evil which could result from such a law. What is most to be apprehended is lest disdain, resentment, and violence should hereafter prevail, and the legal authority of such a Regency be set at open defiance."[1]
He then went on to show that an incompetent Regent and incompetent Ministers would be tempted to stoop to the lowest corruption in order to overcome their unpopularity, while on the other hand the Parliament sitting at the King's demise could choose the most competent Regent, in his opinion the Queen; and she and the Ministers would have an interest in preserving the high character to which they had owed their elevation. Thus the risk of corruption and of bad government which might lead to rebellion and anarchy would be avoided.
The arguments, however, proved ineffectual, and only six peers followed Temple and Shelburne into the lobby. Temple retired to Stowe and Shelburne to Bowood.
The conduct of the Ministers on the question of the Regency had greatly weakened their position. They had first alienated the Duke of Cumberland by seeking to exclude his name from the Bill, and they had then tried to exclude the Princess Dowager through fear of Bute. Succeeding in this, though only for a moment, they alienated the King, who sent Cumberland to negotiate with Pitt.[2] But Temple refused to co-operate in the formation of a Ministry, and the negotiation came to an end. Shelburne had been offered office. "Pitt," Calcraft wrote to him, "thinks nothing can be more guarded or proper than your reply, and is still more convinced by the statement made to your friend[3] of a late transaction how slippery and dangerous all ground at Court is, so wishes you to keep on greater guard, which he seems sure will answer with the public. Even this communication he doubts may be misconstrued or revive Lord Bute's idea that everybody may be had. His Lordship, it seems, is totally
