers to assume control over him, and use his endeavours to prevent it. The Princess Dowager was led to enforce this sentiment on her son, not only from the in which she had seen sovereign power exercised in her father's court, but also from the control which she had seen exercised by the Pelham party over George II. The conduct of that party to her late husband and herself had excited her resentment; and this resentment mingled itself with her political aversion. The wish to be his Own minister, and to exercise his power personally, was the leading feature in George the Third's character, through his whole reign. It influenced his domestic, as well as his political conduct. There does not appear any interval, in which this sentiment was suspended. The miseries

occasioned by his reign have all flowed from this source. Like other Monarchs, he was desirous of power. But it was not the desire of becoming a military conqueror, or even of extending his dominions. It was little more than the desire of appearing great in the eyes of his pages and valets de chambre - that it might be said, “The King gave away such a bishoprick," or "appointed to such an employment." It was the little object of a little mind.

The reign of George III. has from its commencement exhibited a struggle between the King's personal wishes, and the opinions of his ostensible ministers. The two first wishes, which he seems to have entertained, were to break the power of the Pelham faction, and to restore peace. These wishes were judicious. But the instrument, which he employed to effectuate his objects, was unfortunately chosen. The Earl of Bute was not qualified to be a minister. He was removed; and from the time of his removal we may date the establishment of the double cabinet; viz. secret advisers, and ostensible ministers.