Some Books of the Week
THE new_volumes of Sir John Fortescue's edition of The Corm. spondence of King George III. (Vols. V. and VI., Macmillan's, 25s. each) offer no exciting historical controversy comparable to the previous ones, dealing with the American crisis which we have already reviewed fully. These volumes, however, will always be of value to the student and the specialist. In 1780 Dunning succeeded in getting through the Commons, by a considerable majority, his famous resolution, ". That the power of the Crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished," which drew from Lord North one of his recurrent resignations. George, however, treated both resolution and resignation with his accustomed good sense. More serious was the coalition between North and Fox. This the King could not but feel deeply, and, indeed, it was politically indefensible. But the controversy belongs specially to the domain of the student of politics. . It would have been very interesting, particularly in the light of recent revelations and suspicions, if the King's spirited part in quelling the Gordon Riots had been reflected in the correspondence. George probably saw further into the mystery and real danger of the disturbances than his cowardly Lord Mayor ; but if so, he kept his counsels to himself. The whole &mute, well described in Barnaby Budge, will most likely always remain a puzzle in history, for such a creature as Lord George could only have been an unconscious tool of concealed forces. It remains for us to congratulate Sir John Fortescue on the completion of a work which will be of capital value to the libraries of scholars, and which really lifts the reputation of George III. clear of the stigmas of obstinacy and stupidity which have commonly been its portion.
* *
Previous page
