Treasury the Earl of Shelburne himself. greater appetite for employing it." The lounging opinions to outvote you in cabinet." Duke of Richmond, to whom we refer, did Accordingly, with his accustomed dry denot, therefore, like Mr. Fox, think himself light in a joke, Lord Shelburne accepted the "out of the question." But the Duke had mission to report to the King the decrees of two or three trifling defects, which combined the Whigs; and, returning, reported to the to unfit him for the choice of the Great delegates that his Majesty had been graciousHouses. In spite of his rank his opinions ly pleased to appoint as first Lord of the were popular; and in spite of his graceful manners and a "thousand virtues" he himself was just the reverse. He was "intractable," he had a will of his own; he was apt to have "speculative visions, and was particularly romantic upon the article of representation." In short, the Duke of Richmond was set aside. And Fox and the Duke being thus dissolved in the Whig crucible, nothing remained but that caput mortuum his Grace of Portland. Though the announcement could not have been unexpected, it produced the effect of a bomb upon a company of gazers only prepared for the ascent of a rocket. Fox would listen to no remonstrance; he carried at once the seals of his office to the King, complained loudly of Lord Shelburne's "treacheries," and proclaimed, as it were, his contempt for the royal favor he had lost, or his hopes in royal favor prospective, by receiv The intrigues of this interesting crisis have ing at dinner that very day the Prince of an exquisite air of high comedy. The Whig Wales as his guest, and allowing his partijunto having agreed that the Duke of Rich-sans to circulate the soothing intelligence mond was to concede his claim to the Duke that the Heir Apparent regarded "the Rockof Portland, who, above all men, was selected ingham party as the best friends of the counto tell him so?-who was to be the simpler try." Lord John Cavendish alone of the Bouverie to that more vain Lord John? The members of the cabinet imitated the example Whigs appointed Mr. Fox; and, "being his of Mr. Fox. The three other Whigs by Grace's nephew, the Duke," says Walpole, profession, Keppel, Conway, and the Duke with the shrewdness of a man of the world, of Richmond, remained in office; each pro"was most offended with him." With the fessing to share Fox's distrust of Lord Shelbonhommie of a child Mr. Fox undertook the burne, but cach, by remaining, and upon task of alienating from his party one of its the avowed grounds of public duty, implyablest chiefs, and from himself his most ing a censure on those who retired. Never powerful relation. Horace Walpole was before did a parliamentary leader make a present in one of the meetings between uncle movement of equal importance with so little and nephew, and informs us that "he en- approval and so scanty a following, or upon treated both to argue without passion, and grounds less calculated to compensate in the to remember that, being such near relatives, sympathy of the people for the detriment inthey must come together again.' "I did flicted upon party. "My opinion," writes prevent any warmth," adds that most cyn- Lord Temple to his brother Thomas, ical of peacemakers, "and they parted civ- that Fox has undone himself with the public, illy, though equally discontented with each and his most intimate friends seem of the other." It must have been a yet more same opinion." The blow to the Whigs amusing scene "when Lord Shelburne was which the hasty back-stroke of their chief desired by the voice of the party to acquaint inflicted was indeed so mighty, that it scatKing George III. that the Whigs recom- tered them right and left. The policy of the mended the Duke of Portland to his Majesty Whigs as a party was evidently either to to succeed Lord Rockingham." The Earl absorb the Shelburnites into their own body, had previously foiled Mr. Fox's opposition in or to destroy Lord Shelburne's personal inthe cabinet with a sort of well-bred humor fluence as an obstacle to that fusion. The which seems to imply a cordial enjoyment course taken by Mr. Fox transferred to Lord of his part in the play. When General Shelburne all whom interest, ambition, or Conway, on whom the Rockingham faction, sense of public duty enlisted on the side of despite his superb pretensions to be above all the Government. And by that single act considerations of party, had certainly counted Mr. Fox, viewing him only as a party chief, as their own, gave in that cabinet of nine lost at least one-third of the numbers, and a his independent vote, much to that faction's far greater proportionate amount in property, annoyance, quoth Lord Shelburne aside to rank, and character, of the party committed Mr. Fox, "That innocent man never per- to his guidance. His resignation may have ceives that he has the casting vote of the been necessitated. Mr. Fox might feel that cabinet!" Again says the Earl smilingly he could not with honor serve under Lord. to his baffled rival, Very provoking, I Shelburne. But since so many of his friends must own, for you to see Lord Camden and the Duke of Grafton come down with their *is ⚫ Courts and Cabinets of George III. Vol. I. p. 52. retained their offices, and remonstrated effect! The peace itself was more honorable against his own decision, prudence demanded to the country than that which Mr. Fox that his retirement should be made with would have effected. Lord Shelburne carried temperance and dignity. Preserving in Par- his point. The acknowledgment of Ameriliament the attitude of a vigilant neutrality, can independence was made by an article in he might thus have retained his friends, the treaty, not by a previous declaration. whether in or out of office, while asserting Nothing further was heard of the cession of his own independence. But Mr. Fox here Canada. But he who wishes to see the vinmanifested to the fullest extent his charac-dication of that peace and its provisions teristic errors of conduct. He began at once must turn to the great speech in their de"an opposition wofully thinned and discon- fence against Fox, which in tone and argunected," and to that opposition he gave all ment is one of the noblest ever uttered by the rancor and vehemence which could jus- Pitt. But let us glance for a moment over tify his opponents in ascribing his motives the condition of parties before Fox committo personal spleen and mortified ambition. ted himself to the formal coalition with Lord On this score Lord John Russell writes well: North. In point of numbers the new Gov-"Conceding this point [that Mr. Fox's ernment was far weaker than that out of resignation was almost inevitable], it must which it had grown. According to a calcube owned that the field of battle was the lation made to Gibbon, who reports it, the worst that could be chosen. Lord Shel- supporters of Ministers did not muster more burne, the friend and colleague of Lord than 140; the Fox party was estimated at Chatham, the Secretary of State under Lord 90; Lord North's at 120, the Members not Rockingham, a man of tried acquirements thus classified were considered uncertain. and undoubted abilities, was personally far But there were an energy and a decision of superior to the Duke of Portland as a candi-purpose in the foreign negotiations of Lord date for the office of prime minister.". "The choice of a prime minister against the choice of the Crown, and that in the person of a man whose rank and fair character were his only recommendations, appeared to the public an unwarrantable pretension, inspired by narrow jealousies and aristocratic prejudices." Shelburne's Government which had not char- 66 This was, however, the ground which Mr. Fox selected. From this ground he fulmined on the Government in which the most eminent of his recent colleagues remained, which a large and influential number of his recent followers supported-an artillery of eloquence startling by the explosion of its only determined to go on till the first powder, harmless by the misdirection of its breach on fair public grounds;" and (acball. He not only accused Lord Shelburne cording to Horace Walpole)" told the King of duplicity to himself, but insulted those that, though he would keep the Ordnance if just severed from his side by declaring it the King desired it, he would go no more to was impossible to act under the Earl with council." Of Lord Shelburne's own special honor or benefit to the country." He ven- party, Lord Camden, pleading his advanced tured to prophesy "not only that Lord Shel- years, would only pledge himself to retain burne would still be opposed to the inde- office for three months, and the Duke of pendence of America, but that in order to Grafton went discontented into the country, maintain himself in power the Earl would and subsequently left the Government just be capable of that extremity of baseness- before its dissolution. Here Lord Shela coalition with Lord North!" burne's defect in conciliating those with whom he had to deal became seriously apparent. Only on one member of this Cabinet, except his personal friend Dunning (now in the Upper House as Lord Ashbur ton), could the chief minister count with confidence, viz. the young man whom he had at once raised to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Pitt. The leadership of the House of Commons was nominally vested in Thomas Townshend, Secretary of State; but it was Pitt who took the prom What followed is notorious. Mr. Fox himself coalesced with Lord North; and that coalition was first proclaimed to the world in denouncing the treaties for a peace which Mr. Fox had so solemnly invoked throughout the phases of his opposition to Lord North's Government, and which as a minister himself he had pushed diplomacy to the extreme of supplication in order to * Sheridan's Letter to Thomas Grenville, Courts and Cabinets of George III. Vol. 1. p. 53, inent part in the defence of the Government that at this time, as on later occasions, far and the conduct of business. But great as from not enduring a rival near the throne, his own powers were, Pitt himself felt that Pitt was desirous of yet securing to the Gova Ministry thus formed and supported could ernment of the country the only man whose not last. The peace, however necessary, parliamentary genius and position were was in itself unpopular. The Government equal to his own. For the first and only could only secure a majority in the House of time in his life he met Fox in private but Commons in its favor by a junction with one political negotiation-happy perhaps for the of the two parties which were both convinced career of Fox, had the object of the interof the impracticability of continued war- view been effected! But Fox's resentment the Foxites and the Northites. Lord Shel- against Lord Shelburne was more implacable burne was urged by some of his friends to than Lord Shelburne's against Fox. Pitt coalesce with the last, by others to unite proposed that Fox and his friends should with the first. The Earl was not unwilling have an equal share in the Government, to propitiate Lord North, but on the condi- Lord Shelburne retaining the Treasury; Fox tion of not placing him in the Cabinet. made Lord Shelburne's resignation a sine Dundas sounded Lord North on this head; quâ non. Pitt drew himself up-"I did not "but," says Walpole, "Lord Shelburne, come here to betray Lord Shelburne," said foolishly, meanwhile, making the Duke of he, and left the room. Rutland not only Lord Steward but of the Immediately following these fruitless neCabinet Council, filled up one of the best gotiations, Lord North's familiar friend Mr. places with which he might have trafficked Adam, indignant at the idea that Lord North with Opposition." So the overtures to Lord should be excluded from the Cabinet that North, which were never cordial nor direct, was left open to his friends, got into failed of effect. 66 Indeed," says Bishop communication, through George North the Tomline* (a better authority here than ex-Minister's son, with Fox's familiar friend Walpole), "as Lord North was fully aware Lord John Townshend. "These three of Mr. Pitt's positive determination to have (writes Lord John to Lord Holland in 1830) no political connection with him, and he could laid their heads together." "Fitzpatrick's not but know that a perfectly good under- aid was invaluable; " Sheridan was " eager standing subsisted between Lord Shelburne and clamorous" for the junction; Burke and Mr. Pitt, he must therefore have been was not adverse. Beyond this (and we reconvinced that any union between himself joice to find that Burke's share in the intrigue and the present Ministers must have been has been so much exaggerated) Burke had utterly impracticable." It is true that the no great hand in the work; and," adds more personal reasons which might well Lord John, "it was lucky, as we thought, weigh with Mr. Fox in not accepting as a that he had not, as he might in any day colleague in council the man whom he had have marred everything, according to cusso short a time before threatened with the tom, in some wrong-headed fit of intemperblock, were not applicable to Pitt, who had ance. Thus three men, of mark in their indulged in no similar language and received little day, but exceedingly obscure to pos only pointed compliments from the ex-Min- terity, made up the notorious Coalition beister, but by that intuitive sympathy with tween Fox and North, of which the ultipublic opinion, which constituted more than mate consequences were the annihilation of half his political wisdom, Pitt clearly saw the North party, the decimation and discredthat though the country could acquiesce it of the Whig, and the formation of that in arrangements that might strengthen the vast parliamentary majority, founded on the Government by the support of Lord the ruins of the one, swelled by the seceders North's partisans, it could not tolerate the from the other, which so long maintained restoration to power of the man whose the destinies of England in the hands of Mr. policy had involved it in such serious calam- Pitt. ities. Against an union with Fox there was no such vital objection. If the personal differences between the Whig leader and Lord Shelburne could be adjusted, their political dissensions might well terminate in a peace which secured the substance of all that its common advocates professed to desire. These personal differences Lord Shelburne, on his side, was induced to forego, and to be the first to court reconciliation. It is clear * Life of Pitt. Against the morality of the Coalition so much has been said that we may be saved the necessity of reiterating austere homilies. on a worn-out text. But we must frankly own that the apologists for Mr. Fox have in this instance laid foo much stress on the placability of his disposition. For if he forgot his old resentment against Lord North, it was to gratify his new resentment against Lord Shelburne. It was the sacrifice of one revenge for the prosecution of another. And his real excuse is not to be sought in the forgiving sweetness of his temper, but in that fervor of passion which too often blinds judgment by the very fire that it gives to genius. From a great flame goes a great smoke. sition. 66 In the secret diplomacy of parties a man whose name henceforth became closely associated with that of Pitt had lately taken a very active part. Henry Dundas, then in his forty-third year, is thus characterized by But accepting all that can mitigate the Lord Brougham, in one of those Sketches political sin of the Fox and North Coalition, which, whatever our several impressions in it remains not the less grave as a political particular instances as to the perfect accublunder on the part of Mr. Fox. It is racy of the coloring, are not less valuable difficult to conceive how a people could ever specimens of a great artist's skill in compohave been wisely governed by a statesman Henry Dundas (afterwards Lord who could so egregiously miscalculate the Melville) was a plain business-like speaker; directions of public opinion. Nor could a a clear, easy, fluent, and—from much pracparty fail to decrease rapidly in power and tice as well as strong natural sense -a skilful importance that appeared to the community debater." To this we may add, that if the to renounce all the recognized principles of effect of his speeches was somewhat marred political action in order to subserve the by a broad Scotch accent, so on the other ambition of a chief whose very genius only hand it was favored by the advantages of a rendered more alarming to the safety of the comely countenance and imposing person. commonwealth the unscrupulous appliance of He understood well the system of business his means to the naked audacity of his ends. uniting industry in details with the facility But whatever the ultimate effect of the of generalization; his temperament was buoyCoalition, it obtained Fox's immediate object ant, his manners were pleasing. No man -it drove Shelburne from power; and he more agreeable could be met in the byeways who had declared when opposing Lord North of political life. The austerest member on that "peace upon any terms-peace for a the opposite side could enjoy his laugh in year, for a month, for a day-was indis- the lobby or share his bottle at Bellamy's. pensable under the present circumstances of To qualities so fitted to rise in life, Henry the country," joined with Lord North in Dundas added the profound determination condemning the successful negotiator of a to do so. He grafted his talents on the peace, of which Lord Temple, no partial healthiest fruit-trees, and trained them with friend to Lord Shelburne, speaks "as the due care on the sunny side of the wall. most meritorious and happiest event for a Lord Advocate under North's administration, kingdom exhausted of men and of credit." and one of the most zealous defenders of the "By my absence in Ireland and my little American war while the war was popular, connection with Lord Shelburne I was with intuitive sagacity he saw in season the enabled," adds Lord Temple, " to judge of necessity of adapting his opinions to the it with coolness and impartiality, and from vicissitudes of time. By a sort of magnetism the knowledge of the various difficulties at- kindred to this happy clairvoyance he was tending it, I am convinced better terms could attracted towards Mr. Pitt, on the very first not have been had." * appearance of the latter as the opponent of the Government of which Dundas was the partisan and member. In reply to a speech against Ministers made by Pitt in his maiden session, Dundas said : The Honorable Gentleman who spoke last claims my particular approbation. I find myself compelled to rejoice in the good fortune of my country and my fellow-subjects, who are destined at some future day to derive the most first-rate abilities, high integrity, bold and honest important services from so happy an union of independency of conduct, and the most precocious eloquence." It was evidently the hope of the Coalition to detach Pitt from Shelburne. North, in replying to Pitt's speech against the resolutions by which Lord John Cavendish implied his censure of the Government, pointedly said that he saw no reason why the carrying of the present motion should drive Mr. Pitt from the service of his country.' Fox up to this moment had also taken occasion to compliment Pitt at the expense of Shelburne. So exclusively personal towards the chief minister was the attack of the Coalition, that, when, Lord Shelburne resigned, the King, on the plea injudiciously left to him "that Lord Shelburne was the By a dexterity that was really admirable only person in whom the House of Commons in its way, the Lord Advocate contrived to had shown a want of confidence," baulked glide so easily from Lord North's administrathe expectations of the victors, and startled tion into Lord Rockingham's that he really all parties, by offering the Treasury to Pitt with full powers to nominate his colleagues. ⚫ Court and Cabinets of George III., Vol 1. p. 302. heightened his character in retaining his office. With a penetrating eye that compre hended in a glance the welfare of Great Britain and the interests of Henry Dundas, The this profound politician perceived the faults Lord Bacon calls "the wisdom of business," in Mr. Fox that rendered it more likely that than when he declined. Again the King, the genius of that statesman would adorn an most loth to humble himself to what he Opposition than maintain a Government. called "a faction," entreated Pitt to retract Accordingly we have seen that while in the his determination. But Pitt remained imRockingham administration, and nominally movable. He understood the King's interest under the lead of Mr. Fox, he still turned better than his Majesty did. The Coalition his prophetic inclinations towards Mr. Pitt, must be tried in office before it could be safe and made a marked distinction between the for the monarchy to hazard that most delipurity of intention that distinguished the cate and critical of all political questions young man who spoke on the opposite side which lies involved in the constitutional of the House and that which characterized prerogative of the King to choose his ministhe leader on the Treasury Bench. From ters, and the attempt of ministers so chosen Lord Rockingham's administration he slid to govern the country, even for a time, against into Lord Shelburne's with a yet easier grace a majority in the House of Commons. than that with which he had glided from King," said the dutiful heir-apparent, whose Lord North's into Lord Rockingham's. friendship Mr. Fox so dearly purchased, Anxious to preserve his office and his coun-" has not yet agreed to the plan of the Coatry, Dundas then became the zealous but un-lition, but by G- he shall be made to successful negotiator in the attempt to secure agree to it." to Lord Shelburne the support of Lord North. The royal prediction was verified; the Some little time before retiring from power, Duke of Portland became chief minister unbut when its necessity was evident, Lord der Lord North and Mr. Fox. Shelburne sent to Dundas, and said to him In quitting office-with powers so acwith that courtly combination of cynicism knowledged, and an ambition so flatteringly and loftiness which often distinguished the caressed we might suppose, according to Earl in his commerce with mankind-"Did ordinary parliamentary precedents, that Mr. you ever hear the story of the Duke of Perth ?" Pitt would have become the recognized lead"No," said Dundas, "Then I will tell it er of Opposition. He pointedly renounced The Duke of Perth had a country all assumption to that post. Before the new neighbor and friend who came to him one ministry was formed, he declared with emmorning with a white cockade in his hat. phasis that " he was unconnected with any What is the meaning of this?' asked the party whatever; that he should keep himself Duke. I wish to show your grace,' replied reserved, and act with whichever side he his country friend, that I am resolved to thought did right." He soon showed his follow your fortunes.' The Duke snatched independence of the main body in Opposithe hat from his head, took the cockade out tion by renewing in more detail his motion of it, and threw it into the fire, saying-on Parliamentary Reform. It was lost by a 'My situation and duty compel me to take much larger majority than the former one, this line, but that is no reason why you owing, it is said, " to the increased influence should ruin yourself and your family." I of Lord North, as Secretary of State ❞— a find," continued Lord Shelburne, "it will proof how little Fox had advanced the prinnow be necessary for me to quit the govern- ciples he professed by the coalition in which ment, but as you are beloved by all parties I wished you to have early notice of it, that you might be prepared for what must happen!" you. he had gratified his personal ambition and private resentment. Nor would Pitt join with the majority of the Opposition, in the popular clamor against a tax on receipts; The Lord Advocate was prepared not to though on another occasion he unsparingly ruin himself and his family. And he it was exposed the waste and profligacy of a loan who on Lord Shelburne's final overthrow, by which, according to Lord Shelburne, the "being," says Horace Walpole, one of the public lost £650,000, which was negotiated boldest of men, proposed to the King to send in private on the same principle which Lord for the very young Chancellor of the Ex-North had adopted and the Whigs dechequer, William Pitt, not yet past 23;". nounced; which gave a bonus of six per cent. he it was who strained all the efforts of his to the lenders, and rose with a rapidity that eloquent experience to induce William Pitt startled the upward eyes on Exchange to a to accept the offer, and in order to give the premium of eight. But the Great Houses more time for reflection, he it was who moved had again placed the finances of the country the adjournment of the House for three days. in the well-bred hands of Lord John Caven"By far the greater number of the friends dish; and it is no matter of surprise that whom Pitt consulted," says Bishop Tomline, the 3 per cent. Consols, which in March were "advised him to accept the offer." Pitt at 70, fell to 56 in the following December, never more evinced that fine judgment which just before the country lost the services of |