f 
86 
royal parent; that he deliberately 
checked the course of public justice 
by the offer, of, what could only be 
considered a compromise. Nor 
was this all; far from allowing it 
to be, what in fact it, was, the price 
of the relinquishment of a legal in- 
vestigation, which was dreaded; he 
sought, under the specious pretence 
ofa boon to the prince of Wales, 
to call it, the means by which the 
splendor and dignity of this august 
personage would be restored; yet, 
when the fallacy, and utter impos- 
sibility of the attainment of this 
desirable end, being accomplished 
without an inquiry into the actual 
state of the prince’s affairs, was 
stated; he obstinately refused to 
-entertain such inguiry; and per- 
sisted in giving the appearance of 
increased obligation, to what was, 
in fact, unjust in its principle, un- 
satisfactory both to the prince and 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 
to the public ; and totally inade- 
quate toits proposed ends. Such 
however is the usual fate, of the 
half measures of little minds. 
Contrasted with this line of con- 
duct, the people observed in the 
whole of that of their future mo- 
narch, dignity, equity, and modera- 
tion; and when it was seen, that at 
the critical and awful moment we 
have already alluded to, he declined 
giving any farther trouble to the 
great council of the nation; that 
in such a moment, he could not 
think of adding to the burdens of 
the country, and that he declared 
himself perfectly satisfied with the 
liberality of parliament; grati- 
tude and admiration universally 
prevailed ; and his future subjects, 
beheld in this meritorious and ex- 
emplary conduct, ample promise of 
the greatest blessing providence can 
bestow—a patriot king! f 
CHAP. 
