Chapter VI: Introduction: To Book the Second

The shock occasioned by the death of Princess Amelia, which occurred in November, 1810, put an end to any hopes that may have existed of George III.’s recovery. His intellect, already failing under the weight of years, finally gave way, and it became necessary to appoint a Regent to carry on the business of the country. The physicians still gave hopes of ultimate recovery, and the Bill which Mr. Perceval presented to the House of Commons was based on this supposition. The functions of the Crown were to be placed temporarily in the hands of the Prince of Wales, but subject to restrictions which would materially limit the scope of his powers. The Prince consulted Lords Grey and Grenville in January, 1811, as to the written protest he was preparing for presentation to Mr. Perceval; but already signs of disagreement began to appear between the Regent and the party with whom he had habitually acted. A suggestion for the reinstatement of the Duke of York as Commander-in-Chief received scant encouragement from the two Lords; while the fact of its prompt and favourable reception by the Ministers went far to reconcile the Prince to his new advisers. The retention of the latter in office was all-important to the Queen, and every ounce of influence which she possessed over her son was thrown into the balance on their behalf. Assisted by the doctors, she represented the state of the King’s health as entirely dependent on the actions of the Regent. Certain it is that the fear of in any way jeopardising the precarious existence of his father weighed heavily with the Prince, when the time arrived (February 1, 1812) for the expiration of the restrictions.

In Spain Wellington’s policy of masterly inaction had fulfilled its purpose during the winter of 1810. It was impossible for Massena to maintain his position in Portugal owing to the lack of local supplies, and the English were able to resume the offensive after the arrival of reinforcements from home. Some success was obtained by the French armies in the south, where Soult captured Seville, laid siege to Cadiz, and commenced his march northwards. He was checked, however, by the success of General Graham over the besiegers of Cadiz, and returned to resume the blockade of that town. The victories of Fuentes d’Onoro and Albuera maintained the superiority of the English in the field; but owing to the junction of Soult and Marmont (who had taken over Massena’s command) during the autumn of 1811, it was not until early in 1812 that Wellington was able to capture the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos, and secure his base in Portugal from the possibility of attack.

In the north Napoleon was making vast preparations for bringing the Czar to his senses, and revenging himself on him for the defection of Russia from his commercial system—that favourite scheme of the French Emperor for humbling the pride of Great Britain by injuring her commerce. Prussia, now under the guidance of Count Hardenberg, maintained a vacillating policy, and finally, through fear of standing alone, was forced into a treaty with France whereby she was to furnish troops to further Napoleon’s schemes. Austria was also driven to conclude a hollow treaty of the same kind, and Russia was thus left alone to resist the attack of the all-conquering despot.

Much suffering and misery were rife among the lower classes in England during the winter of 1811. Trade was at its lowest ebb. The effects of Napoleon’s decrees against English commerce and the Orders in Council, issued by the Cabinet as a means of retaliation, fell heavily on the manufacturing districts. The United States, furious at the interference with their carrying trade, forbade all commercial transactions with England or France; and though the English Cabinet took steps to meet their views by exempting them from the operation of the measure, the American Government declared war in 1812. The Orders in Council were repealed, through the efforts of Mr. Brougham, soon after Mr. Perceval’s death; but the news reached the United States too late to prevent the conflict.

Lord Wellesley resigned his office of Foreign Secretary in February, 1812. The Prince Regent renewed his negotiations with the Whig party, communicating with Lords Grey and Grenville by means of the Duke of York. No result was arrived at, and Lord Castlereagh was appointed to succeed Lord Wellesley. The whole question of the government of the country was, however, shortly reopened. On May 11 Mr. Perceval, the Prime Minister, was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons by Bellingham, a ruined merchant, of whose sanity there was great doubt. The Prince Regent was now forced to decide finally to which party he would give his confidence. Lord Holland gives a detailed account of the intrigues and negotiations which took place at this time. Enough to mention here that after communications with all parties, in which Lords Liverpool, Wellesley, and Moira successively took a prominent part, the Prince retained the Tory party in power, and gave Lord Liverpool full powers to form an Administration on the same basis as that which had carried on the business of the country up to the time of Mr. Perceval’s death.