a8ii.] 
pleased to take upon him, during the indis- 
position of the King, and no longer, the Go- 
vernment of this Realm; and administer the 
game in the name and in the behalf of his 
Majesty, under the style and title of Regent 
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Ireland.” bol 
After along debate, the Ministers car- 
ried their Resolutions by 269 against 
a> 
t Onthe 14th, a Select Committee of the 
House of Commons examined the Phy- 
sicians attending the King, as. to the 
state of his illness. z 
dr. Reynolds was first called. He said 
his Majesty has sometimes been Better, and 
sometimes again he has been worse 3 there 
have been paroxysms; there have been times 
when he has been apparently going on well, 
and then something suddenly has thrown 
him back. Having alluded to the iategrity of 
his Majesty’s mind, and being asked what he 
meant by that, he answered—-‘‘ I mean, that 
his memory is entire; his perceptions are en- 
tire ; and his acuteness is considerable ; which 
appears from every now and chen a comment 
on any thing that is said. His judgment 
I have said was perverted, and that at pre- 
sent his discretion is asleep at times; though 
every nowand then there are gteams of both, 
but they are transient."—Q. ‘ Is the pre- 
sent age of his Majesty likely more to affect 
the duration of his illness, than bis. age at 
ché respective periods of his former attacks 
of his disorder ?”— I can only answer that 
question by saying, that age seems to have 
made very few depredatiéns upon his Ma- 
jesty. He is apparently younger and stronger 
than many persons much younger than him- 
self; and therefore much better able to se- 
sist the effect of disease than seyeral per- 
sons younger than himself would be.” j 
Dr. Baillie was next called in. He said 
his Majesty was sometimes afflicted with bo- 
dily ailment, and that, were there no such 
ailment, the chance of bis recovery would 
be less. The King’s age rendered his reco- 
very less probable 3 at the same time his Ma-_ 
jesty, at 72, was younger and stronger than 
many others at 62- With respect to the 
King’s defect of sight, he should conceive 
that, in the eariler periods of an indisposi- 
tion like the King’s, blindness would proba. 
bly be an advantage; that it would lessen 
the excitement; but towards recovery, the 
want of sight would be a disadvantage, be- 
cause he would be deprived of many amuse- 
ments chat would eccupy his mind, and assist 
in the complete recovery. This was, how- 
ever, altogether conjecture. He thought 
the King’s present indisposition would be a 
lgnger idisposition than some of the former. 
fe had never known but one person who 
was affected with this disorder who was as 
oid asthe King, and that person saw; tut 
thar person did not recover. He be.ieved 
- hus Majesty's affection for, the deceased Prip- 
Monruary Mae. Ne. 207, 
Stute of Public Affairs in December: 
563 
cess, and grief during her illness, was the 
cause of his indisposition; and that he con= 
ceived rather favourable with regard to the 
prospect of his Majesty’s recovery. It was 
better to know some fixed cause for the come 
plaint 3 and it was better likewise that the 
cause should, have ceased, which it has done 
in the present instance. 
Dr. Heberden—In reply to a question 
about the King’s being informed that his 
Physicians were coming to town to be ex- 
amined, and who informed him; said, **i 
understood it to have been Dr. Reynolds. f 
believe it was owing to that cause that his 
Majesty bad a little hurry upon him at the 
time [saw him.” 
Sir H. Halford was next examined. He 
said, that he thought the last time the Queen 
saw the King, was on the 29th of October ; 
that the Chancellor saw him on the 29th of 
Gctober, and Jast Wednesday. Upon being 
informed the Chancellor was come to Wind- 
sor, the King desired to see him. Witness 
informed the King of his arrival, and ine 
troduced him. The King expressed great 
satisfaccion at the interview. It made no 
difference in his mental health. On the 
preceding morning he, found the King in- 
volved in a great many misconceptions, and 
took the liberty of using the Chancellor's 
name as a medica] expedient ; and it had the 
desired efyect. He did not consult his cols 
leagues; but took it entirely of himself. 
Throughout the day the King alluded to the 
conversation several times, and seemed to be 
less under the influence of error. The Phy- 
sicians left the room when the Chancellor 
had hig second interview, because it’ seemed 
desirable he should form his judgment un- 
influenced by the presence of any -person. 
Dr. Willis expressed an apprehensien that the 
interview might be injurious. Witness did 
entertain great hopes of his Majesty’s reco= 
very. 
Dr. R. D. Willis said, he had confident 
hopes of his Majesty’s recovery, but could 
form no judgment of the duration of his ill- 
ness. Had he known the King proposed to 
see the Chancellor, he should have objected. 
It produced no beneficial effect. He had had 
persons under insanity of the King’s age, not 
perhaps under derangement similar to his. 
The King’s derangement was more nearly 
allied to delirium than insanity. La deli- 
rium the mind is entirely employed on past 
impressions, which rapidly pass in succcse 
sion, resembling a person talking in his 
sleep. In insanity, there may be little or no 
disturbance in the general constitution; the 
mind is uccupied on some fixed idea, and ad- 
heres to it in opposition to the plainest evie 
dence of its falsity. ‘Taking insanity and de- 
lirium as two points, be would place dee 
rangement of mind between them. His Ma- 
jesty’s illness partook more of the delirium 
than of the insanity. When he first sawh's 
Majesty, on the 6th of November, he was 
pernéctly unconscious of surruunding objects. 
4C The 
