AndnowWilliamthoughtthatthetimehadcomewhenheoughttoexplainhimself。HeaccordinglysentforHalifax，Danby，Shrewsbury，andsomeotherpoliticalleadersofgreatnote，and，withthatairofstoicalapathyunderwhichhehad，fromaboy，beeninthehabitofconcealinghisstrongestemotions，addressedtothemafewdeeplymeditatedandweightywords。
Hehadhitherto，hesaid，remainedsilent；hehadusedneithersolicitationnormenace:hehadnotevensufferedahintofhisopinionsorwishestogetabroad:butacrisishadnowarrivedatwhichitwasnecessaryforhimtodeclarehisintentions。HehadnorightandnowishtodictatetotheConvention。Allthatheclaimedwastheprivilegeofdeclininganyofficewhichhefeltthathecouldnotholdwithhonourtohimselfandwithbenefittothepublic。
AstrongpartywasforaRegency。ItwasfortheHousestodeterminewhethersuchanarrrangementwouldbefortheinterestofthenation。Hehadadecidedopiniononthatpoint；andhethoughtitrighttosaydistinctlythathewouldnotbeRegent。
AnotherpartywasforplacingthePrincessonthethrone，andforgivingtohim，duringherlife，thetitleofKing，andsuchashareintheadministrationasshemightbepleasedtoallowhim。
Hecouldnotstooptosuchapost。HeesteemedthePrincessasmuchasitwaspossibleformantoesteemwoman:butnotevenfromherwouldheacceptasubordinateandaprecariousplaceinthegovernment。Hewassomadethathecouldnotsubmittobetiedtotheapronstringsevenofthebestofwives。HedidnotdesiretotakeanypartinEnglishaffairs；but，ifhedidconsenttotakeapart，therewasonepartonlywhichhecouldusefullyorhonourablytake。IftheEstatesofferedhimthecrownforlife，hewouldacceptit。Ifnot，heshould，withoutrepining，returntohisnativecountry。HeconcludedbysayingthathethoughtitreasonablethattheLadyAnneandherposterityshouldbepreferredinthesuccessiontoanychildrenwhomhemighthavebyanyotherwifethantheLadyMary。662