78 
that the claims of his royal high- 
ness were too firmly established, to 
be shaken by any opinions, that 
eould be brought against them; 
and therefore, he could not but 
admire, the delicate and dignified 
conduct of the prince, in thus fore- 
going those claims. There cer- 
tainly had been no compromise, 
nor any thing resembling it; the 
intimation of the present measure, 
came upon his royal highness unex- 
pectedly, and no terms were at- 
tempted to be imposed upon him. 
He repeated the statement that he 
had formerly made, that whatever 
were the expences, incurred by his 
royal highness, they had not tallen 
upon the public. In order to be 
convinced of that, it would be only 
sufficient to compare the present 
with formertimes; and the actual 
situation of his royal highness, with 
that of his illustrious predecessors, 
He concluded, by declaring he 
should vote for the resolution pro- 
posed. 
Sir Ralph Milbank said, that it 
was notorious, that the prince had 
lived in a state of comparative ob- 
scurity, for the last eight years, and 
that it was time to restore him to 
that state and splendor, which be- 
came his exalted rank. 
Mr. Harrison objected to the 
manner of granting this annuity, as 
aboon to his royal highness, when 
it was clear, that he was a creditor 
to the public, for more than the 
amount of his outstanding debts, 
The solicitor general had informed 
them, that legal opinions were 
agreed upon that subject. Although 
for his part, he did not think the 
dignity of monarchy depended up- 
enits trappings, yet when he saw 
splendor in every corner of the 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 
court, and in all its appendages, he 
saw no reason, why the prince of — 
Wales should be the only person — 
from whom it was withheld. 
Lord Castlereagh was of opinion 
last year, when this matter was first 
suggested, that the time was come, 
for restoring the prince to the full 
dignity and comforts, which became 
his rank; but as the claims of the 
prince thea came forward in a more 
legal shape, 1t was necessary to 
await a legal decision. He periectly 
approved ~ however, of the feeling 
which dictated that course, namely, 
that the prince wished rather that 
his debts should be paid out of 
his own means, than that he should 
appear burthensome to the public. 
Mr. Sheridan said, he preferred 
so much, the character of his royal 
highness, tc his comforts, that if 
this was to be represented to the 
public, as a boon to the prince 
(who had come down to parliament 
a third time for payment of his 
debts,) that he was not prepared to 
say, that he should support it. The 
fact was this, the prince had in 
the course of last session, applied 
for the restoration of his RIGHT, 
not on his own account, but for the 
sake of his creditors: there was a 
long discussion both historical and 
political, on his claims, but the 
house resolved they could do no- 
thing in it. A petition of right 
was then proceeded upon, but sud- 
denly the proceedings were stopped, 
and this message came down to the 
house. 
(Mr. Addington) objected to the 
word compromise, but it was be- 
cause he considered it a fair and 
honorable compromise, that he 
supported it. As to the petition 
of mght, it would haye been very 
doubtful, 
The right hon. gentleman - 
q 
s 
