Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Regency bill.

In the early years of his reign, George III. had symptoms of insanity. In April, 1765, his illness was publicly announced, but its nature was kept a secret. The heir to the throne was then an infant only two years of age, and the subject of a regency in the event of the King's disability or death occupied the thoughts of the ministry for a time, to the exclusion of schemes for taxing the Americans. As soon as the King had sufficiently recovered, he gave orders to four of his ministers to prepare a bill for a regency. It was done; and by it the King was allowed the nomination of a regent, provided it should be restricted to the Queen and royal family. The presentation of the bill by the Earl of Halifax to the House of Lords excited much debate in that body, especially on the question, “Who are the royal family?” The matter led to family heart-burnings and political complications and a change of ministry, and Pitt was brought again into the office of premier of England. It did more—it made the stubborn young King submit to the ministry; and, in the pride of power, they perfected their schemes for oppressing the American colonies.