funeral. That ceremony is, indeed, itself an additional reason for my not changing my quarters, as it is very likely that my attendance there will be required, as it has been on the two last occasions, and certainly I should not (nor indeed could I), think of declining to pay this last duty, if I am one of those named for it.

I

say all this because you ask me about my own notions, but I cannot see why they should be of any weight in determining yours; you being, as I trust, in the situation of having before you many years of active and useful duty. I know nothing but from general language, which my brother picked up two days ago, as to the intentions of the Government. If they are wise, they will dissolve as soon as they can, but whether that shall include, or exclude the passing of a new Civil List Bill, depends, I think on considerations of too high a nature for a country gentleman to speculate upon; and for which even those who are to decide upon them, are not as well prepared as one should have expected that they could be. Two or three days will make this clear enough to you, and I take it for granted, that if there is any appearance of business, especially such business preceding the dissolution, you will not think you can be absent from it.

On the 30th of January, the members of the Cabinet, who happened to be in town, resigned their credentials of office to Lord Sidmouth, who as Secretary to the Home Department, delivered them shortly afterwards in an audience with the new sovereign, at the same time, the Lord Chancellor surrendered the Great Seal; but every Minister was immediately reinstated in his office. There was no change: the Government was the same Government-the same members, and the same head. The title of Regent was the only removal.

The presence of the Marquis of Buckingham, and Lord Grenville, was required to assist in doing honour to their deceased master, as they had recently assisted in paying the last honours to his illustrious Consort. The Marquis was again one of the supporters, to the Chief Mourner-now no longer Regent, but King; and Lord Grenville bore the Union Banner, in the funeral procession-a stately and imposing ceremony, that produced a powerful impression upon the throngs of saddened spectators, permitted to gaze upon it, as it proceeded to the Royal vault. Nothing was omitted in the ceremonial, that could help to express the national sense of the dignity of their departed monarch, or the sorrow of his subjects, and servants, at the loss they had sustained.

CHAPTER XX.

GREAT HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE PERIOD OF THE REGENCY

AT ITS COMMENCEMENT

STATE OF THE GOVERNMENT ADVANTAGES PRODUCED BY A REMODELLING OF THE MINISTRYCOMMERCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL

PROGRESS-THE PRINCE REGENT'S

PATRONAGE OF ART AND SCIENCE HIS IMPROVEMENT IN STREET

ARCHITECTURE -SOCIAL

ADVANCEMENT-BENEFITS CONFERRED BY

THE LEGISLATURE-BRIGHTON AND THE PAVILION-MR. WILBERFORCE

CHAPTER XX.

UPON looking back throughout the period of the Regency, it is scarcely possible to exaggerate its importance as a portion of the modern history of the country: this is immediately apparent when we proceed to contrast the position of the Empire at the commencement, and at the conclusion. Even the wisest of English statesmen seemed inclined to despair of its future, so comprehensive were the difficulties, so menacing the dangers, with which, in the first instance, it was surrounded. We appeared to have exhausted our material resources in a long war with the most formidable enemy that ever threatened our shores. On the sea, we had certainly succeeded in establishing a dominion, that closely confined hostile fleets to the protection of impregnable ports; but by land our own successes were confined to one brilliant conflict in Italy (Maida), and some questionable advantages in the Peninsula, where we had inaugurated our military interposition by a terrible disaster, (the retreat of Sir John Moore,) and a miserable specimen of blundering, (the Convention of Cintra,) and where our small force was dreadfully