■'Z-
ANECDOTES
OF THE LIFE OF
THE RIGHT HOJ^. WILLIAM PITT,
EARL OF CHATHAM,
AND OP
THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF HIS TIME.
WITH
HIS SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT^
FROM THB TEAR I736 TO THE YEAR I778.
SIT MIHl FAS AUDITA tOQUI.— — VIRGIt.
IN TWO VOLUMES,
VOLUME I.
lLoiioon:
PRINTED rOR J. S. JORDAN, No. 16S, FLEET-STREET*
1792,
^''t,
R E F A C E.
*T^ H E moft proper apo]o-.^y for this publication, is a candid and
-^ unadorned flatement of Truth, Piad a fimilar work been executed by
any of thofe pcrfons, who are more capable, and more converfant with
the period, and with the condudl of the noble Lord, than the Editor, the
public would not have been troubled with this attempt. It is now
almofl: fourteen years fince Lord Chatham's death, and the writer has
not heard, that any intention to offer a fimilar work has been in the
contemplation of any fuch perfon. Every period in Hiftory is interefling.
Undoubtedly fome periods more than others ; and, perhaps, none more
than that of thefe volumes. But truth is fo feldom the objeift of the
hiftorian of his own times, that it has, for fome years paft, been a trite
cbfervation, amongfl perfons of information, that nothing is fo falfe as
Modern Hiftory. The writers in general, may, perhaps, have other
views thai^ the relation of fad:s. But it fl:iould be further obferved, that
thofe perfons, who are in poffeffion of the befl: and mod authentic
materials for hiftory, are ufually perfons of fafliion and rank j and one of
thefe very rarely fits down to the laborious work of writing a volume.
Hence arifes the falpood and fterility of Modern Hiftory. The important
fads dying with the perfons who were beft acquainted with them, the
future writer frequently afcribes motives and confequences to events, with
which they have not the moft diftant relation.
The writer has not the vanity to offer this work as a hiftory. He
prefumes no more, than having coUedled, and preferred a fund of materials,
which may afford light and information to the future enquirer ; who could
not have found them in any of the books hitherto printed*. He is con-
fcious, that his ftyle, and fome circumftances, are not in his favour. But
he is not confcious of having advanced one falfliood. The anecdotes
* Except in a few inftances ; and thefe are fo immediately connefted with the fubjeft
of the work, they could not, with propriety, have been omitted. But the names of the
books, or pamphlets, from which they are taken, arc fet down in the margin,
which
( "' )
whicB Tie Has here c.omn:itted to paper, were, all of them, in their day,
very weM known. They were the fubjeds of public converfation. But
they have not been publifhed. His fituation gave him a knowledge of
them, and a perfonal acquaintance with feveral of the events. It v/as his
euftom to keep a diary; in which he minuted all fuch circumftances as
feemed to him moft worthy of remembrance. He has endeavoured to
ftate the fafts,. as^ nearly as poflible, in the original language; and with
» the original colouring In which they were fpontaneoufly given at the
moment prefuming he fliould thereby exhibit the moil faithful picture
of a period, in which the noble Lord appeared the principal figure on tlvj
eanvafs *-.
Wit4-i refped: to the Speeches m Parliament, it is proper to inform the
reader, that thofe marked M.S. in the margin, are now firft printed from
the Editor's notes ; or from thofe of particular friends, who have obligingly
affifled him. The reft are copied from various publications, in England,
Holland and America. No pains have been fpared to gain the befl and
fulieft account of each fpeech. But it is not within the compafs of one .
man, or of a firft attempt, though neither crudely defigned, nor precipi-
tately executed, to obtain perfedlion. There are doubtlefs omiilions ;
though it is hoped not many. But if any Gentleman is in polTeffion of
any papers, or notes of any fpeeches, which may elucidate, or contribute
to the advantage of this work, the writer will think himfelf honoured by
the communication of them, for the benefit of a future edition ; if the
publis favour fhould make one neceffary.
The reader's candour is folicited for fome errors in the printing, which
are obviouS' without the diftindlion of errata. The work was principally
written at a confiderable distance from the metropolis,, in which fituation.
the writer could not rcvife the prefs.
* It was the opinion of the great Lord' Somers^ " That the bent and genius of the age
" is befl known in a free country, by the pamphlets and papers which daily come out, as
*• containing the fertfe &f parties, and fometimes the voice' of the nation." Tlie
authority may be feen in the front of Lord Somers's Trafts. If thefe anec*
dotes had been printed in the fugitive periodical papers of the times, they mufl: un-
doubtedly have claffed under his Lordlhip's del'cription. It is prefumed, that neither the
delay, nor the form of printing, will diminiih the judgment of ib refpectable a recommcir-
«lation.
CONTENTS OP the FIRST VOLtlME.
V>HAP. I. Introdudtion. Mr. Pitt's birth. Placd at Eton. Sent to Oxford.
Mr. Warton's compliments to Mr. Pitt. Latin verfes by Mr. Pitt. Goes abroad.
" Made a coronet of horfe. EIe£lcd as a member of Parliament. Honoured by the
I'rincc of Wales. His commiflion taken from him by Sir Robert Walpole.
Verfes to him by Mr. Lyttleton. Palronifcd by Lord Cobham. His accomplifli-
ments. Complimented by Thompfon ; by Hammond. His condudl: in Parliament
attacked by the Gazetteer; defended by the Craftfman. The Prince difmifled from
St. James's. __.__- i
Chap. IL Mr. Pitt's fpeecli hi favour of a redu£l:ion of the army. On the con-
vention with Spain. On Admiral Haddock's inflruiSlions. On Sir Charles Wa-
ger's bill far the encouragement of feamen. Reply to Mr. Horace Walpole. Reply
to Mr Wilmington. On the motion for an addrcfs to remove Sir R. Walpole. 13
Chap. IIL A new Parliament. Mr. Pitt re-ele6ted. The Minifter lofes feveral
queftions. Refigns, and is created Earl of Orford. Parliament adjourns. Secret
negociation with Mr. Pulteney. That afFair truly flated. Lord Cobham and his
friends excluded. The new arrangement fettled by the Earl of Oxford. Stanzas
of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams explained ; and the condition upon which Sir R.
Walpole became minlller. Duke of Argyll's expreflion to Mr. Pulteney. The
nation diflatisfied. - - _ . _ _ ^O
Chap. IV. The newMiniftry charged with having bargained for the fafety of the
Earl of Orford. Motion for an inquiry into the Earl of Orford's condu£f-. Mr.
Pitt's fpeech in fupport of that motion. Motion lofl. Second motion, limiting.
an inquiry to the laft ten years. Mr. Pitt's fpeech in fupport of this motion. The
inquiry defeated by a Parliamentary manoeuvre. - - 04.
Chap. V. Lord Carteret's afcendancy in the clofet. Enters into the German
meafures. Takes the Hanoverian troops into Britifh pay- Mr. Pitt's fpeech againfl
that meafure. Death of Lord Wilmington, and Mr. Pclham's acceflion to the Trea-
fury. Mr. Pitt's fpeech againil the Addrefs, at the commencemept of the feffion,
after the battle of Dettingen. Mr. Pitt's fpeech againfl voting money for a Britiili
army to ferve in Flanders. The whole kingdom applauds his oppofitlon in Parlia-
ment. The Duchefs Dowager of Wales leaves him a haridfome legacy.
Chap. VL State of the Miniflry. Lord Carlille difappointed of the Privy Seal,
Lord Cobham joins the Pelhams. Lord (jranville oppofed in Council, and refigns.
The Broad Bottom Miniftry appointed. Mr. Pitt's reply to Sir F. Dafhwood, on
the Addrefs. Mr. Pitt's reply to Mr. Hume C-.impbell, on the noblemen's new-
raifed regiments. - - - - - - -88
Chap. VII. Errors ofhiflory. Lord Bath at Court. His overtures to Lord Cob-
ham. Duke of Newcaftle alks the place of Secretary at War for Mr. Pitt, and is
refufed. Miniftry refign. Lord Granville appointed Secretary of State. Lord
Granville refigns, and the late Miniftry reftored. Mr. Pitt made Vice Treafurer
of Ireland, and afterwards Paymafter. Makes no private ufe of the public money
in his hands. Refufes to accept the perquifite of office on the Sardinian fubfidy. oe
Chap. VIII. Lord Granville and Mr. Pelham reconciled. The Prince's claims
in theCornilh boroughs. New Oppofitlon formed. Mr. Pitt's fpeech on theGlaf-
gow petition. On the mutiny bill, concerning the Weftminfter ele£lion. On
Dunkirk. On the treaties with Bavaria and Spain. Death and cbarailer of the
Pji nee of Wales. - - » _ _ jqj
Chap. IX.
CONTENTS.
XSiiAP. IX. Regency appointed. Thp RcdforJs turned out. Mr. Pitt's treatment
of the Duke of NewcaRle. Mr. Pitt's bil! for the relief of the Chelfea penfioncrs. Il6
Chap. X. Death of Mr. Pelham. Mr. Fox vviihes to be made Secretary of State,
.Tiid Miiiirter of the Houfe of Commons. Explanation of Minifter of the Houfe of
Commons. Mr. Pitt expefls to be made Secretary of State. Sir Thomas Robin-
fon appointed. General diffatisfadtion. Party at Lcicefter Houfe. State of the
nation. - - - - - - - 121
Cha.p. XI. Caufes of the difagreements at Leiccfler Houfe. Lord Harcourt and
I])r. Huyter reiign ti;eir yiods of governor and preceptor to the Prince. Duke of
Bedford's motion upon this fubjeft in the Houfe of Lords. Farther explanation of
the principles inculcated at Leicefter Houfe. _ _ . 125
Chap., XII. Subfuliary treaties with Hanover, HefTe, and Ruffia. Payment to
Rnffia refufed. Duke of Newcaftle fends Mr. York to Mr. Pitt. Mr. Fox offers
to join Mr. Pitt. Debate on the fubfidiary treaties. Mr. Pitt turned out. His
balances found in the Bank. The Duke's Miniftry appointed. F'urther debate on
the treaties. France menaces an invafion of Great Britain. Heffians and Hanove-
rians arrive in England. France takes Minorca. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox explain
the caufe of that capture. Another caufe. Convention with Pruffia. - 131
Chap. XIII. Further account of Leicefter Houfe. The two Princefles of Brunf-
wick in England. Obfervation. Mr. Fox refigns. Charte blanche offered to Mr.
Pitt. Miniflry changed. Mr. Pitt .appointed Secretary of State. The King and
Duke wiflied to have kept Mr. Fox. _ . _ 141
Chap. XIV. Mr. Pitt's firft Adminiftration. Raifes two thoufand Highlanders.
Retufes to iupport the Duke of Cumberland. Commanded to refign. Prefented
with the freedom of feveral cities and corporations. The King's diftreffes. Mr.
Pitt made Minifter upon his own terms. His triumph over Mr. Fox. The corre-
fpondence of the Admiralty given to Mr. Pitt. . _ _ i^S
Chap. XV. Failure of the Duke of Cumberland. Expedition againft Rochefort.
Diftreffes of the King of Pruffia. Hanover plundered. Mr. Pitt's two propofi-
^tions ; one, to fend a fleet into the Baltic ; ihe other, to cede Gibraltar to Spain.
Anecdote of the treaty of peace made in 1783. EffeiSts of Mr. Pitt's firfl: Adminif-
tration. Mlfcarriage of the expedition againfi: Louifbourg. Union of Ruffia,
Sweden, and Denmark, for the neutrality of the Baltic. Taking of the Dutch fliips.
Mr. Pitt oppofes the propofition offending the Britiih fleet to the affiftance of the
Duke of Cumberland. - » _ _ _ i^^
KIIhap. XVI. The battle of Rofbach and its confequences. Its influence upon
the Britifh Council. Sudden prorogation of Parliament. Union of the King and
Mr. Pitt. The Kingof Pruffia's recommendation. Hanoverians refume their arms
under Duke Ferdinand, Obfervations on the German war. - i5*
Chap. XVII. Meeting of Parliament. Mr. Alderman Beckford's explanation of
the new principle of the German war. Mr. Pitt's fpeech on the Rochefort expe-
dition. Effefts of that fpeech. Su'cceffes of 175S. _ _ - 167
•Chap. XVIII. Meeting of Parliament. Succeffes of 1759. Lord Bute's firft in-
terference. He goes to the Duke of Ncwcafile, and demands Lord Befbornugh's
feat at the Treafury Board for Sir Gilbert Elliot. He alfo demands the reprefenta-
of the county of Southampton for Sir Simeon Stuart. - - 171
Ch/vP. XIX. Death of George 11. Acceffion of George III. Lord Bute made
a Privy Counfellor — Made Ranger of Richmond Park, in the room of the Princefs
Amelia. Views of the new King's party. Methods taken to accomplifli thofe
•views. A number of writers hired at an enormous expence, to abufe the late King,
the Duke of Cumberland, Mr. Pitt, and all the Whigs ; to reprcfent the war as
ruinous,
CONTENTS.
ruinous, unjuft, and impradlicable. Parliament diflblved. Mr. Legge turned out.
Lord HoldernefTe refigiis upon a penfion. Lord Bute made Secretary of State in
his loom. The King's marriage. General Graeme's merits on this occalion.
French anecdotes. Obfervations on royal marriages with foreigners. Negotiation
with France — Breaks off. Martinico taken. Mr. Pitt prepares for a war with
Spain. His defign of attacking the Havannah. - - - i-j±
Chap. XX. State of France. Mr. Pitt oppofed in his deCgn to fend fome fliips
to Newfoundland. That place taken — Retaken. Mr. Pitt oppofed in his defign to
attack the Spanifli flota. Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple oppofed in their advice to re-
call Lord Briftol from Madrid. Three councils upon it. Mr. Pitt and Lord
Temple refign. Defign againft Panama and Manilla. Allertions of Lord Temple
and Lord Bute. The Gazette account of Mr. Pitt's refignation. His letter to the
City of London. All the Spanifh treafure arrived in Spain. Explanatory note.
Mr. Pitt greatly applauded in the city of London. War declared againft Spain.
Epitome of Mr. Pitt's adminiftration. - . _ _ jgr
Chap. XXL Situation of Great Britain. Farther particulars concerning Mr.
Pitt's refignation — and the Princefles ofBrunfwick. Union of Lord Bute with
Lord Bath and Mr. Fox. Mr. Grenville v/iflies to be made Speaker. Mr. hitt
defires all the papers relative to Spain to be laid before Parliament. He fupports the
motion of a fupply for Portugal. Lord Tyrawley lent to Lifbon. - 201
Chap. XXIL Refolution of the Britifh Cabinet to make peace. Subfidy to
Pruffia refufed. Negotiation with the Court of Peterfburgh, and with the Court
of Vienna. Both made known to the King of Pruffia. Negotiation with the
Court of Turin. Anecdote of the peace of Aix la ChapcUe. Penfion granted to
the Sardinian Minifler. Privy purfe and fecret fervlce. Alterations in the Britifh
Miniftry. Lord Bute minifter. His brother at Court. Literefting particulars of
the negotiation between Great Britain and France. Lord Bute's wealth. Exami-
nation of Dr. Mufgrave. Union of the Duke of Bedford and Mr. Grenville. Dif-
miffion of the Duke of Devonfliire. Anecdote of the Duke of Newcaftle and Lord
Granville. - - - - - _ _ 21''
Chap. XXIIL Extraordinary preparations for the meeting of Parliament. Pre-
liminary articles of peace laid before Parliament. Mr. Pitt's fpeech againft them 236
Chap. XXIV. — -rAddreffes on the peace. Mr. Pitt againft the excife on cyder.
Lord Bute tampers with tlie City of London. Denies it in the Houfe of Lords.
Proved at Guildhall. A Portrait. Lord Bute refigns. - - 249
Chap. XXV. Interview between Mr. Pitt and Lord Bute — Conferences between
the King and Mr. Pitt. Treaty of connivance. Mr. Pitt at Court. His remark.
Lord Hardwick's conduit - - _ _ _
Chap. XXVI Meeting 'of Parliament. Servility of the Commons — of the
Speaker. Verfatility. Vote away their own privilege. Royal apothgm. The
North Briton. Mr. Pitt's fpeech againft the facriftce of privilege - 266
Chap. XXVII. Prince of Brunfwick vifits Mr. Pitt at Hayes. Qiieftion con-
cerning General Warrants. Mr. Pitt's fpeech againft them - 271
Chap. XXVIII. Sir William Pynfent leaves his fortune to Mr. Pitt. Similar
intention of Mr. Hollis. Prefent and note from Wareham. Pitt's diamond. The
Regency. American ftamp a6t. Lord Bute refolves to difmifs the Minifters. Gets
an audience of the Duke of Cumberland. The Duke fends for Lord Temple. .
Conference between them. The Duke goes to Mr. Pitt. Applies to Lord
Lyttelton. Lord Temple and Mr. Grenville reconciled. Obfervation. Mr. Stuart i
Mackenzie difmilTed. The King fends for Mr. Pitt. Lord Temple fent for..
They refufe the King's offers. Obfervation. King's friends. Condud of the
Duke of Bedford and Mr. Jenkinfon. The Duke forms a new miniftry - 275
Chap. XXIX.
58.
• CONTENTS.
CirA.r. XvvIX.—— New miniftry blamed for accepting. LcrJ Bute's influence not
dimiiiiflieJ. Their apology, Mr. Pitt's I'pecch againiT; the American ftamp a6l.
He compliments Mr. Burke. - - - 2S&
CriAi'. XXX. Lord Bute refolves to change the miniftry again. Difregards the
Duke of I'edford. Tries to gain Lord Temple. Meeting at Lord Eglintoun's.
.Amufcs Lord Temple. Lord Strange's alTertion. Lord Rockingham's requeft.
Affair of Dunkirk. Negotiation with Mr. Wilkes. Propofition for the govern-
ment of Canada. Dilfapproved by the Chancellor, who advifes the King to fend
for Mr. Pitt. ______ 300
Cii A,.". XXXI. Lord Northington opens his negotiation with Mr. Pitt. Duke of
Grafton refigns. Several perlons refufe places. An eighteen days Journal. Mr.
Pi.tt fees the King. Lord Temple fent for, and goes to the King. Conference
between Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple at Hampftead. They differ, and feparate.
Lord' Temple has an audience of the King, Returns to Stowe. Mr. Pitt created
Larl of Chatham. His extraordinary grants. Mr. Townfliend Manager of the
Houle of Commons. Several perfons refufe places. Lord Rockingham refufes to fee
Lord Chatham. Mr. Stuart Mackenzie reftored. Lord Chatham not united with
Lord Bute. -_.___ ^ij
.Chap. XXXII. Embargo on the exportation of corn. State of parties. Con-
ference between-iord Chatham and the Duke of Bedford at Bath. Conference
between Lord Chatham and Lord Edgcumbe. Its confequences. The Admiralty
off.red to Lord Gower. Conduft of the Court. Second conference with the
Duke of Bedford. Breaks off - - - - 326
-Chap. XXXIII. Further arrangements. Lord Chatham regrets the lofs of Lord
Temple. Seized with the gout at Bath, and at Marlborough. Comes to Hamp-
ftead. Another change meditated. General Conway wilhes to refign. Lord
Northington wiflies to refign. King's meffage to Lord Chatham. Duke of
Nevvcaftle is very anxious to preferve the union of the oppofition. Application to
Lord Rockingham. Declaration of the Duke of Bedford. Declaration of the
X^uke of Newcaffle. Conference at Newcaftle-houfe. Breaks off. Importance
of the Minifter of the Houfe of Commons. America the true caufe. Second
.conference at Ncwcaftle-houfe. Anecdotes of Mr. Lownds's tickets, and of the
Judges tickets. Lord Rockingham waits on the King. Lord Holland advifes the
King _ _ - - - 234
.Chap. XXXIV ^Mr. Townfliend refolves to be Minifter. Dies. Lord North
appointed. Lord Chatham goes into Somerfetfliire. The Bedford int«reftjoin the
Miniftry. Duke of Bedford's .apology to Mr. Grenville, and Mr. Grenville's
anfwer. Lord Chatham returns to Hayes. French purchafe Corfica. Difference
hctween the Duke of Bedford and Lord Shelburne. Lord Rochford refigns. Lord
Shelburn refigns. Fine diamond ring prefented to his Majefty. Lord Rochford
made Secretary of State — with the reafons. Lord Chatham refigns. Lord
Townflxend continued in Ireland. - - • 349
SPEECHES
SPEECHES
AND
ANECDOTES.
CHAP. I.
IntroduBion. — Mr. Pitt's Birth. — Placed at Eton. — Sent to Ox-
ford.— Mr. Wart on s Compliment to Mr. Pitt.-— Latin Verfes
by Mr. Pitt. — Goes abroad. — Made a Cornet of Horfe. —
EkBed as a Member of Parliament. — His Friends. — His
frfl Speech in Parliament— Honoured by the Prince of Wales.
— His Commijfion taken from him by Sir Robert Walpole.
Verfes to him by Mr. Lyttelton. Patronized by Lord Cob-
ham. His accomplijhments. — Complimented by Thomfon j by
Ha?nmond. — His ConduEl in Parliament attacked by the Ga-
zetteer; defended by the Craftfman.—The Prince dijmijjed
from St. James's.
TH E lives of Eminent Men afford ufeful lefibns of Chap. I.
inftruftion, as well as great examples for imitation, in.faduflon.
No native of the Britifh Ifland ftands higher in the judgment
of the prefent age, for either the magnificence of his talents as a
Senator and Statefman, or the virtue of his Conduit in both
private and public Life, than the late Eakl of Chatham.
Nor will the Charaftcr of any man, however flattered it may
Vol. I. B have
[ 2 3
Chai' I. iiave been in defciiptlon, or however fuperlor he may have
iniroduflioo. been in ftation, go down to pofterity with purer hor.oui,
Other men's names are remembered by the aid of biography : his
will be revered by the glories of his actions, which illumined
the political hemifphere, during the fplendid asra in which the
reins of government wej-e in his hands. The archives of the
various nations of the world, at that period of his life, though
written in different languages, will unite in raifing a pyramid
to his name, which Time cannot deftroy.
The Memoirs of fuch a man fhould be written by the firfl
Hiftorian of the Age. This work affumes an humbler rank in
literature. It goes forth with no other claim to public noticcj
than, that of being A Colledion of Fugitive Papers and
Anecdotes -, many of them known to feveral perfons, now
living, but all of them to very fev/. In fine, the prefent pub-
lication is the effect of induftry, not of ability.
Birth,
Plictd at Eton.
The Earl of Chatham was born on the fifteenth
,of November, 1708 in the Parifh of St. James's, Weflminfter.
He received the firfl part of his education at Eton ; where he
was placed upon the Foundation. His co-temporaries, at this
fchool, were George Lytt^lton, afterwards Lord Lyttel-
TON, Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland, Sir Char-
sent to Oxford LES Hanbury Williams, Hlnry Fielding, author of Tom
Jones, &c. At the age of eighteen he was fent to Trinity Col-
lege, Oxford. This lafl circumflance appears by the following
i
Extra6l from the Regifler in the Burfary in Trinity College,
fol. 258.
" Ego Gulielmus Pitt, filius Roberti Pitt, annigeii
" de Old Sarum, natus Londini in Parochia Sandi Jacobi ;
annorum
[ 3 ]
** anncrum clrciter i8 admiflus rum commenralis prim'' ordi- Chat i.
** nis Tub tutaminc Magiftri Stockwell Jan. die lo, ijzb*"
In the Oxford Verfes upon tlie Death of George the Firfl:,
which were publifhed the year after he went to College, we find
the folio vving by Mr. Fitt.
Angliacse vos O pracfentia numina gentis
Libetas, atque Alma I'hemis ! Neptune Britanni
Tu Pater Oceani ! (fi jam pacata Georgi
Impeno tua pedabi licet asquora) vcftro
(T rifte mmilVerium !) pia folvite munera Regi.
At teneri planctus abfmt, moliefque qiierilas -
Herois tuinuio . quas mors deflenda requirit,
Gefl.i vetant lacj-ymas, juftseqae fuperbia laudis. - ;
Inrtare hoiribiles longe lateque tumulros ;
Hie fviper Hifpanos violenta tumefcere campos ' -
Belli diluvies, illic ad flumina Rheni "' >
Ardentes furibundus equos immittere Mavors.-
Heu quam in fe miferi cladem ftragefque cierent !
Quot fortes caderent animas ! quot gurgite torquens
* In trference to his having been a Member of Trinity College, are the fol-
lowing Lines in Mr. Warton'i Addrefs lo him, upon the Death of George
the Second.
' Nor thou refufe
This humble piefcni ot no partial Mufe
Frum ihat calm Bower f, wtiich nurs'd thy thoughtful Youth
In. the pure piecepts of Athenian truth :
Where firft the form of Britifli liberty
Beam'd m full radiance on thy mufmg eye j
That form, whofc mien fubiime, with equal awe.
In the fame Ihade unblemifli'd Somers faw.
f Trinity College, ©xford, in which alfo Loxd Somers was educated.
B 2 Sanguineo
[ 4 J
Chap, l Sanguineo fluvius morientia corpora in altutn
Volveret Oceanum ! ni Te fuccurrere foecio
Te folum, vifum fuperis, Augufte, labenti.
Tu miferans hominum pacem fuper aftra volantem,
Imperio retines, terrafque revifere cogis.
Dextcra quid potuit, primis ubi fervor in armis
Impulit ulcifci patriam, populofque gementes,
Turcarum dicant acies, verfifque cohortes
Turbatas fignis ; dicat perterrita Buda,
Invitaque Tuos prsetollat laude triumphos,
Fulmina cum attonitum contra torquenda tyrannuni
Vidit. et intremuit. Rerum at jam lenior ordo
Arrifit, gladiumque manus confueta rotare
(Majus opus !) grata praetendit figna quietis.
Quare agite, O Populi, tantarum in munere laudum
Sternite humum foliis. Sed vos ante omnia Mufge
Cffifarem ad aftra feretis ; amavit vos quoque Cafar
Veftraque cum placida laurus concrevit Oliva.
Felix, qui potuit mundi cohibere tumultus !
Fortunatus et illi, segri folamen amoris
Qiii fubit Angliacis, tanti audit nominis hseres.
Aufpice Te, ci^es agitans dii'cordia, ludo
Heu fatiata nimis ! furias amnemque feverum
Cocyti repetat, propriofque perhorreat angues.
At fecura quies, metuens et gratia culpse
Te circumvolitent. Themis hinc Casleftis, et illinc
Sullentet folium dementia. Tu quoque niagnam
Partem habeas opere in tanto, Carolina labore
Imperii recreans fefium : nam Maximus lUe
Te edit, atque animi Senfum Tibi credit opertum
Curarum conforti, et multo pignore junctse.
Inclyta
C 5 J
Inclyta Progenies ! Tibi quam dilecta Tonanti <^"*''- ^'
Latona invideat, quam vel Berecynthia Mater
Centum enixa Deos ; fi qua Haec fint Dona Britannis
Propria, fmtque Precor, rcfeiant et Utrumque Parentcm.
GU L. PITT, e Coll. Trin.
Socio Commens.
Before he left Eton he was afflided with the Gout, which
encreafed during his refidence at oxford ; and which at length
obliged him to quit the Univerfity, without taking a degree.
It was Hereditary.
He afterwards made the Tour of part of France, and part
of Italy. But his diforder was not removed by it. He, how-
ever, conftantly employed the leifure, which this painful and
tedious malady afforded, in the cultivation and improvement
of his mind. Lord Chesterfield, who rather envied than
admired his fuperiority, fays " that thus he acquired a great
" fund of premature and ufcful knowledge."
He came firft into Parliament in the month of February .i,fJ/,^5^„,
1735, for the Borough of Old Sarum, in the room of his bro-""' menr."''*"
therj who, being ele6led for Old Sarum and Oakhampton,
made his election for the latter. His brother-in-law, Robert
Nedham Efq. was his coadjutor. Having five Sifters, and an
elder brother, his fortune was not very confiderable ; his friends ^^^^ ^^^,^^^^^^
therefore obtained for him a Coi-net's commifTion in the Blues, '"'^^
in addition to his income.
In March 1735, George Lyttelton, Efq; (eldef> Son of
i-ir Thomas Lyttelton of.Hagley, who married Lord
Cobham's Sillei) afterwards Lord Lyttelton, was elected
member of parliament for Oakhampton, by the intereii of
Thomas Pitt Liq. in the room of Mr. Nqrthmore, who
died a little time before.
At
[ 6 ]
Ckap.i. At the General ele6llon in 1734. Richard Grenville
Efq. (the late Eari. Temple, whofe mother was Lord
Coeham's eideft Sifter) came firft into parliament, being
ele(n:ed for Buckingham. Mr. W. Pitt, Mr. Grenville,
and Mr. Lyttelton, became aflbciates ; and for feveral years
always fat next to each other in the Houfe of Commons.
Mr. Pitt had not been many days in Parliament, when
he was fele6ted for a teller. It appears by the Journals Vol.
22, page 535, upon a motion to refer the Navy cftimates to
a felecl Committee, that the houfe divided, and that Mr.
William Pitt, and Mr. bANDys, afterwards Lord Sandys
were appointed tellers of the minority, upon that queftion.
3736. Mr. Pitt's firft Speech in Parliament was on the 29th of
April 1736, upon feconding a motion made by his friend
Mr. Lyttelton ; viz.
*' That an humble addrefs be prefented to His Majeftv, to
congratulate H s Majefty upon the nuptials of His Royal High-
nefs the Prince of Walesa <ind to exprefs the fatisfadion and great
joy, of his faithful Commons or? tais .i^ppy occafion, which thev look
upon With unfpcakable Comfort, is the means, under the divine Pro-
vidence, of giving an additional llrength to the Proteitant Intercit, and
of fecuring to til future agis, the laws and liberties oi this nation, in
the full manner wc now happily and t'^ank fully enjiiy them, under
the protedtion of his Majclty's juii and mild Governmeiit over his
People,"
When Mr. Lyttelton fat down, Mr. Pitt rofe, and
„. , fpoke in fubftance, nearly as follows..
£i«cii. n 'j'hat he was unable to offer any thing that had not been faid by
his H-nourable friend who made tlajr,r4iwdi;^ the motion, in a manner
much riiOre fuitable to the dignity and importance of the lubjcdt. — Cut
faid he, as I am really affedted with the profpedt of the blefHngs, to be
derived to my Country, from this fo defira.^le and long defire. mealure,
the marriage of his Royal Hi^hnefs the Prince of Wales ; 1 cannot
foroear
[ 7 ]
forbear troubling you with a few words, to exprefs my joy, and to min-
gle my humble offering, inconfiderable as it is, with this oblation of
thanks and congratulation, to his Majefty.
How great fo-ever the joy of the Public may be, and very great it cer-
tainly is, in receiving this benefit from his Majefty, it mud be inferior
to that high fatisfadtion, which he himfelf enjoys, in beftowing it :
And if I may be allowed to fuppofe, that to a Royal mind any thing can
tranfcend the pleafure of gratifying the impatient wlfhes of a loyal peo-
ple, it can only be the paternal delight of tenderly indulging the moft du-
tiful application, and moft humble requeft of a fubmiffive obedient fen.
I mention, Sir, his Royal Highnefs's having an<ed a marriage becaufe
fomething is, in juftice, due to him, for having afked what we are fo
ftrongly bound, by all the ties of Duty and Gratitude, to return hi$
Majefty our moft humble acknowledgements for having granted.
The marriage of a Prince of Wales Sir, has at all times, been a
a matter of the higheft importance to the public welfare, to prc-
fent and to future Generations ; But at no time has it been a more
important, a more dear confidcration, than at this day ; if a Charac-
ter, at once ahiiabie and refpedable, can cmbellifh and evendig-
nify the elevated rank of a Prince of Wales. Were it not a fort of
prefumption to follow fo great a Perfon through his hours of retire-
ment, to view him ia the milder light of domeftic life, we ftiould
find him engaged in the noble exercife of humanity, benevo-
lence, and of every focial virtue. But Sir, how plcafing, how
captivating fo ever fuch a fcene may be, yet as it is a private one,
I fear I (hould offend the delicacy of that Virtue, I fo ardently defire to
do Juft'ce to, fhould I offer it to the confideration of this Houfe : But,
Sir, filial duty to his Royal Parents, a generous love of liberty, and a
juft reverence for the Britilh Conftitution ; thefe are public Virtues, and
cannot efcape the applaufc and benediftions of the public : They
are Virtues, Sir, which render his Royal Hghnefs not only a noble or-
nament, but a firm fupp^rr, if any could poffibly be neceffarv, of that
throne fo greatly filled by his Royal Father.
I have been led to fay thus much of his Royal Highnefs's Charadter,
becaufe, it is the confidcration of that Charafter, which above all thlio-.*,
tnforcVs the Juftice and goodneis of his Majefty in the meafure now be-
fore us, a meafure \\hi'-h the nation thought could never come
too
[ 8 ]
Chap. I. too foon, becaufe it brings with it the promife of an addi-
Trs^"^ tional ftrength to the Proteftant fucccffion in his Majefty's
illuftrious and Royal Houfe. The fpirit of liberty didated that
fucccffion, the fame fpirit now rejoices in the profpedt of its being
perpetuated to lateft pofterity. It rejoices in the wife and happy choice
which his Mijefty his been pleafed to make of a princefs, fo amiably
diftinguifhed in herfelf, fo lUuftrious in the merit of her family ; the
glory of whofe gre^r nnctftor it is, to hzye facrificed himfelf to the
nobleft cautb fo.- which a Prince can draw his fword, the caufe of
liberty and the Proteftant Religion. Such, Sir, is the marriage, for
which our moft humble acknowledgements are due to his Majefty .
and may it afford the comfort of feeing the Royal, Family (numerous
as I thank God it is) llill growing and rifing up in a third generation;
a Far.ily, Sir, which I muft fmcerely wifh may be as in.mortal as
thofe 'iberties, :ind that conftitution it came to maintain ; and there-
fore I am hcirtily for the motion."
The motion was unanimouily agreed to.
The fpeeches of both Gentlemen, being what are called
maiden, or firft fpeeches, were not only heard with
great indulgence, but pleafure -, and were honoured with
the warmefl approbation of every auditor. The extraordi-
nary merit of thefe young Gentlemen, induced his Rova".
Highness to bcftow upon them, the moft gracious and flat-
tering marks of his diftin£lion and countenance.
Upon every queftion, Mr. Pitt divided with his friends,
againft the Minifterj and appeared, on every occafion, a
firm and determined opponent of the Minifter's meafures. Sir
Robert Walpole was not a little irritated by this con-
duft; and being in the habit of difmiffing military officers
for their condu6l in Parliament, and having, particularly, a
fliort time before, broke Lord Cobham and others, he made
no hcfitation of breaking Mr. Pitt. This imprudent, vio-
lent, and unconftitutional meafure, fo far from diminifhing
Mr. Pitt's confequence in the eyes of his patrons, or the
public,
[ 9 ]
public, very confiderably encreafed it in both. His friend Chaf. i.
Mr. Lyttelton wrote the following lines on the occafion. 1736.
To William Pitt Efq. on his lofing his Commiflion in
the year 1736.
Long had thy virtues mark'd thee out for fame,
Far, far fuperior to a Cornet's namej
This gen'rous Walpole faw, and griev'd to find
£0 mean a poll difgrace that noble mind.
The Servile Standard from the freeborn hand
He took, and bad thee lead the Patriot band.
Lord CoBHAM, the revered Patron of Virtue and Genius,
whofe chara6ler was in fuch high eflimation, that his fmile alone
conferred honour; was among the foremoft to offer him his
fervices and friendfliip. An acquaintance thus formed on a
congeniality of fentiment and principle, foon ripened into affec-
tion; and Mr. Pitt's fociety was ever after reckoned by his
Lordfhip, among the greatefl pleafures of his life. It is no
wonder, indeed, that a Nobleman poflefling the knowledge, the
virtue, and the difcernment of Lord Cobham, fhould be fo cap-
tivated with, and attached to his young friend : for to brilliancy
of talents, to a high knCc of honour, and to the mod exalted
principles of public and private virtue, Mr. Pitt had united
every elegant accomplilhment j and his manners and addrefs
were as irrefiftible as his eloquence. His character was, indeed,
fuch as to form a fitter fubjeft of poetic praife than hiftoric
defcription; and the following extracts will prove that the firll
Poets of his time, Thomfon and Hammond, did not lofe the op-
portunity of painting f.om fo rare a m.odel.
l"he fair majeftic Paradife of Stowe
And there, O Pitt, thy Country's early boall:,
There let me fit beneath the (helter'd flopes;
Or in that Temple* wiiere, in future times
* Temple of virtue in Stowe Gardens,
Vol. L C And
1 10 j
Thou well flialt merit a diftinguifli'd name;:
And with thy converfe bleft, catch the laft fmiles
Of Autumn beaming o'er the yellow wood*.
While there with thee th' enchanted round I walk,.
The regulated wild, gay fancy then
Will tread in thought the groves of Attic land ^
Will from thy Standard tafte refine her own.
Correal her pencil to the pureft truth
Of Nature; or th' unimpafTioned fiiades
Forfaking, raife it to the human mind.
Or if hereafter fhe with jufter hand.
Shall draw the tragic fcene, inftru£l her thou,,
To mark the varied movement, of the heart.
What ev'ry decent character requires,
And ev'ry paflion fpeaks : O, through her flrain
Breathe thy pathetic eloquence I that moulds
Th' attentive fenate, charms, perfuades, exalts.
Of honeft zeal th' indignant light'ning throws.
And fhakes corruption on her venal throne. Thomson's Autumn.'
Nor does the elegant and pathetic Hammond fall fhort of
Thomfon in the following lines
To Stowe's delightful fcenes I now repair.
In Cob ham's fmile to lofe the gloom of care. ... ^
There Pitt in manners foft, in friendfhip warm.
With mild advice my liilening grief fliall charm.
With fenfc to Counfel, and with wit to pleafe,
A Roman's virtue with a- courtier's cafe.
On the 23d of February 1737 Mr. Pulteney Cafterwards
Earl of Bath) moved for an addrcfs to the King, humbly be-
feeching his Majefty to fettle ioo,oooLper annum on the Prince
of Wales,
The
r '^ ]
The minlfter, Sir Robert Walpole, oppofed this motion Chap. i.
with all his flrength. The Prince being in oppofition to mi-
him, he was fenfible that a compliance with the motion, would
;is infallibly encreafe the power of his Royal Highnefs, as it
would dimimifli his own. Mr. Pitt is faid to have fpoken very
ably in fupport of the motion j as did Mr. Grenville, and
Mr. Lyttelton, on the fame fide ; but their fpeeches are no
where diflinftly preferved. The fubftance of the debate on
both fides, is ftated only in the form of a general argument,
for and agahi/i the motion.
The political papers of the time, however, very clearly
evince, that the minifler fmarted under the lafli of Mr.
Pitt's eloquence} for in, one of the numbers of the Ga-
zetteer, a paper avowedly written in fupport of the minifter,
and publiflied foon after the clofe ofthefeflion, Mr. Pitt is
icharaclerized in terms, which are as illiberal as they are
unjuft. And which occafioned the Oppofition-paper of thofe
times, the Craftfman, to defend him, in reply to the Ga-
zetteer.
" Should a young man, fays the Gazetteer, juft brought into the
Houfe of Comniojis, endeavour to rank, himfelf with the firft in re-
putation and experience, would he not render himfelf ridiculous by
by the attempt, and even dcftroy the degree of fame which he might
otherwife deferve? A young man of my acquaintance, through an
-overbearing difpofition, and a weak judgment, afTuming the charader
of a great man, which he is no way able to fupport, is become the ob-
ject of ridicule, inftead of praife. My young man has the vanity
to put himfelf in the place of Tully, But let him confider, that
every one who has the fame natural imperfedions with Tully, has
not therefore the fame natural psrfedions ; though his neck fhould
be as long, his body as flender, yet his voice may not be as fono-
reus, his adion may not be as j«ft Such-a-one may be de-
C 2 luded
[ 12 ]
Chap. II. Uided enough, to look upon himfelf as a perfon of real confeqnence,
'"'■■'■'' ""^and not f-e that he is railed by a party, as a proper tool for their
prefent purpofes, and whom they can at any time pull down, when
thofe purpofes are ferved."
In anfvver to the preceding, the Craftfman, No. 596, fays,
♦' That he is not addicted to panegyric, but roufed by an honeft zeal
to refent the blacked: perfonal calumny, by expofing the heart and
intention of the wretched author, in brow-beating lifing virtue, and
flandering a certain young gentleman in the grofieft manner; one^
who, in every fuuation, hath condufled himfelf, in the niceft and dif-
creeteft manner; ar.d by his thirft afier learning, hath given reafon
to expeft aftions, fuitable to fo happy and fingular a beginning. The
Gazetteer pretends to an acquaintance of the gentleman ; but fure-
ly no man of the leaft honour would offer to fall fo foul on his
friend ; neither would an acquaintance, of any value, or worth, ad-
vife him thus publickly, and thereby endeavour to expofe him to the
world. To fhew how prejudicial to the good of one's country
fuch treatment of rifing merit may be, let us confider, the great
Demoflhenes returning from the bar, difcontented at his own per-
formances, meeting fuch an advifer as this, perfuading him, al-
ready too much prejudiced againft his own imperfedlions, not to
attempt to eftablifli his reputation as an orator, for which he was
no way defign'd by nature. Such advice, in the fituation he was
in, might perhaps have had its fatal effedt; and what. Oh Athe-
nians, would you have loft in this cafe ? not only the reputation
of producing one of the brighteft orators that ever lived, but the
boldeft defender of your liberties; and the greateft check to the
Macedonian Monarch ? a "man of whom Philip, by his own con-
feffion, flood more in awe, than of all the Grecian States, he fought
to opprefs."
The Prince being this ycai* deprived of his apartments at
St. James's and excluded from Court, feveral of his houfliold
refigned their places, and were fucceeded by others ; in this
Revolution Mr. Pitt was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber,
and Mr, Lyttelto.s private Secretary.
CHAP.
[ ^3 ]
CHAP. n.
Mr. Pitt's Speech in favour of a ReduBioit oj the Army —
On the Convention 'with Spain — On Admiral Haddock's In-
Jiructiom — On Sir Charles Wagers Bill for the Encourage-
ment oj Seamen. — Reply to Mr. Horace W alpole .—Reply to
Mr. Wilmington. — On the Motion for an Addrefs to remove
Sir Robert Walpole.
MR. PITT'S Speeches during the remaining period of Chap. II,
Sir Robert Walpole's Adminiftration, which have '" i^js. "'
been preferved, are the Seven following*.
On the 4th of February 1738, on the report of the number
of land forces, Mr. Pitt fpoke in favour of a redudion,
in reply to Sir Thomas Lumlev Saunderson, afterwards
Earl of Scarborough, who had fpoken in fupport of the
number propofed by the Minifter.
Sir Thomas had faid, that he was furprifed to hear any
Placemen arguing in favour of a redu<5lion of the army, which
Sir Joseph Jekyl, Mr. Lyttelton, &c. had done.
Mr. Pitt began with faying, " That as to what the Honour- j^^pj^^..^^^^^
able Gentleman had faid, rcfpefting thofe whom he calls placemen,'"'""'""''
'ID x^ ' rcductiou of ihe
he would agree with him, that if they were to be direfted in »""/•
thtir opinions by the places they held, they might unite for the fup-
port of each other, againfl: the common good of tb.e nation j but I
* They are taken from Chandler's Colleftion of Parliamentary Debates.
The authority is not very good ; but there is no other account of the Parlia-
mentary Debates during this period. It muft liktwife be obferved, that no.ie
of Lord Chatham's Speeches prior to 1760, are to be wholly depended upon.
And the only apology that can be made, forgiving them a place in this work,
is, that they are generally fuppofed to contain a part, at leaft, of his argu-
ment.
hope
[ H ]
Cr.Ap. IT. hope, faid he, none of them are under any fuch dircftions, I arn furc
— '7"^'^ the Hon, Gentleman himfelf is not, and therefore I am convinced he
is not ferious, when he talks of being furprized at any placeman's de-
claring for a reduftion of our armyi for, of all men, thofe who enjoy
any plac:s of profit under our government ought to be the moft cautious
of loading the public with any unucceffary tax or expence; becaufe as
the places they poflefs generally bring them in more than their fhare of
our taxes can amount to, it may be properly faid, that by confenting to
any article of public expence, they lay a load upon others which they
themfelves bear no (hare of.
" I mufl look upon myfelf as a placeman as well as the Hon. Gentle-
man who fpoke laft. I am in the fervice of one of the branches of the
Royal Family, and think it my honour to be fo ; but I fhould not think
it, if 1 were not as free to give my opinion upon any queftion that hap-
pens in this Houfe, as I was before I had any fuch. place, and, I believe
from the behaviour of Gentlemen, upon this very occafion, it will appear
that all thofe who are in the fervice with me, are in the fame ftate of
freedom, becaufe I believe they will, upon the queftion now before us,
appear to be of different opinions. But there is another fet of placemen,
whofe behaviour furprizes me not a little, becaufe upon every queftion
refpedling public affairs they are always unanimous •, and I confcfs it is
to me a little aftonlfliing that two or three hundred Gentlemen ftiould, by
an unaccountable fort of unanimity, always agree in opinion upon the
many different queftions which occur annually. I am convinced this
furprizing unanimity does not proceed from any eftedt of the places they
hold under the Crown ; for if it did, a man's being poffefled of any
place under the Crown would in fuch a cafe, I am fure, be an infallible
reafon for the people not to truft him with the prefervation of their liber-
ties, or the difpofal of their properties in Parliament.
*' Then, as to the Tories, and fufpefted Jacobites, I am furprized to
hear any comparifon made between them and the fat man in the crowd.
There are fo few of either in the kingdom that I am fure they can give no
man an occafion for being afraid of them, and therefore there is not
the leaft fliadow of reafon for faying they are the occafion of our being
obliged to keep fuch a numerous ftanding army.
" Our large army may properly be compared to the fat man in the
crowd i for the keeping up of fych an army is the firft caufe of our
difcontents.
[ 15 ]
difcontents, and thofe difcontcnts, now we find, are made the chief Chap. II.
pretence for keeping the army. Remove therefore the army, or but a '" ^^'^ ~'
confiderable part of it, and the difcontents complained of will ceafe.
" I come now to the only argument the Hon. Gentleman made ufe
of, which can admit a ferious confideration; and if our army were in-
tirely or but generally compofed of veterans inured to the fatigues and
the dangers of war, and fuch as had often ventured their lives againft
the enemies of their countr}^, I confefs the argument would have a great
weight; but confidering the circumftances of our prefent army, 1 can
hardly think my Hon. Friend was ferious when he made ufe of fuch ar-
gument. As for the Officers of the army they are quite out of the
queftion ; for in cafe of a reduflion there is a handfome pfovifion for
every one of them : no man can doubt, nor would any man oppofe,
their being put upon half-pay ; and I muft obferve that our half-pay is
better, or as good as full pay, I believe, in any other country in Europe:
for in the method our army is now kept up, I could ihevv by calculation
that it cofts the nation more than would maintain three times the num-
ber of men either in France or Germany. And as for the foldiers I
btlieve it may be faid of at leaft three fourths of them, that they never
went under any fatigue except that of a review, nor were ever expofed
to any danger except in apprehending fmugglers, or difperfing mobs ;
therefore I muft think they have no claim for any greater reward than
the pay they have already received, nor fhould I think we were guilty
of the leaft ingratitude if they were all turned adrift to-morrow
morning.
" But fuppofc, Sir, the foldiers of our army were all fuch who ferved
a campaign or two againft a public enemy; is it from thence to be in-
ferred that they muft for ever afcer live idly, and be maintained at the
expencc of their country, and that in fuch a manner, as to be dange-
rous to the liberties of their countr}' ? At this rate if a man has but once
ventured his life in the fervice of his country, he muft for ever be, not
only a burthen, but a terror to his country. This would be a fort of
reward which I am fure no brave foldier would accept of, no^r any
honeft one defire. That we fhould fhew a proper gratitude to thofe
who have ventured their lives in the fervice of their country, is what I
(hall readily acknowledge, but this gratitude ought to be (hewn in fuch
a way as not to be dangerous to the liberties nor too burthenfome to the
people ;
[ i6 3
Cm AP II P^"^?'^ ' 3nd therefore afcer a war is at an end. If a foldier can provide
\ V' 'fur himfelf, either by his labour or by the means of his own private
'^•^' fortune, he ought not to expeft, and if he is not of a mercenary difpofi-
tion, he will fcorn to receive, any other rewards than thofe which con-
fifts in the peculiar honour and privileges, which may and ought to be
conferred upon him.
*•' That we ought to fliew a proper gratitude to every man who has
ventured his lif; in the caufe of his country, is what, I am fure, no
Gentlenan will deny : yet as the laws now ftand an old Officer, who
has often ventured his life, and often fpilt his blood in the fervice of his
country, may be difmiffed and reduced, perhaps to a ftarving condition,
at the arbitrary will and pleafure, perhaps at the whim of a Minifter;
fo that by the prefent eftabliihment of the armv, the reward of a foldier
feems not to depend upon the fervices done to his country, but upon
the fervices he does to thofe who happen to be Minifters at the time. '*^'s
Muft not this be allowed to be a defed: in the prefent eftabliihment ? *
And yet when a law w<:s propofed for fupplying this defed, we may
remember what reception it met with, even from thofe who now infift fo
highly upon the gratitude we ought to Qiew the Gentlemen of the
army,"
j-^g. On the 8th of March, 1739, Mr. H. Walpole having moved
that an Addrefs of Thanks be prefented to the King, on the
convention with Spain, this motion brought on a long debate ;
in which Mr. Pjtt followed Mr. Howe (afterwards created
Lord Chedworth) who fpoke for the Addrefs, Mr. Pitt
againfl it, viz.
speech upon " I can by no means think that the complicated queftion now before
Conv^nion ^^ '^ ^^^' proper, the direft manner of taking the [en(s of this Committee.
We have here the foft name of an humble Addrefs to the Crown pro-
pofed, and for no other end but to lead Gentlemen into an approbation
of the Convention. But is this that full deliberate exitninatjon
which wc were with defiance called upon to .give.' Is this curfory
blended difc^u-fition of matters of fuch variety and exten:, all we owe to'
o'jrfelves and our country ? When trade is at (take it is your laft re-
trenchment; you muft defend it, or perifh, and whatever is to decide
that deferves the moft diflindl confideration, and the m.jft dired: undif-'
gu.fed fenfc of Parliament. But how are we now proceeding ? Upon
an
( 17 )
an artificial, miniflerial queftion : here is all the confidence, here is
the confcious fenfe of the greateft fervice that ever was done to this
country; to be complicating quefhions, to be lumping fandtion and
approbation like a ComnnilTary's accompt ; to be covering and taking
landluary in the Royal name, inftead of meeting openly and ftandincr
fairly the diieft judgment and fentence of Parliament upon the fcveral
articles of this Convention.
" You have been moved to vote an humble Addrefs of Thanks to
his Majefty for a meafure which (I will appeal to Gentlemen's converfa.
tion in the world) is odious throughout the kingdom : fuch thanks are
only due to the fatal influence that framed it, as are due for that low,
nnallied condition abroad, which is now made a plea for this Conven-
tion. To what are Gentlemen reduced in fupport of it ? Firll try a little
to defend it upon its own merits ; if that is not tenable, throw out ge-
neral terrors, the Houfe of Bourbon is united, who knows the confe-
quence of a war!" Sir, Spain knows the confequence of a war in Ame-
rica; whoever gains It muft prove fatal to her; flie knows it, and mufi:
therefore avoid it ; but fhe knows England does not dare to make Ir
and what is a delay, which is all this magnified Convention Is fome-
times called, to produce ? Can it produce fuch conjunftures as thofe
you loft, while you were giving kingdoms to Spain, and all to bring
her back again to that great branch of the Houfe of Bourbon which is
now thrown out to you with fo much terror ? If this union be formida-
ble, are we to delay only till it becomes more formidable by beln^ car-
tried further Into execution, and more ftrongly cemented ? But be it
what It will, is this any longer a nation, or what is an Englifii Parlia-
menr, if with more Ihips In your harbours than in all the navies of
Europe, with above two millions of people In your American colonies
you will bear to hear of the expediency of receiving from Spain an In-
fecure, unfatisfadory, dilhonourable Convention ? Sir, I call it no
more than It has been proved in this debate; it carries fallacy or down-
right fubjeflion In almoft every line. It has been laid open and ex-
pofed In fo many ftrong and glaring lights that I can pretend to add
nothing to the conviction and Indignation it has raifed.
" Sir, as to the great national obje(flion, the fearching your fliips,
that favourite word, as it was called, is not omitted, indeed, in the
preamble to the Convention, but it ftands there as the reproach of the
.Vol. I. D whole
[ i8 j
whole, as the ftrongefl: evidence of the fatal fubmiffion that follows :
on the part of Spain an ufurpatioHj an inhuman tyranny claimed and
exercifed over the American feas ; on the part of England an un-
doubted right by treaties and from God and nature, declared and
aflerted in the refolutioni of Parliament, are referred to the difcuffion
of Plenipotentiaries, upon one and the fame equal foot. Sir, I fay
this undoubted right is to be difcufied and regulated. And if to regulate
be to prefcribe rules (as in all conftruiftion it is) this right is, by the
exprefs words of this Convention, to be given up and facrificed; for it
muft ceafe to be any thing, from the moment it is fubmitted to limits.
" The Court of Spain has plainly told you (as appears by papers upon
the table) you fhall (leer a due courfe, you (hall navigate, by a line to
and from your plantations in America; if you drav/ near to her coafts
(though from the circumftances of that navigation you are under an
unavoidable neceffity of doing it) vou fliall be feized and confifcated.
If then upon thefe terms only fhe has confented to refer, what becomes
at once of all the fecurity we are flattered with in confequence of this
reference? Plenipotentiaries are to regulate finally the refpedlive pre-
tentions of the two Crowns with regard to trade and navigation in
America; but does a man in Spain reafon that thefe pretentions muft
be regulated to the fatisfadtion and honour of England ? No, Sir, they
conclude, and with reafon, from the high fpirit of their adminiflration,
from the fuperiority with which they have fo long treated you, that
this reference muft end, as it has begun, to their honour and ad-
vantage.
" But, Gentlemen, fay, the treaties fubfifting are to be the meafure
ofthis regulation. Sir, as to treaties, I will take pare of the words of
Sir William Temple, quoted by the Hon. Gentleman near me. It is
vain to ne^ociate and make treaties, if there is not dignity and vigour to
enforce the obfervance of them ; for under the mifconftrudtion and
mifreprefentation of thefe very treaties fubfifting, this intolerable
grievance has arifen; it has been. growing upon you, treaty after treaty,
through twenty years of negociation, and even under the difcuffion of
Commiflaries to whom it was referred. You have heard from Captain
Vaughan at your bar, at what time thefe injuries and indignities were
continued; as a kind of explanatory comment upon the Convention,
Spain has thought fit to grant you ; as another infolent proteft, under
the
»739.
[ 19 J
the validity and force of which flie has fuffered this Convention to be Chap. II.
proceeded upon. We'll treat with you, but we'll fearch and take your
Ihips ; we'll fign a Convention, but we'll keep your fubjefts prifoners,
prifoners in Old Spain; the Weft Indies are remote, Europe Ihall be
witnefs how we ufe you.
" As to the inference of an admiffion of our right not to be
fearched, drawn from a reparation made for fhips unduly feized and
confifcated, I think that argument is very inconclufive. The right
claimed by Spain to fearch our fhips is one thing, and the exceffes ad-
mitted to have been committed in confequence of this pretended right,
is another, but furely. Sir, reafoning from inferences and implication
only, is below the dignity of your proceedings, upon a right of this
vaft importance. What this reparation is, what fort of compoficion for
your lofles, forced upon you by Spain, in an inftance that has come to
light, where your own CommilTariL's could not in confcience decide
againft your claim, has fully appeared upon examination; and as for
the payment of the fum ftipulated (all but feven and twenty thoufand
pounds, and that too fubjed: to a drawback) it is evidently a fallacious
nominal payment only. I will not attempt to enter into the detail of a
dark, confufed, and fcarcely intelligible accompt, I will only beg
leave to conclude with one word upon it in the light of a fubmiflion, as
well as of an adequate reparation. Spain flipulates to pay to the Crown
of England ninety-five thoufand pounds; by a preliminary proteft of
the King of Spain, the South Sea Company is at once to pay fixty-ei"ht
thoufand of it: If they refufe, Spain, I admit, is ftill to pay the ninety-
five thoufand pounds •, but how does it fland then ? The Adiento con-
trad: is to be fufpended : you are to purchafe this fum at the price of an
exclufive trade, purfuant to an national treaty, and of an immenfe debt
of God knows how many hundred thoufand pounds due from Spain to
the South Sea Company. Here, Sir, is the fubmilTion of Spain by
the payment of a ftipulated fum ; a tax laid upon fubjedls of England
under the fevereft penalties, with the reciprocal accord of an Englifh
Minifter, as a preliminary that the Convention may be figned 5 a con-
dition impofed by Spain in the moft abfolute, imperious manner, and
received by the Minifters of England in the mofl tame and abjed.
Can any verbal diftindions, any evafions whatever, pofTibly explain
away this public infamy? To whom would we difguife it ? To our-
D 2 felvea
[ »o ]
Chap, II. felves and to the nation : I wifh we could hide it from the eyes of every
'— -" -* Court in Europe: they fee Spain has talked to you like your mafter,
they fee this arbitrary fundamental condition, and it mufl. ftand with
diftindlion, with a pre-eminence of fliame, as a part even of this Con-
vention.
" This Convention, Sir, I think from my foul is nothing but a fti-
pulation for national ignominy ; an illufory expedient to baffle the re-
fentment of the nation; a truce without a fufpenfionof hoftilities on the
part of Spain-, on the part of England a fufpcnfion; as to Georgia, of
the firft law of nature, fclf-prefervacion and fclf-defence, a furrender of
the rights and trade of England to the mercy of Plenipotentiaries,
and in this infinitely higheft and facred point, future fecurity, not only-
inadequate, but diredly repugnant to the refolutions of Parliament,-
and the gracious promife from the Throne. Tiie complaints of your
difpairing Merchants, the voice of England has condemned it i be the
guilt of it upon the head of the advifer. God forbid that this Com-
mittee fhould Ihare the guilt by approving itl"
The Addrefs was agreed to.
'74«' On a motion made by Mr. Waller, on the 24th of
^" ^^'"- ""'; January, 1740, for copies of letters and orders fent to Admi-
ral Haddock, and others, Mr. Pitt made a fliort fpeech in
fupport of the motion in reply to Sir Robert Walpole, who
oppofed it. Sir Robert concluded with faying, " that the
" time which would be taken up with fuch a fruitlefs enquiry
" might be more ufefuUy employed." Which brought up r.
"Pitt, who faid,
" It is my opinion, that our time cannot be more ufefully employed
during a war, than examining how it has been condufted, and fettling
the degree of confidence that may be repofed in thofe to whofc care are
entrulled our reputations, our fortunes, and our lives.
"There is not any enquiry, Sir, of more importance than this; it
is not a queftion about an uncertain privilege, or a law, which if found
inconvenient may hereafter be repealed ; we are now to examine whether
it is probable that we Ihall prefcrvc our commerce and our indepen-
dencco
dock't Inftruc
t 21 }
dence, or whether wc we are finking into fubje£tion to a foreign Chap.IL
power. J 740.
" But this enquiry. Sir, will produce no great information, if thofc
whofe condudl is examined, are allowed to feleft the evidence, for
what account will they exhibit but fuch as have oken already been laid
before us, and fuch as they now offer without co.icern. Accounts
obfcure and fallacious, imperfeft and confufed ; from which nothing
can be learned ; and which can never entitle the Minilkr to praifc)
though they may fcreen him from punifhment."
Ill the fame feffion, on die loth of March, 1740, on the Bill PhLn^.^i-"
1 />• ^-. TXT r ^ .. rroent ofSesiren,
brought in by Sir Charles Wager for the encouragement ot
feamen, and fpeedier manning the royal navy, Mr. Pitt fpoke
agalnft the Bill.
" It is common for thofe to have the greatefl: regard to their own
intereft who difcover the leaft for that of others. I do not, therefore,
defpair of recalling the advocates of this Bill from the profecution of
their favourite meafures by arguments of greater efficacy than thofc
which are pretended to be founded on reafon and juftice.
"■ Nothing is more evident, than that fome degree of reputation is
abfolutely neceflary to men, who have any concern in the adminiftration
of a government like ours; they mud either fecure the fidelity of their
adherents by the afliflance of wifdom, or of virtue ; their enemies muft:
either be awed by their honefty, or terrified by their cunning. Merc
artlefs bribery will never gain a fufficient majority to fet them entirely
free from apprehenfions of cenfure. To different tempers different mo-
tives muft be applied: fbme, who placetheir felicity in being accounted
wife, are in very little care to prcferve the character of honefty ; others
may be perfuaded to join in meafures which they eafily dilcover to be
weak and ill-concerted, becaufe they are convinced that the authors of
them are not corrupt but miftaken, and are unwilling that any man
fhould be punilhed for natural defeds or cafual ignorance,
" I cannot fay which of thcfe motives influence the advocates for the
Bill before us; a Bill in which fuch cruelties are propofed as are yet
unknown among the moft favagc nations, fuch as flavery as not yet
nor
[ 22 ]
borne, or tyranny invented, fuch as cannot be heard without refcntment
nor thought of without horror.
" It is perhaps not unfortunate, that one more expedient has been
added rather ridiculous than fhocking, and that thefe tyrants of admi-
niftration, who amufe themfclves with oppreffing their fellow fubjedls,
who add, without reluftance, one hardfhip to another, invade the
liberty of thofe whom they have already overborne with tixes, firft
plunder and then imprifon, who take all opportunities of heightening
the public diftrclTcS, and make the miferies of war theinftruments of new
oppreffions, are too ignorant to be formidable, and owe their power not
to their abilities, but to cafual profperity, or to the influence of
money.
" The other claufes of this Bill, complicated at once with cruelty
and folly, have been treated with becoming indignation ; but this may
be confidered with lefs ardour and refentment, and fewer emotions of
zeal, becaufe, though not perhaps equally iniquitous, it will do no
harm; for a law that can never bs executed can never be felt.
" That it will confume the manufafture of paper, and fwell the
book of llatutes, is all the good or hurt that can be hoped or feared
from a law like this; a law which fixes what is in its own nature mu-
table, which prefcribes rules to the feafons and limits to the wind.
" I am too well acquainted. Sir, with the difpofition of its two
chief fupporters, to mention the contempt with which this law will be
treated by pofterity ; for they have already fhewn abundantly their dif-
regard of fucceeding generations; but I will remind them, that they are
now venturing their whole intcreft at once, and hope they will recolleft,
before it is too late, that thofe who believe them to intend the happi-
nefs of their country will never be confirmed in their opinion by open
cruelty and notorious oppreflion ; and that thofe who have only their
own intereft in view, will be afraid of adhering to thofe leaders, how-
ever old and pradifcd in expedients, however ftrengthened by corrup-
tion, or elated with power, who have no reafon to hope for fuccefs
from cither their virtue or abilities.
Mf.H. w.ipoit. -pi-^js fpeech produced an anfw^er from Mr. Walpole j
who, in the courfe of it, faid, " Formidable founds and
furious
[ 23 ]
furious declamation, confident aflertions and lofty periods^ Chaf. ii,
may afFe£l the young and unexperienced j and perhaps the Hon. '"TtaT^
Gentleman may have contra6led his habits of oratory, by con-
verfing more with thofe of his own age, than with fuch as have
had more opportunities of acquiring knowledge, and more fuc-
cefsful methods of communicating their fentiments :" And made
ufe of fomeexprefllons, fuch as vehemence of gefture, theatrical
emotion, &c. applying them to Mr. Pitt's manner offpeaking.
As foon as Mr. Walpole fat down, Mr. Pitt got up and
replied.
,_,, . . - , . , . Rfjly to Mr. H,
" ihe atrocious crime or being a young man, which the Hon. Gen-^^'.°'«'
tleman has with fuch fpirit and decency charged upon me, I fhall nei-
ther attempt to palliate, nor deny, but content myfelf with vvifliincr that
I may be one of thole whofe follies may ceafe with their youth, and not
of that number who are ignorant in fpite of experience.
" Whether youth can be imputed to any man as a reproach, I will
not alTume the province of determining-, but furely age may become
juftly contemptible, if the opportunities which it brings have paft away
without Improvement, and vice appears to prevail when the paffions have
fubfided. The wretch that, after having feen the confequences of a
choufand errors, continues ftill to blunder, and whofe age has only
added obftinacy to ftupidity, is furely the objeft of either abhorrence or
contempt, and deferves not that his grey head (hould fecure him from,
infults.
" Much more is he to be abhorred who as he has advanced in acre,
has receded from virtue, and becomes more wicked with lefs tempta-
tion; who proftltutes himfelf for money which he cannot enjoy, and
fpends the remains of his life in the ruin of his country.
" But youth is not my only crime, I have been accufed of afting a
theatrical part — a theatrical part may either imply fome peculiarities of
gefture, or a diflimulation of my real fentiments, and an adoption of
the opinions and language of another man.
" In the firft fenfe the charge is too trifling to be confuted, and de-
ferves only to be mentioned, that it may be defpifed. I am at liberty,
like.
[ 24 }
like every other man, to ufe my own language; nnd though I may,
perhaps, have feme ambition, yet to pleafe this GentlcTian, I fliall not
lay myfelf under any reftraint nor very Iblicitoufly copy his didlion, or
his mien, however matured by age, or modelled by experience. If any
man fhall by charging me with theatrical behaviour mply that I utter
any fentiments but my own, I fliall treat him as a calumniator and a
villaia, nor fhall any protedlion fhelter him from the treatment which he
deferves I fliall, on fuch an occafion, without fcruple, trample upon all
thofe forms with which wealth and dignity intrench themfelves, nor
fhall any thing but age reftrain my refentment; age, which always
brings one privilege, that of being infolent and fupercilious without
punilhment.
" But with regard to thofe whom I have offended, I amof opinion>
that if I had aded a borrowed parr, I (hould have avoided their cen-
furej the heat that offended them is the ardour of coitvifllon, and that
zeal for the fervice of my country, which neither hope nor fear fhall in-
fluence me to fupprefs. I will not fit unconcerned while my liberty is
invaded, nor look in filence upon public robbery. I will exert my en-
deavours, at whatever hazard, to repel the aggreffor, and drag the
thief to juftice, whoever may proteft them in their villainy, and who-
ever may partake of their plunder. And if the Honourable
Gentleman "
Mr.winn!ngtoa [Here he was called to order by Mr. Win-ninGton, who re-
prehended him in very illiberal terms, and was proceeding in
the fame ftrain when Mr. Pitt in turn called Mr, Winning-
ton to order] and faid,
" If this be to preferve order, there is no dangcrof indecency from
Kfply to Mr. . /- 1 1 1 r
winningtofl, the moft liccntious tongue ; for what calumny can be [more attrocious,
or what reproach more fevere, than that of fpeaking with regard to any
thing but truth. Order may fometimes be broken by paffion, or inad-
vertency, but will hardly be re-ellablilhed by monitors like this, who
cannot govern his own paffion, whilfl he is reftraining the impctuofity
of others.
" Happy would it be for mankind if every one knew his own pro-
vince j we ftiould not then fee the fame man at once a criminal and ^
judge'
[ ^s ]
judge; nor would this Gentleman aflTume the right of dlftating to ^"^fir-
othtrs what he has not learned himfelf. i;,^o.
: j-i' That I may return in feme degree the favour which he intends me,
I will advife him never hereafter to exert himfelf on the fubjeft or order,
but whenever he finds himfelf inclined to fpeak on fuch occafions, to re-
member how he has now fuccceded, and condemn in filence what his
cenfures' will never perform."
On the 13th of February, 1741, Mr. Sandys (afterwards '74i'
Lord Sandys) moved an Addrefs to the King, requefting his
Majefty to remove Sir Robert Walpole from his prefence and
councils for ever.
Mr. Pitt fpoke in fuppoit of this motion, viz.
" As it has been obferved that thofe who have formerly approved °" '^° Motion
to remove Sir
the meafures of the Gentleman into whofe conduft we are now inquiring ^- w»ip»ii
cannot be expected to difavow their former opinions, unlefs new argu-
ments are produced of greater force, than thofe which have formerly
been offered j fo the fame fteadinefs muft be expefted in thofe who have
oppofed them, unlefs they can now hear them better defended.
" It is an eftablifhed maxim, Sir, that as time is the teft of opinions
falfhood grows every day weaker, and truth gains upon mankind.
This is moft eminently juft in political aflertions, which often refpedl
future events, and the remote confequences of tranfadlions ; and there-
fore never fail to be by time inconteftably verified or undeniably com-
bated. On many occafions it is Impoffible to determine the expediency
of meafures otherwife than by conjecture; becaufe almoft every ftep
that can be taken, may have a tendency to a good as well as to a bad
end : and as he who propofes, and he who promotes, may conceal
their intentions, till they arc ripened into execution, time only can dif-
cover the motives of their demands, and the principles of their
conduct.
" For this reafon it may cafily be expecfted that bad meafures will be
condemned by men of integrity, when their confequences are fully
difcovercd ; though, when they were propofed, they might by plaufiblc
declarations and fpecious appearances, obtain their approbation and
applaufe. Thofe, whofe purity of intention and fimplicity of morali
VoLt I. E expofed
I74I-
r 26 ]
CuAF. !T. expofed them to credulity and implkit confidence, mufl refent thf'artf
' by which they were deluded into a concurrence with projects detrimen-
tal to their countrv; but of which the confequences were artfully ''con-
(-ealed from them, or the real intention fteadilv denied.
" With regard to thofe Gentlemen, whofe ncgleift of political ftudias
have not qualified them to judge of the queftions when they were ifirfl:
debated; and who, giving their fulFrages, were not fo much directed hX
their own conviftion as by the authority of men, whofe experience and
knowledge they knew to be great, and whofe integrity they had hitherto
found no rcafon to diftruft; it may be naturally expefted that when they
fee tho.'e meafures which were recommended, as neceffary to peace and
happinefs, produd:ive only of confufion, oppreffion and diftrefs, they
iliould acknowledge their error and forfake their guides ; whom they mud
difcover to have been eiiher ignorant or treacherous ; and by an open
recantation of their former decifions, endeavour to repair the calamities,
which they have contributed to bring on their country.
*' The extent and complication of political queftions is fuch, that no
man can juftly be afhamed of having been fometimes miftaken in his de-
terminations, and the propenfity of the human mind to confidence and
friendfhip is fo great, that every man, however cautious, however faga^
cious, or however experienced. Is expofed fometimes to the artifices of
interefts and the delufions of hypocrify -, but it is the duty and ought to
be the honour of every man to own his miflake whenever he difcovers it,
and to warn others againft thofe frauds which have been too fuccefsfuUy
prafticed upon himfelf.
" I am, therefore, inclined to hope that every man will not be
equally pre-determined in the prefent debate, and that as I ftiall be ready
to declare my approbation of integrity and wifdom, though they fliould
be found where I have long fufpefted ignorance and corruption ; as
others will with equal juftice cenfure wickednefs and error, though they
Ihotild have been detected in that perfon, whom they have been long
taught to reverence as the oracle of knowledge, and the pattern o£
virtue.
" In political debates, time always produces new lights; time
can in thefe inquiries never be neutral, but muft always acquit or
condemn. Time Indeed may not alway produce new arguments againft
bad conduft, becaufe all its confequences might be originally forefeen
and
[2/1
andexpofed; but it muft always coufirm them, and ripen conjeftures C^^,
nto certaint;. Though it (hould therefore be truly aff.ned that no- .^,..
h ng U urged in this debate which was not before mentioned and re-
ieded, it will not prove that becaufe the arguments are the fame, they
ouoht to produce the fame efFelt •, becaufe what was then only foretold,
ha^ now been feen and felt, and what was then but beheved is no«.
^^But if Time has produced no vindication of thofe meafures, which
were fufpefted of imprudence or of treachery •, it muR be at length ac-
knowledged that thofe fufpicions were jufl, and that what ought then
to have been rejefted ought now to be punifhed.
.< This is for the molt part the ftate of the Qaeft.on. Thofe mea-
fures which were once defended by fophiftical reafoning. or palliated by
warm declamations of fincerity and difinterefted zeal for the pubhc hap-
pinefs, are found to be fuch as they were reprelented by thofe who op.
pofcd them. It is now difcovered that the Treaty of Hanover was cal-
culated only for the advancement of the Houfe of Bourbon ; that our
armies are kept up only ro multiply dependence, and to awe the nation
from the exertion of its rights; that Spain has been courted only to the
ruin of our trade ; and that the Convention was little more than an arti-
fice to amufe the people with an idle appearance of a reconciliation,
which our enemies never intended.
'* Of the ftipulation which produced the memorable Treaty of Hano-
ver the improbability was often urged, but the abfolute falihood could
be proved only by the declaration of one of the parties. This decla-
ration was at length produced by Time, which was never favovrable to
the meafures of our Minifter. For the Emperor of Germany alTerted,
with the utmoftfolemnitv, that no fuch article was ever propofed ; and
that his engagements with Spain had no tendency to produce any change
in the government of this kingdom.
" Thus it is-evident, Sir, that all the terrors which the apprehenfion
of this Alliance produced, was merely the operations of fraud upon
cowardice; and that they were only ra.fed by the artful French, to difu-
nitc us from the only power with which it is our intereft to cultivate an
inf-parable friendOiip. This difunion may therefore be juftly charged
upon the Minifter, who has weakened the intereft of this country, and
endangered the liberties of Europe.
Ez "If
[ ^8 J
" If it be afked, Sjr, how he could have difcovered the fallhood of
the report, isefcre it was confuted by the late Emperor ? It may eafily
be aufvvered, that he might have difcovered it by the fame tokens
which betrayed it to his opponents, tlic impoffibility of putting it into
execution. For it muft be confeflt-d, that his French informers, well
acquainted with his difpofition to panic fears, had u fed no caution in the
conftruftion of their impofture, nor feem to have had any other view,
than to add one error to another, to fink his reafon with alarms, and to
overbear him with aflonifhment.
" When they fo'jnd he began to be difordered at the danger of our
trade from enemies without naval forces, they eafily difcovered, that
to make him the flave of France nothing more was neceflary, than to
add, that thefe bloody confederates had projefted an invafion ; that they
intended to add flavery to poverty ; and to place the Pretender upon the
Throne.
" To be alarmed into vigilance had aot been unworthy of the firmeffc
^nd moft fagacious Minifter ; but to be frighted by fuch reports into
meafures which even an invafion could fcarcely have juftified, was at
leaft a proof of a capacity not formed by nature for the adminiftration of
government ; and which it is therefore the intereft of the motion to re-
duce to its proper fphere, and to mingle with the reft of the community.
" If it be required, what advantage was granted by this Treaty to
the French, and to what inconvenicncies it has fubjedled this nation ?
an anfwer may very juftly be refufed, till the Minifter or his apologifts
Ihall explain his conduft in the laft war with Spain ; and inform us why
the plate fleet was fpared, our fliips ficrificed to the worms, and our
Admiral and his failors poifoned iu an unhealthy climate? Why the Spa-
niards in full fecurity laugh'd at our armaments, and triumphed in our
calamities.
" The lives of Hozier and his forces are now juftly to be demanded
from this manj he is now to be charged with the murder of thofe two
unhappy men, whom he expofed to mifery and contagion, to pacify,
on one hand, the Britons who called out for war, and to gratify, on the
other, the French, who infifted that the Spanilh treafures (hould not be
f;ized.
" The Minifter who neglefls any juft opportunity of promoting the
power, or incrcafing the wealth of his country, is to be confidcred as
an
[ 29 ]
an enemy to his fellow fubje^tsj but what cenfure is to be paflcd upon Chap. II.
him who betrays that army to a defeat, by which viftory might be ob- ,.^i^
tained; impoverifhes the nation, whofe affairs he is entrufted to tranfaft,
by thofe expeditions which might enrich it i who levies armies only to
be expofcd to peftilence, and compels them to perifh in fight of their
enemies, without molefting them? It cannot furely be denied, that
fuch condu6l may juftly produce a cenlure more fcvere than that which
is intended by this motion i and that he who has doomed thoufands to
the grave-, who has co-operated with foreign powers againft his country;
who has protected its enemies, and difhonoured its arms, Ihould be de-
prived not only of his honours, but his life ; that he fhould at leaft be
ftripped of thofe riches which he has amafTcd during a long fcries of
fuccefsful wickednefs ; and not barely be hindered from making new
acquifiiions, and increafing his wealth by multiplying his crimes.
" But no fuch penalties. Sir, are now required ; thofe who have long
fiood up in oppofition to him, give a proof by the motion, that they
were not incited by perfonal malice-, fincc they are not provoked to-
propofe any arbitrary cenfure, nor have recommended what might Tje
authorized by his own pradicc, an Aft of Attainder, or a Bill of Pains
and Penalties. They defire nothing further, than that the fccurity of
the nation may be reftored, and the difcontent of the people pacified,
by his removal from that truft which he has fo long abufed.
" The difcontent of the people is in itfelf a real'on for agreeing to
(this motion, which no rhetorical vindicator of his conduft will be able
to counterbalance; for fi nee it is neceflary to the profperity of the o-o-
vernment, that the people fhould believe their intereft favoured, and
their liberties proteded ; fince to imagine themfelves negleded, and to
be ncglefted in reality, muft produce in them the fame fufpicions, and
the fame diftruft, it is the duty of every faithful fubjeft whom his
ftation qualifies, to offer advice to his Sovereign, to perfuade him, for
the prefervation of his own honour and the affe(5lion of his fubjedls, to
remove from his councils that man, whom they have long confidered
as the author of pernicious meafures, and a favourer of arbitrary power.
Upon adivifion, the motion was negatived by 290 againft 1 c6^
CHAP,
1742'
L 3° J
C H A P. III.
A New ParUament — Mr. Pitt re-eh6ied — The Minifler kfes ft-
veral ^leftiom — Refigns, and is created Earl of Orford — Par-
liament adjourns — Secret Negotiatio7i with Mr. Pulteney — 'That
affair tritely ftated — Lord Cobhain and his Friends excluded — The
new Arraiigement fettled by the Earl of Orford- — Stanza of Sir
Charles Hanbury Williams explained ; and the condition upon which
Sir Robert Walpole became Minifter — Duke of ArgylPs exprcf-
fion to Mr. Pultetiey — The Nation diffatisfied.
THE Minifler having become exceedingly unpopular, and
the leaders of feveral parties having united againft him,
he had not chara6ler and intereft fufficient to fecure a majority
in the new Parliament, which was ele6ted in the fpring of 1741.
In this Parliament, which met on the 4th of December 1741,
Mr. Pitt was re-elecSled for Old Sarum. The firfl queftion
which the Minifter loft, was that of Chairman of the Com-
mittee of Privileges and Eleftionsj Dr. Lee being chofen by a
majority of four, againft Mr. Earle, who had been fiipported
by himfelf. After lofmg fome queftions upon the decifions of
the contefted eleftions, he faw that there was a confirmed ma-
jority againft him; and therefore, on the 3d of February i742>
he refigned his employments, and was created Earl of Or-
foRd. At the fame time the Parliament, by the King's Com-
mand, adjourned to the i8th of the fame month.
Although the Minifter was perfonally departed, his influence
was not extinguiflied : he ftill pofTefTed power fufficient to enable
him to capitulate with his opponents for his fafety.
With his ufual penetration, he prudently fele6led from
amongft his opponents thofe who were the moft eager for power,
to
[ 31 3 ' -
to commence his negotiation with. His view in making this Cha?. in.
feleftion was judicious. Thofe chiefs, or heads of oppofition, 1742.
to whom he made no communication of his defigns, the mo-
ment they heard of the negotiation, became jealous of their
friends ; and a fchifm amongft them was thereby created j.
which was the thing Sir Robert Walpole mofl wifhedj.
becaufe in their united flats, they had power to crufh him, but
when divided, he knew they could not hurt him.
The negotiation began by the Duke of Newcastle re-
quefling to fee Mr.. Pulteney privately at Mr. Stone's (his
Grace's fecretary) atWhitehalL Mr. Pulteney replied. That he
would rather fee the Duke at his own houfe in Piccadilly j and
defired his Grace to fix the time; and added, that Lord Carte-
ret mufl be prefent at the conference. The fame evening was
agreed upon: and the Duke of Newcastle, with Lord
Hardwicke, went to Mr. Pulteney's, where they found him
with only Lord Carteret. They faid, they came from the
King with propofals ; that it was His Majeity's defire, Mr.
Pulteney fliould be placed at the head of the Treafury. Mr.
Pulteney excufed himfelf, and propofed Lord Carteret for
that fituation. The conference ended, however, without any
thing being fettled. But information of the meeting was in a
few hours fpread all over the town. A thoufand conjedures
were formed.
It was this private meeting, and another which happened
two days afterwards, of the fame perfons, at the fame place,
which caiifed the divifion in the oppofition. Between
Lord Carteret and Lord Cobham there was no intimacy j,
but the contrary. The fele6lion of Lord Carteret for thefe
private conferences, which were to lay the foundation of, and.
to fix the boundaries of, the new arrangement, was therefore a
fort of marked eaclufton of Lord Cobham, whofe Parliamentary
friends
[ 32 ]
Chap. III. frleiids (Mr. Pitt, Mr. Lyttelton, the three Grenvilles,
^-^'^y^^ [Richard, George and James] Mr. Waller, and feveral others)
deferved confideration ; whofe perfonal character was high, and
whofe reputation had been aflailed, in being turned out of the
army. Lord Cobham was not of a temper to fee thefe rran-
faclions with indifference. His friends felt their fhare of the"
contempt which wasfhewntohim ; they gave him the moft cor-
dial affurances of attachment ; and they immediately formed a
feparate party. They were in a fliort time joined by the Duke
of Argyll, who, though he had taken the Ordnance in the
firft moments of the change, he quickly refigned it ; and re-
turned to his old friends ; who were, in a few weeks, joined by
all thofe who faw that the change of the Miniflry was only to
be partial, inadequate and imperfefl ; that the nation, as well
as themfelves, had been deceived.
Sir Robert Walpole, now Earl of Orford, did not ap-
prove of the nomination of Lord Carter tT for his fucceflbr
at the Treafury ; and as Mr. Pulteney had declined that poft,
he managed the King to infift upon Lord Wilmington for it.
Lord Wilmington had been Sir Robert's Prefident of the
Council from 1732 *. It was fome triumph to the opponents,
* To this appointment Sir Charles HA^fBURY Williams alludes in a
beautiful ftanza. Lord Wlmingtok had, upon the JcceJJion of George the
Second, been offered the Treafury j if he would undertake co encreafe the
Civil Lift from 709,000!, to 8oo,oool. but he was timid, and declined the
offer; upon which the offer was next made to Sir Robert Wali'Ole, who
accepted it) and became Minifter from that circumftance alone.
Why did you crofs God's good intent ?
He made you for a Prefident :
Back to that flation go ;
Nor longer aft this farce of pow'r,
We know you mifs'd the thing before,
And have not got it now.
to
r 33 ]
to fee him fo foon baffled in his arrangement. The Duke oFcha
Argyll obferved to him on the occafion at a large meeting of
their friends at the Fountain Tavern in the Strand *, " That a
Grain of Honefty was worth a Cai t-load of Gold."
The Earl of HARRifrcxoN, who had been Sir Robert's
Secretary of State, was made Prefident of the Council. Lord
Carteret accepted of Lord Harrington's Seals; and Mr,
Sandys was made Chancellor of the Exchequer, with a new
Board of Treafury. A new Board of Admiralty, with the
Earl of Winchelsea at the head, were all the alterations
■of any confequence that were made.
The difappointment of the nation at this trifling change of
a few men, was greater than can be defcribed. Many of the
moil refpeclable parts of the community were provoked and
€xafperated to the ufe of the bittereft language, which could ex-
prefs their execration and abhorrence of the jundtion that was
thus formed between Mr. Pulteney and the friends of the
late Minifter.
ofFer ; upon which it was next made to Sir Robert WaLpole, who
accepted it ; and from that circumftance alone became Minifter.
Why did you crofs God's good intent ?
He made you for a Prefident :
Back to that ftation go ;
Nor longer a£l this farce of pow'r.
We know you mifs'd the thing before,
And have not got it now.
* TKis meeting was held on the nth of Feb-uary, 1742- There were rear 300 Mem!>er9 of both Houres
of Parliament' prefenr. Amongfl them were the following : — Dukes nf Btdford and --/lo-y//— Marquis of
C.atrxarvin — Eails of Tsettr^ Serkjhire, Chefierjicld, Carlijlc, Ayl'fiary, Shaftjlury, LUchfidd, Oxford, Rock-
inghamj Halif^tt, Sfanbofre, Mactlcifieldf DarnLy, BarrimorCf Grnr.ard — Vifcounls Cobham, Tafmoutht LnKS'
rick, Gagt, Cttfaiynd—Loris IVarJ, Grjwer, BatkwJI, Talbot, Strange, Andwer, Guemjiy, S^nrindan, Pcrci-
i'^J^-~Sn- Ediuurd Seymour, S\v Charles Mordiiurt, S\t Krafmus Phihpi, ^ir Robert Crofvenor, Sir Edivard Vi^
ring. Sir Ragcr Burgoyne, Sir John Hind Cotton, Sir Henry Northcate, Sir tyilliam Carciv, Sir Milts Stapylton, Sir
Hugh Smithjon, S>\r IHWam Morris, S\t John Ru/hout, S\r Michael Neivion, Sir Roger "Pwifdeg, Sir RiberC
Long, Sir Chartei Wyndbans, Sir Jermyn Davers, Sir James Dafhwood, Sir tVoiktn If'illinms Pf'ynni, Sir Gar-
de! Fireiraee, Sir Eiltvard tboir.as. Sir Francis Dnjhwood, Sir Jacob Bouveriet Sir John Chapni,in, Sir Abrabam
Ellon, Sir John Peachy, Sir Ifilliam Courtney, Sir James Hamilton— Wit. Pulteney, Mr. Sandys, Mr. Gybbon,
Mr. Doddington, Mr. If'tller, Mr, Sbiffet, Mr. Fa^akerley, Mr. Mellijh, Mr. A\iittninHeiuhcttt, Mr. B-ar.ce,
Sec. ,
The purpofe of the Meeting was to confider of what was expedient to be done in the prefent critical con-
jvinfture. But Uivcxs too late ; the arrangements 'uJere fettled before the meeting 'wss called.
It is to this Meeting that Sir Charles Hanbury Williams alludes, in one of his Odes to Mr, Pulteney ;
where, invoking the Alufc to difplay his Hero's merit, he fays:
Then enlarge on his Cunning and Wit ; Say, bow the Old Patriots were bit,
Say, how he harangued at the Fo'jnta'n j And a Mouie was produc'd bv a Mountain.
VoL.L F CHAP.
[ 34 I
CHAP. IV.
CnAr.lV. (j'jjg jjf,^ Mintflry charged with having bargai?ied for the fafety of
'742, fjjc Earl of Orford — Motion j or an Enquiry into the Earl of
Orford'i CcnduEi — Mr. 'Pitt's Speech in fiipport of that Motion
'^Motion loft — Second Motion, limiti77g the Enquiry to the laft
ten Tears — Mr. Pitt's Speech in fiipport of this Motion. — T^he En-
quiry defeated by a Parliamentary Manoeuvre,
A
N Important charge was brought agahift the new Mi-
niftry by their opponents, who affirmed, in moft direft
and pofitive terms, that Mr. Pulteney had firfl» and that his
friends had afterwards, bargained with the Court, foi* the fafety of
the Earl of Orfo d ; that it was cxprefsly on that condi-
tion they were admitted into office ; and upon that tenure
only, that they held their employments ; that fiich bargain
was a fale of the public confidence, and a total dereli<5tIon of
principle ; that there was a treafon againft the people as well as
againft the Crown, and that this was the fuperlative degree of
j^j^j.^^^f^^ ^„ that treafon. And in order to put thefe affertions to the teft,
r" w'lpoil-s^" a motion was made in the Houfe of Commons, on the 9th of
c««d.<t. jviarch 1742, by Lord Limerick (whofe fon was created Earl
of Clanbrassil) for an Enquiry into the conduct of the late
Adminiftration, during the laft tiventy years. In fupport of
this motion, Mr. Pitt fpoke in reply to Mr. Pelham, who
had oppofed it, and faid, •' that it would confiderably lliorten
<• the debate, if Gentlemen would keep clofe to the argument,
" and not run out into long harangues and flowers of rhetorick,
'« which might be introduced upon any other fubject, as well
" as tlieprefent;" to which Mr. Pitt replied:
" What the Gentlemen of the other fide mean by long harangues,
or flowers of rhetorick, I Ihall not pretend to guefs j but if they make
wfe
I 35 ]
ufeof nothing of that kind, it is no very good argument of their fin- ,Chap^IV
cerity ; for a man who fpeaks from his heart, and is fincerely affefted ,^^,.
with the fubjeft he fpeaks on, as every honeft man muR be when he
fpeaks in the caufe of his country ; fuch a man, I fay, falls naturally
into expreffions which may be called flowers of rhetonck, and therefore
deferves as' little to be charged with afTedation as the moft ftup.d fer-
ieant at law that ever fpoke for half a guinea a-fee. For my part, I
have heard nothing in favour of the qucftion, but what I thought very
proper, and very much to the purpofe. What has been fa.d, mdeed,
on the other fide of the queftion, efpecially the long juftiflcation that
has been made of our late meafures, I cannot think lo proper upon th.s
occafion becaufe this motion is founded upon the prefent melancholy
fitu.tion' of affairs, and upon the general clamour without doors againft
the late conduft of our public fervants ; and either of thefe with me, (hall
always be a fufficient reafon for agreeing to a parliamentary enquiry -.
for without fuch an enquiry I cannot, even in my own mind, enter into
the difquifition, whether our public meafures have been right or not i
becaufe I cannot otherwifc be furnifhed with the neccflary lights for that
^"'?°But the Hon. Gentlemen who oppofe thi« motion feem to miftake,
I (hall not fay wilfullv, the difFerence between a motion for an impeach,
mcnc, and a motion for an enquiry. If any Member of this Houle were
to ftand up in his place, and move for impeaching a Mimller, he would
be obliged to charge him with fome particular crimes or mifdemeanors,
and produce fome proof, or to declare that he was ready to prove the
fads • but any Gentleman may move for an enquiry, without any par-
ticular allegation, and without offering any proof, or declaring that he
is readv to'prove, becaufe the very dcfign of an enquiry is to find out
particular fafts and paiticular proofs. The general circumftances of
thinos or general rumours without doors, are a fufficient foundation
for fuch a motion, and for the Houfe agreeing to it when it is made.
This, Sir, has always been the pradice, and has been the foundation of
almo'a all' the enquiries that were ever fet on foot in this Houfe, efpe-
cially ihofethat have been carried on by Secret and Seleft Committees.
What other foundation was there for tlie Secret Committee appointed
in the year 1694 (to go no further back) to enquire into and inlpcft the
books and accounts of the E^a India Company and Chambfr of Lon-
i? 2 don ?
[ 36 j
don ? — Nothing but a general rumour that fome corrupt pradicc had
been made ufe of. What was the foundation of the enquiry in the year
17 14? Did the Hon. Gentleman v. ho moved for appointing that
Secret Committee charge the former Adminiftration with any particular
crimes ? Did he offer any proofs, or declare that he was ready to prove
anv thino- ? It is faid, the meafures purfued by that Adminiftration'
were condemned by a great majority of that Houfc of Commons. What,
S:r, were thofe Minifters condemned before they were heard ? Could
any Gentleman be fo unjuft as to pafs fentence, even in his own mind,.
upon a meafure, before he had enquired into it. He might perhaps
dillike the Treaty of Utrecht, but upon enquiry it might appear to be
the beft that could be obtained; and it has fince been fo far juftified,-
that it is as leaft as good, if not better than any treaty we have made
fince thar time.
" Sir, It was n«t the Treaty of Utrecht, nor any meafure that Ad.
miniftration openly purfued that was the foundation or the caufe of an-
enquiry into their conduft.' It was the loud complaints of a great party
ao-ainft them, and the general fufpicion of their having carried on trea-
fonable negotiations in favour of the Pretender, and for defeating the
proteftant luccefTion ; and the enquiry was fet on foot, in order to de-
tefl thofe pradices, if there were any fuch, and to find proper evidence
for convifting the offenders. The fame argument holds with regard to
the enquiry into the management of the South Sea Company in the year
1721. When that affair was firft moved in the Houfe by Mr. Neville,
he did not, he could not charge thofe Direftors, or any of them, with
any particular proofs. His motion, which was, That the Directors of
the South Sea Company fliould forthwith lay before the Houfe an Ac-
count of their Proceedings, was founded upon the general circuniftances
of things, the diltrefs brought upon the public credit of the nation,
and the "encral and loud coniplaints without doors. This motion, in-
deed, realonablc as it was, we know was oppofed by our courtiers at
that lime, and ifi particular by two doughty brothers, who have been
courtiers ever fince ; but their oppofition raifed fuch a warmth in the
Hou(e,'^hat they were glad to give it up, and never afterwards durft
direflly oppoie that enquiry. 1 wilh I could now fee the fame zeal for
public jufticc. I amfure, the circumftancesof affairs deferve it. Our
public credit was ihea indeed brought into diftrefs j but now the nation.
itfelf.
( 27 )
^tfelf, nay not only this nation, but all our friends upon the Continent Chap. iv.
arc brought into the moft imminent danger. * — >'~'~'
" This, Sir, is admitted even by. thofe who oppofe this motion; and
if they have ever lately converfed with thofe that dare fpe,ik their
minds, they muft admit, that the murmurs of the people againfl: the
conduifl of the Adminiftration arc now as general and as loud as ever
they were upon any occaQon ; but the misfortune is, that Gentlemen -
who are in office feldom converfe with any but fuch as are in office, or
want to be in office; and fuch men, let them think what they will, will
always applaud their fuperiors ; confequently. Gentlemen who are in
Admiuirtiation, or in any office under it, can rarely know the voice of
the people. The voice of this Houfe was formerly, I fhall grant, and
always ought to be, the voice of the people. If new Parliaments were
more frequent, and few placemen, and no penfioners admitted, ic would
be fo ftill; but if long Parliaments be continued, and a corrupt influence *
fliould prevail, not only at elecflions but in this Houfe, the voice of this
Houfe will generally be very different from, nay often direcflly contrary
to, the voice of the people. However, as this is not, I believe, the cafe
at prefent, I hope that there is a majority of us who know what is the
voice of the people ; and if it be admitted by all, that the nation is at
prefent in the utmoft diftrefs and danger, and admitted by a majoritv,.
that the voice of the people is loud againft the late conduft of our Ad-
miniftration, this motion muft be agreed to, becaufe I have fliewn, that
jhefe two circumftences, without any particular charge," have been the
i'oundation of almoft all Parliamentary Enquiries.
" I ftiall readily admit, Sir, that we ffiould have very little to do
with the charadter or reputation of a Minifter, but as it does and always
muft affeifl our Sovereign ; as the people may become difafi'edted as well
as difcontented, when they find the King continues obftinately to cm-
ploy a Minifter, who they think opprefles them at home, and betrays
them abroad. We are therefore, in duty to our Sovereign, obliocd to
enquire into the conduft of a Minifter, when it becomes generally fuf-
pedled by the people, in order that we may' vindicate his character, if
he appears innocent as to every thing laid to his charge, or that we may
get him removed from the councils of our Sovereign, anci-condignly
punilhed, if he appears guilty.
« After
[ 35 ]
Chap^ IV. jj After having fald thus much. Sir, I have no great occafion to an-
1742. fwer what has been faid, that no Parliamentary Enquiry ought ever to
•be let up, unlefs we are convinced that fomething has been done amifs.
Sir, the very name given to this Houfe of Parliament (hews the con-
trary. We are called, The Grand Inquell of the Nation ; and as fuch,
it is our duty to enquire into every ftep of public management, either
abroad or at home, in order to fee that nothing has been done amifs. It
is not neceffary upon every occafion to eflablifh a Secret Committee.
This is never necefiary, but when the affairs to be brought before them*
or fome of thofe affairs, aie fuppofed to be of fuch a nature as ought to
be kept a fecret ; but as experience has fhewn, that nothing but a fpe-
cial enquiry is ever made by a General Committee, or a Committee of
the whole Houfe, I wilh that ail Eflimates an d Accounts, and many
other affairs, were refpeftively referred to Sele 61 Committees. Their
enquiries would be more exaft, and the receiving of their Reports would
not take up fo much of our time as Is rcprefented ; but if it did, as ic
is our duty to make Itrift enquiries into every thing relating to the
Public ; as we affemble here for that p urpofe, we ought to do our duty
before we break up ; and I am fure. His prefent Majelty would never
put an end to any felTion, till both Houfes had fully performed their
duty to their country.
" It is faid by fome Gentlemen, that by this enquiry we fliall be i"
dano-er of difcovering the fecrets of our government to our enemies.
This argument, Sir, by proving too much, proves nothing at all. If
it were admitted, it would always have been, and for ever will be, an
argument againft our enquiring into any affair, in which our Govern-
ment can be fuppofed to have a concern. Our enquiries would then be
confined to the condu(3: of our little Companies, or of inferior Cuflom-
Houfe Officers, or Excifemen ; for if we fhould be fo bold as to offer
to enquire into the condu6l of Commiffioners of great Companies, ic
would be faid, the Government had a concern in their condufl, and the
fecrets of Government mufl not be divulged. Every Gentleman mufl
fee that this would be the confequenceof admitting fuch an argument;
butbefides, it is falfe in faifl, and contrary to experience. We have
had many Parliamentary Enquiries into the conduft of Minillers of
State, and yet I defy any one to (hew, that any State Affair was thereby
difcovered, which ought to have been concealed, or that our public
affairs,
I 39 ]
.ffalrs, either abro'ad or at home, ever fuffcred by fueh a difcovery. C«apJV.
There are methods, Sir, for preventing papers of a very fecret nature ,^^„
from coming into the hands of the fervants attending, or even of all the
Members of our Secret Committee. If His Majefty fhould, by mef-
ftge, acquaint us, that feme of the papers fealed up and laid before us
required the utmoft fecrecy, we might refer them to our Committee,
with an inftrudion for them, to order only two or three of the number
to infpea fuch papers, and to report from them nothing but what they
thought might be fafely communicated to thtir whole number. By
this method I hope, the danger of a difcovery would be effedtually re-
moved; therefore this danger cannot be a good argument againfl a
Parliamentary Enquiry.
" The other objeftion, Sir, Is really furprizing, becaufeit is founded-
upon a circumaancc, which in all former times has been admitted as a
ftrong argument for an immediate enquiry. The Hon. Gentlemen are
fo ingenuous, as to confefs that our affairs, both- abroad and at home,
areatprefcnt in the utmoft diftrefs ; but fay they, you ought, to free
yourfclvcs fro.ti this diftrefs, before you enquire how or by what means
you was brought into it. Sir, according to this way of arguing, a MI-
nifter that has plundered and betrayed his country, and fears being called
to an account in Parliament, has nothing to do but to involve his coun-
try in a dangerous war, or ibme other great diftrefs, In order to prevent
an enqu-ry Into his conduft; bscaufe he may be dead before that war is
at an end, or that diftrefs got over. Thus, like the moft villainous of
alt thieves, after he had plundered the Houfe he had nothing to do but
to fet it in a flame, that he may efcape in the confufion. It is really afto-
nilhing to hear fuch an argument ferioudy urged in this Houfe; but,
. fay thcfe Genilemen, if you found yourfelf upon a precipice, would
vcu (land to enquire how you was led there, before you conlidcred how to
eretoff? No, Sir, but if a guide had led me there, I fliould very proba-
bly be provoked to throw him over, before I thought of an\- thing elfe j
atleaft I am fure, I fhould not truft to the fame guide for bringing me
off; and this, Sir, is the ftrongefl argument that can be ufcd for an en-
quiry.
" We have been for thefe twenty years under the guidance, I may
truly fay, of one man, of one fingle Minifter. We now at laft find our-
fclves upon a dangerous precipice. Ought not we then immed'atcly to
enquire.
7A^
I 40 1
■Cha?. IV. enquire, whether we "have been led upon dnis precipice by his ignoranct
cr wickednefsj and if by either, to take care not to truft to his guidance
for brincjing us off? This is an additional, and a ftronger argument
for this enqu ry than ever was for any former ; for if we do not enquire,
we (hall probably remain under his guidance; becaufc, though he be
removed from the TreafuTy Beard, he is not from the King's Courts
nor probably will, uplefs it be by our advice, or by fending him to a
lodo'ingat the other end of the town, where h€ cannot do fo much harm
to his country. Sir, the diftrefs we are in at home, is evidently owing
to bad oeconomy, and to our having been led into many needles ex-
pences. The diftrefs and danger we are in abroad are evidently owing
to the mifconduft of our war with Spain, and to the little confidence put
in our councils b\' our natural and antient allies. This is evident, that
I (bould not have thought it neceflary to have entered into any particular
explanation, if an Hon. Gentleman on the other fide had not entered
into a particular juftification of moft of our late meafures, both abroad
and at home-, but as he has done fo, though not, in my opinion, quite
to the purpofe ot the prefent debate ; yet, I hope I fhall be excufed
xnakirig fome remarks upon what he has faid on that fubjeft, beginning,
as he did, with the meafures taken for punifliing the South Sea Direc-
tors, and reftoring public credit, after the terrible fhock it met with in
the year 1720.
" As thofe meafures. Sir, were an>ong the firft exploits of our late,
and I fear ftill, our prefent Prime Minifter, at leaft his firft fince he came
laft into Adminiftration ; and as the Committee propofed, if agreed tos
will probably confiftof one and twenty, I wifli the Motion had been for
one year further back, that the number of years might have been equal
to the number of enquirers, andthat it might have comprehended the
firft of thofe meafures ; for as it ftands, it will not comprehgpd the me-
thods taken for punifliing the Direflors, nor the firft regulation made
for reftoring public credit; and with regard to both, fome pradlices
might be difcovered, that would deferve a much feverer punifhment
than any of thofe Diredlors met with. Confidering the many tricks
and frauds made ufe of by the Diredlors and their agents for drawing
people into their ruin, I am not a little furprized to hear it now faid>
that their puniftiment was ever thought too fevcre. Juftice by the Lump
was an epithet given it, not becaufe it was thought too fevere, but be-
caufe
[ 41 I
caufe it was apiece of cunning made ufe of to fcreen the moft heinous of-
fenders, who, if they did not dcferve to be hangeJ, defcrved at leafl to
have tliat total ruin brought upon them, which they had brought upon
many unthinlcing men;. and tlierefore they very ill defervcd thofe al-
lowances which were made them by Parliament.
Then, Sir, as to the reftoring of public credit, its fpeedy relloration
was founded upon the condud of the nation, and not upon the wifdom
or jufticeof the meafures taken to reRore it. Was it a wife method to
remit to the South Sea Company the whole feven millions, or thereabouts,
which they had folemnly engaged to pay to the public ? It might as
well befaid, that a private man's giving away a great part of his ellate
to thole who no way dcferved it, would be a wife method of reviving or
eftablifhing his credit ; If thefe feven millions had been dillributed
among the poorer fort of annuitants, ic would have been both generous
and charitable; but to give it among the proprietors in general was nei-
ther "encrous nor juft, becaufe moll of them dcferved no favour from
the p'.iblic ; for as the proceedings of the Direftors were authorized by
creneral courts, tLofe who were then the proprietors were in fome mea-
fure acccflary to the frauds cf the Directors, and therefore deferved to
have been punifhed, rather than rewarded, as they really were, becaufe
every one of them who continued to hold ftock in that company got
near 50 per cent, added to hii capital, moft part ot which arofe frotn the
liio-h price annuitants were by AQ. of Parliament obliged to take ftock
at, and was.therefore a moft flagrant piece of injuftice done to the an-
nuitants. But we need not be at a lofs for the true caufe of this aft ot
injuftice, when v.'e confider that a certain gentleman had a great many
'riends among the old ftockholders, and few cr none among thcannui-
fr
rant
Another aft of injudice which, 1 believe, we may afcribe to the fame
caufe relates to thofe who were engaged in heavy contrads for (lock or
fubfcriptions, many of whom groan under the load to this very day j
for after we had by Aft of Parliament quite altered the natun-, though
not the name of the ftock they had bought, and made it much Icf, va-
luable than it was when they engaged to pay a high price for it, I mua
think it an aft of public injuftice to leave them liable to be profccuted
at law for the whole money they had engaged to p.iy ; and I am fure it
was not a method ofreRoring private credit, upon which our trade and
Vol. I, G navigation
[ 42 3
C-\p. IV,- navigition very much depend. If the fa ire regulation had been made
O-'-v-^v.^'with rec^ard to them, as had been made with regard to thofe who had
''^^' borrowed money of the Company, or a fort of K///>5^^/f//V enaflcd, by
declarlncr all fiich contrafts void, fo far as related to any future payments,
it would not have been unjuft, and was extremely necefTary for quieting
the minds of the people, for preventing their ruining one another at law,
and of reftoring credit between man and man, which is fo neceffary in a
tradinc' country -, but there is reafon to fuppofe, that a certain gentleman
had many friends among the fellers in thofe contra(fts, and very few
amono- the buyers, which was the reafon why the latter could obtain
little or no reliefer mercy, by any public law or regulation.
" Then, Sir, with regard to the extraordinary grants made to the
civil lifl-, the very reafon given by the Hon. Gentleman, for juftifying
thofe grants, is a ftrong reafon for an immediate enquiry. If thrre have
arifen any confiderable charges upon that revenue, let us fee what thofe
charges are; let us examine whether or no they were neceflary. We
have the more reafon to do this, becaufe the Revenue fettled upon hij
late Majtfty's Civil Lifl: was at leafl: as great as was fettled cither upon
King William or Qvieen Anne, and yet neither of them afl^ed any extra-
ordinary grant, but on the contrary, the latter gave out of her civil
lift revenue ioo,oool. yearly towards the fupport of the war ; and yec
there was as great hcfpitality in the Royal Palace during her time as ever
has been fince. Befides, there is a general rumour without doors, that
the civil lift is now greatly in arrear, which, if true, renders an enquiry
abfolutely neceflary; for it is inconfntent with the honour and dignity
of the crown of thefe kingdoms, to be in arrear to its tradefmen and
fervants ; and it is the duty of this Houfe, to take care that the revenue
which we -have fettled for fupporting the honour and dignity of our
Crown, fhall not be fquandcred or mifapplied. If former Parliaments
have faikd in this refped, they muft be blamed, though they cannot be
punilhed ; but we ought now to attone for their negledV, and we may
punifti thofe, if they cati be difcovered, who wtre the caufe of it.
" I ccme now in courfe to the Excifc Scheme, which the Hon. Gen-
tleman fays ought to be forgiven, becaufe it was eafily given up. Sir>
it was not eafily given up. The promoter of that fcheine did not eafily
give it up ; he gave it up with furrow, with tears in his eyes, when he
faw, and not till he faw it impoffible to carry it through the Houfe. Did
not
[ 43 1
not his majoritj' dccreafe every dlvifion ? It was almoft certain, that if C"*'* ^V.
he had puihed it any further, the majority would have turned agalaft 1741.
him. His forrow Ihewed his difappointment ; and his difappointment
fhewed, that his defign was higher than that of preventing frauds in the
Cuftoms. He was at that time as fenfible of the influence of excife law'
and cxcifemcn, with regard to eledions, and of the great occafion he
would have for that fort of influence at the next general eledion, which
was then approaching, that it is impoflible to fuppofe he had not that
influence in view; and if he had, it was a mofl: wicked attempt againft
our confliuition ; therefore he defervcd the treatment he met with from
ilie people. Perhaps there were none but what Gentlemen are pleafed to
call Mob concerned in burning him in effigy ; but as the mob confifts
chiefly in children, journeymen and fervants, who fpeak the fcntiments
of their parents and mafl:ers, we may thence judge of the fcntiments of
the better fort of people.
•' The Hon. Gentleman faid, thefe were all the meafures of a domef-
t'c nature that could be found fault with, becaufc none other were men-
lioned in this debate. Sir, he has already heard a reafon why no ether
wrong meafures fhould be particularly mentioned in this debate. If it
were necefl:ary, many others might be mentioned. Is not the keeping
up fo numerous an army in time of peace, to be found fault with ? Is
not the fitting out fo many expenfive fquadrons for no purpofe, to be
found fault with ? Are rot the encroachments made upon the finkin"
fund, the reviving the fait duty, the rejeding many ufeful bills and
motions in Parliament, and many other domeftic meafures, to be found
fault with? The weakncfs or wickednefs of thefe nieafures has been
often demonflrated. Their ill confcquences v\ere at the refpeclive times
foretold, and ihofe confcquences are now become vifible by our dlftrefs.
" Now, Sir with regard to the foreign meafur&s which the Hon.
Gtntkman has attempted tojuftify. The Treaty of Hanover dcfervei
indeed to be firft mentioned, becaufe from thence fprings the danger
which Europe is now expofed tO; and it is impofllbk to affign a rcafoji
jor our entering into that treaty, without fuppofing that we then rcfolvcd
to be revenged on the Emperor for rcfufing to grant us ll.me favour in
Germany. It is in vam now to infill upon the fecret engagements en-
tered into by the Courts of Vienna and Madrid, as the caufe of that
treaty. Time has fully fhewn, that there never were any luch engagc-
G a
iTiCnts,-
[ 44 i
CiTAP. IV. trents i and his Ute Majefty's fpeech from the Throne cannot here b-
admitted as any evidence of the faft. Every one knows, that in Parlia- .
mentthe King's Speech is always confidered as the Speech of the Mi-
nifier; and fjrely a Minifter is not to be allowed to bring his own fpeech
as an evidence of a fafl in his own juftification. If it be pretended,
that his late M^jefly had fome fort of information, that fuch engage-
ments had been entered into; that very pretence furnifnes an unanfwer-
able argument for an enquiry ; for as the information now appears to
have been groundlefs, wc ought to enquire into it ; becaufe, if it appears
''o be fuch information as ought not to have been believed, that Mi-
nifter ought to be puniflied who advifed his late Majefty to give credit
to ir, and who has precipitated the nation into the mofl pernicious
meafures, in confequence of it.
" At the time this treaty was entered into, we wanted nothing from
the Emperor upon our own account. The abolition of the Oflend
Company was a demand we had no right to make, nor was it efTcntially
our interefl: to infift upon it, becaufe that Company would have been
more prejudicial to the interefls of both the French and Dutch Eaft
India trades than to ours; and if it had been a point that concerned us
much, we might probably have gained it, by acceding to the Vienna
Treaty between the Emperor and Spain, or by guaranting the pragmatic
fanftion, which we afterwards did in the molt abfolute manner, without
any confideration at all. Wc wanted nothing from Spain but a depar-
ture from the pretence fhe had juft begun, or 1 believe hardly begun, to
fet up, in an exprefs manner, with regard to fearching and feizing our
fhips in the American Seas ; and this we did not obtain, or perhaps did
not dcfire to obtain, by the Treat)' of Seville. By that treaty we ob-
tained nothing; but we made another ftep towards bringing in that
danger which Europe is now involved in, by uniting the Courts of
France and Spain, and laying a foundation for a new breach between
the Courts of Spain and Vienna.
" I fhall grant, Sir, our minifters appear to have been fond and dili^
gent enough in negociating, and writing letters and memorials to the
Court of Spain; but by all I have looked into, it apjicars they never
rifrhtly underftood, or perhaps would not underftand, the point they
were negotiating about; and, as they fuffered themfelves robe amufed,
as they fay, with fair promifes, for ten years together, whilft in the mean
time
r 45 ]
time our merchants were plundered, and our trade interrupted, wc ou-^ht Ckap. IV.
to enquire into this affair; for if it Ihould appear they allowed themlelves ^^ ^ '
to be amufed with fuch anfwers, as no man of honour in fiich circum-
flances would have taken, nor any man of common fenfe been amufed
with, they muft have had fonie fecrct motive for allowing themlelves tu
be thus impofed uponj this fecrct motive we may perhaps difcovcr by
an enquiry ; and as it muft be a wicked one, if it can be dikovered,
they ought to be feverely punifned.
< " But, in excufe for their condu'fl, it is faid our minifters had a lauda-
ble fhynefs of involving their country in a war. Sir, This fhynefs could
not proceed from any regard to their country. It was involved in a war •
Spain was carrying on a war againft our trade, and that in the moft in-
fulting manner too, during the whole time of their negotiations. Ic
was this very fhynefs, or at Jeaft making the Court of Spain too fenfible
of it, that at laft made it abfoiutely neccflary for us to begin a war on
our fide. If they had at firft infifted properly and peremptorily upan an
explicit anfwer, Spain would have expreflly given up the pretence Ihe
had juft fet upj but by the long experience we allowed her fhe found
the fruits of that pretence fo plentiful and favory, that fhe thought them
worth rifking a war for $ and the damage we had fuftained became fo
confiderable, that it was worth contending for. Befides, the Court of
Spain was convinced that whilft we were under fuch an Adminiftration,
nothing could provoke us to begin the war on our fide ; or if we did it,
would be managed weakly and pufillanimoufly ; and have we not fincc
found, that they formed a rightjudgment? Nothing, Sir, ever demanded
more a Parliamentary enquiry than our condu(fl in the war. The only
branch of it we have enquired into, we have already ccnfured and con-
demned. Is not this a good rcafon for enquiring into every other
branch? dil'appoinrment and ill fuccefs have always, till now, occafioned
a Parliamentari Enquiry. Inadivity of itfeif is a fuflicient caufe for
an enquiry. We have now all thefe reafons concurring. Our admirals
abroad defire nothing mv. re; becaufe they are confcious, that our inac-
tivity and ill fuccefs would appear not to be owing to their conduft, but
to the conduift of thofe that fent them out.
" I cannot conclude. Sir, without taking notice of the two other
foreign meafures mentioned by the Hon. Gentleman. Our condud: in
the year 1734, with regard to the war between the Emperor and Francej
m;iy
[ 46 ]
Chap. IV. may be cafily accounted for, though not eafily cxcufed. Ever finceihe
*• '' ' ialt accclTion of our late ininifter to power, we feem to have had an en-
mity to the Houfe of Auftria. Our guaranty of the pragmatic fandlion
was an cflTcfl: of that enmicy, becauTe we entered into ii, when, as has fmce
appeared, we had no mind to perform our engagement ; and by that
falie o-uaranty induced the Eii'peror to admit the introduiflion of the
Spanilh troops into Italy, wiiich he would not o:herv/ifc have done.
The preparations we made in that year, the armies we raifed, and the
fleet wc fitted out, were not to guard againfl the event of the war abroad,
but againft the event of the enfuiag eleftion at hon-.e. The new CJm-
miffions, the promotions, and the money laid out in thefe preparationsj
were of excellent ufe at the time of a general election, and in fome mca-
fure attone for the lofs of the Excife Scheme ; but France and her allies
were well convinced, that we would in no event declare againfl: them
otherwife they would not have dared to attack the Emperor at that time ;
for Mufcovy, Pohnd, Germany and Britain would have been by much
an over-match ftr them. It was not our preparations that fct bounds to
the ambition of France, but her getting all fhe wanted at that time for
herfelf, and all Irie defired for her allies. Her own prudence directed
her, that it was not then a proper time to pufh her views further; be-
caufe Ihe did not know, but that the fpirit of this nation Height get the
better, as it has fince done with regard to Spain, of the fpirit of our Ad-
niiniflration ; and if this fhould have happened, the Houfe of Auftiia,
was then in fuch a condition, that our afTiftance, even though late,
would have been of efFeftual fervicc.
" I am furprized, Sir, to hear the Hon. Gentleman now fay, that
we gave up nothing, or got any thing by an infamous convifntion with
Spain. Did wc not give up the freedom of our trade and navigation,
by fubmitting it to be regulated by plenipotentiaries.^ Can freedom be
reo-ulated, without being confined, and confcqucntly in fome part dt-
rtroyed .> Did not we give up Georgia, or fome part of it, bv fubm-t-
ling to have new limits fettled by plenipotentiaries ? Di 1 vve not give
up all the reparation of honour we had fo juft a title to infill on ? Did
we not give up all reparation of the damage we had fuffered, amounting
to five or fix hundred thoufand pounds, for the paltry fum of twcnty-
kvcn thoufand pounds. For this was all that Spain promifed to pay, after
deducing the fixty-eight thoufand pounds, which we, by the declaration
annexed
[ 47 3
annexed to that treaty, allowed her to infift on having from our South Chap. IV.
Sea Company, under the penally of ftripping them of the Affiento Coa-
traft, and all the privileges they were thereby entitled to. Even t!iis
fum of twcnty-fcven thoufand pounds, or more, they had before ac-
knowledged to be due, on account of fhips they allowed to have been
unjuftly taken, and had aftually fent orders for their reftitution : fo that
by this infamous treaty we got nothing, and gave up every thing; and
. therefore, in my opinion, the honour of this nation can never be re-
trieved, unlefs the advifcrs and authors of it be cenfured and puniflied,
which cannot regularly be done without a Parliamentary Enquiry.
" By thefe and the like wicked, or weak and pufillanimous meafures,
we are become the ridicule of every Court in Europe, and have loft
the confidence of all our antient allies. By thefe we have encwuraocd
France to extend her ambitious views, and now at laft to attempt car-
rying them into execution. By bad oeconomy and extravagance in our
domedic meafures, we have brought ourfclvcs intofuch diftrefs at home,
that we are almoft utterly incapable of entering into a war. By weak-
nefs or wickednefs in our foreign meafures, we have brought the affairs
of Europe into fuch diftrefs, that it is almoft impoffible for us to avoid
entering into a war. By thefe means we have been brought upon a
dangerous precipice, on which we now find ourfelves; and (hall we truft
our being led fafely off to the fame guide who has led us on ? Sir, it
;s impoffible for him to lead us ofi"; it is impoffible for us to get off,
without firft recovering that confidence among our antient allies, which
this nation formerly ufcd to have. This we cannot do, as long as they
fuppofe that our councils are influenced by our late minfter ; and this
they will fuppofe as long as he has acccfs to the King's Clofer, and his
conduft remains unenquired into, and uncenfurcd. It is not, therefore
a rtvenge for paft fuffcrings, but a di fire to prevent future, that makes
me fo languinc for this enquiry. His punifliment, let it be ever fo
fevere, will be but a fmall attonement to his country for what is paft.
But his impunity will be the fource of many future miferics to Europe,
as well as to his native country. Let us be as merciful as we will, ns
any man can realbnably dcfire, when wee. me to pronounce fentcnce i
but fenttnce we muft pronounce; and for this purpofe we muft enquire,
unlefs wc are rcfolved to ficritice our own liberties, and the liberties of
Europe, to the prefcrvaii.-n of one guilty man."
'I he Houfe dividal. For tj-.e Motion 242— againft it, 244.
The
I74J.
[ 4§ ]
Chat. IV. "ji^q f^^Q ^f ^hls motioii vvas Called a confirmation of the
1742' veracity of the charge brought againft the new Miniflry, that
they had compounded for the fafety of the late Minifter. Mr.
Pultlney was extremely mortified at this mifcarriage. And as
foon as Mr. Sandys, and fome others, were returned from their
re-ele6lions, the motion was made again on the 23d of March
by Lord Limerick J but it was confined to only the la{\ Wn
years of the late Adminiftration. Mr. Pitt fpoke in fupport
of this motion, although altered to half the period. Plis-
fpeech on this occafion was in reply to Mr. George Cookr of
Harefield, who was jull: come into Parliament. He began with
laying,
" AS the Hon. Gentleman who fpoke I'aft againft the motion, has nor.
been long in the Houfe, one ought in charity to believe there is fonie
fincerity in the profelTions he makes, of his being ready to agree to a
Parliamentary Enquiry, when he fees caufe, and a convenient time for
it ; but if he knew how often thofe profefTions have btcn rr.ade by thofe,
•.\ho, on all occafions, have oppofed every kind of enquiry, he would
fave himfclf the trouble of making any fuch, bccaule they are believed
to be fincere by very few, widiin doors or without. He mny, it is true,
have no occafion upon his own account, to be afraid of an enquiry of
anvfort; but when a Gentleman has contraifled a friendfhip, or any of
his near relations have contradled a friendfhip for one, who may be
brought into danger by an enquiry, it is very natural to fuptiofc, that
fuch a Gentleman's oppofition to an enquiry does not proceed entirely
from motives of a public nature •, and il: that Gentleman follows the
advice of fome of his friends, I very much queflion if he will ever lee
cr-ufe, or a convenient time, for an enquiry into the late corduft of our
public affairs. As a Parliamentary Enquiry muft always be founded
upon fufpicions, as well as fadfs, or manifefl crimes, it will always
be eafy to find reafons or pretences for averring thofe fufpicions to be
groundlefs; and upon the principle that a Parliamentary Enquiry mufl
neceffarily lay open the fecrets of our government, no time can ever be
proper or convenient for fuch an enquiry, becaufe it is impofilble to
fuppofe
[ 49 ]
fuppofe a time when our government can have no fecrets of importance c„^p. iv.
to the nation. r iv/r- -n '"+-•
« This, Sir, would be a mod convenient doftrme for xMinilters,
becaufe it would put an end to all Parliamentary Enquiries into the
conduft of our public affairs; and therefore when I hear it urt;c;d, and
fo much infifted upon, by a certain fet of Gentlemen in this Houle, 1
muft fuppofe their hopes to be very cxtenfive. I muft luppofe them to
expeft that they and iheir pofterity will for ever contmue to be mmil-
ters which, if poffible, would be more fatal to it, than their having fo
long continued to be fo. But this do<5trine has been fo often contrad.ded
by experience, that I am furprized to hear Gentlemen infift upon it.
Even this very feflion has afforded us a convincing proof how little
foundation there is for faying that a Parliamentary Enquiry muft neccf-
farily difcover the fecrets of our Government. Surely, in a war with
Spain, which mufl be carried on chiefly by fea, if our Government have
any fecrets, the Lords of the Admiralty muft be intrufted with the moft
important of them ; yet we have in this very feffion, and without any
Secret Committees, made an enquiry into the condudl of the Lords
Commiffioncr* of our Admiralty. We have not only enquired into
their condud, but we have cenfured it in fuch a manner as hath put an
end to the fame Commiffioners being any longer entruftedwith that
branch of the public bufinefs. Has that enquiry difcovered any of the
fecrets of our Government ? On the contrary, the Committee found
they had no occafion to dive into any of the fecrets of Government.
They found caufe enough for cenfure without it ; and none of the Com-
miffioners pretended to juftify their conduit by papers, containing fe-
crets which ought not to be difcovered.
" This, Sir, is fo late, and fo ftrong a proof of there being no ne- ^■
ceffary connedion between a Parliamentary Enquiry and a difcovery of
fecrets which it behoves the nation to conceal, that I hope Gentlemen
will no longer infift upon this danger, as an argument againft the en-
quiry now propofcd, which of all others is the leaft liable to objedtion.
The firft Commiffioncr of the Treafury has nothing to do with the appli-
cation of fecret fervice money; He is only to take care, that it be regu-
larly iflued from his office, and that no more Ihall be iffued upon that
head, than according to the then conjundure of affairs, may leem to
bencceffuy. As to the particular application, it properly belongs to
Vou.L H the
[ 50 J
Ck/>p. IV
the Secretaries of State, or fuch other perfons as his Majefty fhall em-
'742' plo\' ; fo that we cannot fuppofe the enquiry propofed will difcover any
fecrcrs relating to the application of that money, unlefs the Noble Lord
has acled as Secretary of State as well as Firll Commiffioncr of the
Treafiiry ; or unlefs a great part of the money, drawn out for fecret fcr-
vices, has been delivered to himfelf, or to perfons employed by him,
and applied by him or them towards gaining a corrupt influence in
Parliament, or at elections. Both thefe, indeed, he is moft grievoufly
fufpectcd of, and both are fecrets which it behoves him very much to
have concealed ; but it equally behoves the nation to have them both
revealed. His country and he are, I grant, in this caufe, equally,
though oppofitcly, concerned ; for the fafety or ruin of one or the other
depends upon the fate of the queftion ; and, in my opinion, the vio-
lent oppofition made to this motion adds great ftrength to the fufpicion.
" I fhall admit, Sir, that the Noble Lord, whofe conduct is novv
propofed to be enquired into, was one of His Majefty's Moft Hon.
Privy Council, and that confcquently he muft have had a fhare at leafl:
in advifingall the meafureswe have purfucd, both abroad and at home ;
but I cannot admit, that therefore an enquiry into his conduct mure
neceffarily occafion a difcovery of any fecrets that may be of dangerous
confequence to the nation ; becaufc we are not to enquire into the mea-
fures themfelves, or into the wifdom and uprightnefs of them, and con.
fequently can have no call to look into any of the Government's fecrets
relating to them. This has nothing to do with an enquiry into his con-
duct ; but there are feveral fufpicions fpread abroad, relating to his
conduct as a Privy Counfellor, which, if true, would be of the Jaft im-
portance to the nation to have difcovcred. It has been ftrongly affcrted'
that he was not only a Privy Counfellor, but had ufurped the whole and
fole direction of his Majefty's Privy Council. It has been affertcd, that
he gave the Spanifli Court the firft hint of the unjuft claim they after-
wards fet up againft our South Sea Company, which was one of the-
chicf caufes of the war between the two nations. And it has been af-
fcrted, that this very Minifler has given advice to the French, what
meafures to take upon feveral occafions, in order to bring our Court
into their meafures; particularly, that he advifed them to fend the nu-
merous army they have this laft fummer fent into Weftphalia. What
truth there is in thefc affertioiis, I Ihall not pretend to anfwer. The
[ 5^ ]
facHis are of fuch a nature, and they muft have been perpetrated with lb Chap. ly,
much cauiion and fecrecy, that it will be difficult to bring them to ^TTT^*
light, even by a Parliamentary Enquiry; but the very fufpicion is
ground enough for fetting up fuch an enquiry, and for carrying iron
with the utmoft ftridnefs and vigour ; which leads me to confid^t the
caufe we now have for an enquiry.
" Upon this fuhjefti Sir, I muft fay I am a good deal furprized to
hear the Reprefentativcs of the People make fo light of the fentiment*
or fufpicions of the people. That there are fufpicions and complaints
among the people, and among the generality of the beft fort of people
IS, 'tis true, a faift we cannot eafily prove againft one that denies it, no
more than we could do, that the generality of our people are of a fair
or a brown complexion ; but if I fliould fay, that the majority of our
people are Whites, I could not prove what I aflerted ; and ) et I fliould
look upon him as a very whimfical or a very difingenuous Gentleman
that would deny it, and aflert the majority of our people were Blacka^
moors. Such fadls it is impoffible to prove any other way but by the
opinion of thofe who are the beft judges ; and furely a Country Gentle-
man who lives moft part of his time among the people, and has no
court favours to beftow as a temptation, for thofe he converfes with to
difguife their fentiments, is a better judge than one who feldom ftirs
out of the purlieus of a Court, and converfes with none but fuch as
expcfft places or preferment by his favour. Therefore if we judge of
this faft according to the only evidence that can be had, that is, accord-
ing to the opinion of thofe who are the beft judges, we muft conclude,
that the fufpicions and complaints of the people were never more general
than they are againft the late conduft of our public affairs ; and this
by me ftiall always be deemed a fufficicnt reafon for a Parliamentary
Enquiry.
" Whatever my opinion of paft meafures may be, I ftiall never be
fo vain, or bigotted to my own opinion as, without any enquiry, to
determine againft the majority of my countrymen. If I found the
public meafures generally condemned, let my private opinion of them
be never fo favourable, I (hould be for an enquiry, in order to convince
the people of their error, or at leaft to furnilh myfelf with the moft
authentic arguments for the opinion I have embraced. The defire oi
bringing other people Into our fentiments Is fo natural to mankind, that
^"^ 2 I fliall
[ 52 J
Cmai-, IV. I fl^iill always furpe>5t the candour of thoff, who, in politicks or religion,
' ^"' ~' are ao'ainil a free enquiry. BefiJes, Sir, when the complaints of the
17^2. ° . ... .
people are general againft an Adminiftration, or againft any particular
Miniftcr, an enquiry is a dut;' we owe to our Sovereign as well as the
pcopl:*. We meet here to comnninicate to cur Sovereign the ftntiments
of his people. We meet here to rcdrcfs the grievances of the people.
By performing our duty in thefc two refpeds, we fhall always be able to
cllablifh the throne of our Sovereign in the hearts of his people^ and
to prevent the people's being led into infurreftions or rebellions by mif-
rcprefentation-s or falfe furmifes. When the people complain, they
muft be in the right or in the wrong. If they are in the right, wc
are in duty bound to enquire into the conduft of the Miniflers, and
punifli thofe who fliall appear to have been the moft guilty. If the
people are in the wrong, we ought to enquire into the conduct of our
Minifters, in order to convince the people that they have been mifled.
We ought not therefore, in any qucftion about an enquiry, to be go-
verned by our own fentiments. We muft be governed by the fentimcnts
of our conftituents, if we are refolved to perform our duty, tither as
true reprefentatives of the people, or as faithful meflengf rs to our So-
vereio-n. I will agree with the Hon. Gentleman, that if we are con-
vinced or fufpect the public meafures to be wrong, ue ought to enquire
into them, even though they are not much complained of by the people
without doors; but I cannot agree with him in thinking,^that notwith-
ftandincT the Adminiftration, or a Minifler's being complained of by
the people in general without doors, we ought not to enquire into his
conduft, unlefs we are ourfelves convinced that his meafuns have been
wrong. Without an enquiry we can no more determine this queflioni
than a judge can declare a man innocent of any crime laid to his charge,
without a previous trial or inquifition. Comm^on fame is a fufficient
ground for an inquifition at common law ; and, for the fame reafon^
the general voice of the people of England ought always to be looked
on as a fufficient ground for a Parliamentary Enquiry.
" But, fay Gentlemen, What is this Minifter acculed of? What
crime is laid to his charge } For unlefs fome misfortune is faid to have
happened, or fome crime to have been committed, no enquiry ought
to be fet on foot. Sir, the ill pofture of our affairs, both abroad and
at home-, the melancholy fituation wc are in ; the diftrefs we are now
o reduced
C S^. )
reduced to, is of itfelf a fufficient caufe for an enquiry, even fuppofing Chap. IV.
he were accufcd of no particular crime or mifconduft. The nation lies "" ~
a bleeding, perhaps expiring. The balance of power has received a
deadly blow. Shall we acknowledge this to be the cafe, and fhall we
not enquire whether it has happened by mifchance, or by the mifcon-
dudb, perhaps the malice prejience, of our Miniftcr here at home. Be-
fore the Trcraty of Utrecht, it was the general opinijn, that in a few
years of peace we fliould be able to pay off moft of our debts. We
have now been very near thirty years in profound peace, at leaft we
have never been engaged in any war but what we unneceffarily brought
upon ourfelves, and yet our debts are near as great as they were when
that treaty was concluded. Is not this a misfortune, and fliall we make,
no enquiry how this misfortune has happened.
" I am furprizcd to hear ic faid, that no enquiry ouo-ht to be fet on
foot, unlefs feme public crime be known to have been committed
The fufpicion of any crime's having been adlually committed has al
ways been deemed a fufficient reafon for fetting up an enquiry. Is there
not a fufpicion that the public money has been applied towards o-ainino-
a corrupt influence at elections ? Is it not become a common exprefTion
to fay, '' The fioodgates of the Treafury are opened againft a General
Eledion r" I fhall defire no more than that every Gentleman who is
confcious of this having been done, either for or againft him would
give his vote in favour of this motion. Will any Gentleman fay this
is not a crime, when even private corruption has fuch high penalties
infiidted upon it by exprefs ftatute ? A Minifter that commits this
crime, and makes ufe of the public money for that purpofe, adds thiev-
ing and breach of truft to the crime of corruption ; and as the crime
when committed by him, is of much more dangerous confequence than
when committed by a private man, it becomes more properlv the ob.
jeft of a Parliamentary Enquiry, and ought to be more fevercly pu-
nilhed. The Hon. Gentleman may much more rcafonably tell us that
PoRTEUS was never murdered by the mob at Edinburgh, becaufe no
difcovery of his murderers could ever yet be made, notwlchftanding tlu-
high reward, as well as pardon offered ; than to tell us, we cannot fup^
pofe our Minifter ever, by himfelf or his agents, corrupted an cicaion',
becaufe no information has as 3'et been brought againft him; for no-
thing but a pardon on convicting the offender has ever yet been offered
ui
[ 54 ]
IV
in this cafe; and how could any informer expeft fiich a pardon, much
J7+-- lets a reward, when he knew the very man againfl; whom he was to in-
form had not only the diftribution of all public rewards, but the packing
of a jury or Parliament againfl: him ? Sir, Whilft fuch a Miniflier
preferves the favour of the Crown, and thereby the exercife of its
power, we can never expeft fuch an informat on. Even malice itfelf
can never provoke fuch an information ; becaufe, like all other forts of
impotent malice, it will rebound upon the heart that conceived it.
• " This fhews the infignificancy of the A61 mentioned by the Hon^
Gentlemen, with regard to that fort of corruption which is called Bri-
bery ; and with regard to the other fort of corruption, wliich confifts
in giving or taking away thofe pofts, penfions, or preferments which
depend upon the arbitrary will of the Crown, this Aft is ftill more
infignincant, becaufe it is not neceflary -, it would even be ridiculous m
a minifter to tell any man, that he gave or refufed hini a pofl', penfion
or preferment, on account of his voting for or againft any minifterial
meafure in. Parliament, or any nxinifterial candidate at an eleftion. If
he makes it his conftant rule never to give a poft, penfion or prefer-
ment but to thofe who vote for his meafures and his candidates, and
makes a few examples of difmiffing thofe who vote otherwife, it will
have the fame effeft as when he declares it openly. Will any Gentle-
man fay, that this has not been the pradice of the Miniflier whofe con-
duct is now propofed to be enquired into ? Has he not declared in
the face of this Houfe, that he will continue to make this his prac-
tice? And will not this have the fame effect as if he went feparately
and difl;inctly to every particular man, and told him in exprefs terms :
" Sir, If you vote for fuch a meafure, or fuch a candidate, you fliall
" have the firft prefennent in the gift of the Crown ; if you vote other.
" wife, you mull: not. expect to keep what you have." Gentlemen may
deny the fun fliines at noon-day ; but if they have any eyes, and do not
wilfully fhut them, or turn their backs towards him, I am fure no man
will believe they are ingenuous in what they fay ; and therefore I think
the Hon. Gentleman was in the right, who endeavoured to juft:ify this
practice. It was more candid than to deny it j but as his arguments
have been already fully anfwered, I (hall add nothing upon that fubjccr.
*' Gentlemen cry out. What ! Will you take from the Crown the
power of preferring or cafhiering the officers of our army? No, Sir.
This
I ss 1
This is neither the defign, nor will it be the effect of our agreeing to Chap- IV.
this motion. The King has at prefent an abfolute power of preferring i-^j.
or cafhiering the officers of our army. It is a prerogative he may make
ufe of, for the benefit or fafety of the public-, but, like other preroga-
tives, it may be made a wrong ufe of; and the Minifter is anfwerable
to Parliainent when it is. When an officer is preferred or caffiiered
upon the motive of his voting for or againfi: any court meafure or
candidate, it is a wrong ufe of this prerogative, for which the
Minillcr is anfwerable. We may judge from circumftances or out-
ward appearances. From thefe we may condemn; and I hope we
have ftlU a power to punilh any minifter that will dare to advife the
King to prefer or cafhier upon fuch a motive. Whether this prerocra-
tive ought to remain as it is without any limitation, Is a qucftion that
has nothing to do in this debate; but I mufi: obferve, that the aro-u-
ment made ufe of for it, might with equal weight be made ufe of foi"
giving our King an abfolute power over ever/ man's propercy ; for a
large property will always give the poflefTor a command over a o-reat
number of men, whom he may arm and dift-ipline if he pleafes. I
know of no law for reftraining it. I hope there never will be any fuch ;
and I vviffi our Gentlemen of Efcates would make more ufe of this
power than they do, becaufe it would contribute towards keepino- our
domeftic as v/ell as our foreign enemies in awe. For my part, I think
a Gentleman who has earned his commiffion by hisfervices, (in his mir
litary capacity I mean) or bought it with his money, has as much a
property in it as any man has in his eftate, and ought to -have it as weU
itcured by the laws of his country. Whilft it remains at the abfolute
will of the Crown, he muft be a flave to the Minifter, uniefs he lias
Tome other eflate to depend on ; and if the officers of our army lono-
continue in that ftate of flavery in whieh they are at prefent, I am
afraid it will make flaves of us all.
*■ The only method wc have for preventing this fatal confequence
as the law now (lands, is to make the bed and moil: conflant ufe of ths-
power we have, as Members of this Houfe, to prevent any Minifter'
daring to advife the King to make a bad ufe of his prerogative; and
as there is fuch a ftrong fufpicion that this Minifter has done fo, we-
ought certainly to enquire into it, not only for the fake of puniffiin^r
him, if guilty, but as a terror to all future Minifters.
" This,
'74^
[ 56 ]
Chap. IV. '' This, Sir, may tlicrefore be juftly reckoned among the many other
fufficient caufes for the enquiry propofed : and the fufpicion of the
Civil Lill's being greatly in debt is another; for if it is, it muft eithe^-
have been n^fapplied or profufely thrown away, which it is our duty
both to prevenE and punifh. It is inconffftent with the honour of this
nation to have our King (land indebted to his fervants or tradcfmen*
who may be ruined by a delay of payment. The Parliament has pro-
vided fufEciently for preventing this dillionour's being brought upon
the nation-, and if the provifion we have made (hould be mifapplied or
Javiflied, we muft fupply the deficiency ; we ought to do it, whether
the Kinw makes any application for that purpofe, or no ; and the reafon
h very plain, becaufe we ought firft to enquire into the management of
that revenue, and punifli thofe who have occafioned the deficiency. They
will certainly chufe to leave the creditors of the Crown and the honour of
the nation in aftate of fuffering, rather than advife the King to make an
application which will bring their conduct intoqueftion, and themfelves,
probably, to condign punifhment. Befide this, Sir, there is at prefent
another reafon ftill ftronger for promoting an enquiry. As there is a
o-reat fufpicion that the public money has been applied towards cor.
rupting voters at elections, and in Parliament, if the Civil Lift be in
debt, it gives reafon to prefume that fome part of this revenue has,
under the pretence of fecret fervice money, been applied to that wicked
purpofe.
" I (hall conclude, Sir, with a few remarks upon the laft argument
made ufe of againft the enquiry propofed. It has been faid, that the
Minifter delivered in his accounts annually ; that thofe accounts have
been annually paflTed and approved of by Parliament; and that there-
fore it would be unjuft to call him now to a general account, becaufe
the vouchers may now be loft, or marly expenfive tranfcdtions have
flipt out of his memory. *Tis true. Sir, eftimates and accounts have
been annually delivered in. The forms of proceeding made that ne-
ce(rary, but were any of thofe eftimates or accounts ever properly en_
quired into ? Were not all queftions for that purpofe rejeded by the
Minifter's friends in Parliament ? Has not the Parliament always taken
them upon truft, and pafTed them without examination ? Can fuch a
fuperficial pafling, to call it no worfe, be deemed a reafon for not calling
him to a new and general account ? If the fteward to an infant's
cftate
i74».
t S7 1
■eftate fiiould annually, for twenty years together, deliver in his accounts Chap. IV,
to the guardians ; and if the guardians through negligence, or for a
fhare of the plunder, lliould annually pafs his accounts without any
examination, or at lead without any objeftion ; would that be a rcafon
for faying, that it would be unjuft in the infant to call his fteward to an
account when he came of age? Efpecially if that fteward had built and
furnilhed fumptuous palaces, and had, during the whole time, lived at
a nnuch greater expence than his vifible income could afford, and yet
neverthelefs had amafled great riches. The public. Sir, is always in a
ftate of infancy ; therefore no prefcription can be pleaded againfl: it,
nor even a general releafe, if there appears the lead caufc to fufpeft
that it was furreptitioufly obtained. Public vouchers ought always to
remain upon record; nor ought there to be any public expence without
a proper voucher; therefore the cafe of the public is ftill ftronger than
that of any infant. Thus the Hon. Gentleman who made ufe of this
objeftion muft fee of how little avail it can be in the cafe now before
us; and confequently I hope, we ftiall have his concurrence in the
queftion.
This motion was indeed agreed to, and a Committee was
appointed j but the meafure was rendered abortive by a Parlia-
mentary manoeuvre. Several of the perfons brought before th^
Committee to be examined, refufed to anfwer, urging, that
by their anfwers they might poffibly criminate themfelves*
This obje6lion being reported to the Houfe, a Bill was imme-
diately brought in and pafled, to indemnify all perfons for the
difcovcriea they made before the Committee. When this Bill
came into the Houfe of Lords, Lord Carteret oppofed it
moft violently, and the Bill was thrown out. Some of the
minifterial party in the Houfe of Commons afFefled to be very
angry ; but all proceedings dropt. And the Earl of Ori ord
continued undifturbed during the remainder of his life.
Vol. T. I CHAP.
[ 58 3
C H A P. V.
LordCarterefs Afcendaniy in the Clofet— -Enters into the German
Meafures—'Takes the Hanoverian 'Troops into BritiJJj Fay-—
Mr. Pitt's Speech againft that Meafure — -Death of Lord Wil-
jningtoUy and Mr. Pelhams AcceJJion to the Treafury — Mr-
Pitt's Speech againd the Addrcfs, at the Commencement of the
Sejion, after the battle of Dettingen — Mr. Pitt's Speech againii'
voting Money for a Britifo Army to ferve in Flanders— The
ivhole Kingdom applauds his Oppofition in Parliament*— The
Diichefs Doivager cf Marlborough leaves him a handfome
".Legacy.
Cha?. V. y ORD Carteret, by adopting the politics of ihe clofet,
1742. -a-^ became a favourite in it. He entered warmly into the
Lord Carteret's •'
AJminiftiatiea. jneafures of the Continent, particularly thofe in I'upport of
the Houfe of Auftria againft France, for which purpofe he
took 16000 Hanoverian troops into Britifli Pay, and marched
them into the Low Countries. Upon the motion for granting
the money, for the payment of thefe troops on the loth of
December 1742, there was a long debate, in which Mr. Pitt
fpoke againft the motion, in reply to Mr. Henry Fox, at that
time Surveyor of the Board of Works, and afterwards Lord
HotLAND, who had fpoken for the motion :
Mi.piu'iSpeetK " If the Gcntlcmen, who have fpoke in funport of this motion,
H»inft the Hi- , , ' . , , ■ , . ^ , .'
n«vtii,iHTro»jit. are, as they pretend, determined to abandon their prelent fentimentsas
foon as any better meafures are propofed, the Miniftry will quickly be
deprived of their ableft defenders : for I think the meafures which have
hitherto been purfued, fo weak and pernicious, that fcarcely any altera-
tion can be propofed, that will not be for the advantage of the nation.
• .-..-... ■ " ^!They
i74«.
[ 59 }
' Chap. V.
" They have already been informed, there was no neceflity of hiring 'w.
auxiliary troops, fince it does not yet appear, that either juftice or policy
required us to engage in the quarrels of the Continent, that there was-
any need of forming an army in the Low Countries, or that in order to
form an army, auxiliaries were ncceffary.
" But not to dwell upon difputable queftions, I think it may be juftly
concluded, that the meafurcs of our miniftry have been ill concerted,
becaufe it is undoubtedly wrong to fquander the public money without
effedt, and to pay armies only to be a lliew to our friends, and a jeft to
our enemies.
" The troops of Hanover, whom we are now expedled to pay,
niarched into the Low Countries indeed, and ftill remain in the fame
places •, they marched to the place moft diftant from the enemy, leaft in
danger of an attack, and moft ftrongly fortified, if any attack had been
defigned ; nor have any claim to be paid, but that they left their own
country for a place of greater fecurity.
*' It is always reafonable to judge of the future by the pafl, and
therefore it is probable, that the fervices of thefe troops will not, next
year, be of equal importance with that for which they are now to be
paid : And I fhall not be furprized, though the opponents of the Mi-
niftry ftiould be challenged, after fuch another glorious campaign, to
propofe better men, and told, that the money of this nation cannot be
more properly employed than in hiring Hanoverians to eat and flecp.
" But to prove yet more particularly, that better meafures may be
taken, and that more ufeful troops may be retained, and that therefore
the Hon. Gentlemen may be expedted to quit thofe to whom they now
adhere, Ifliallfhew, that in hiring the forces of Hanover, we have ob-
flruftedour own defigns} that we have, inftead of affifting the Queen
of Hungary, withdrawn part of the allies from her, and that we have
burthened the nation with troops, from which no fervice can be reafon-
ably expefted.
" The advocates for the Miniftry have on this occafion affeded to
fpcakof the balance of power,' the pragmatic fandtion, and the prefer-
vation of the Queen of Hungary, not only as if they were to be the
"chief care of Great Britain, which, though eafily controvertible, might
perhaps, in compliance with long prejudices, be admitted; but as if
they were to be the care of Great Britain alone j as if the power of
I 2 France
1742.
[ 6o ]
Chap. V. France were formidable to no other people ; as if no other part ofthe
'world would be injured, by becoming a prey to an univerfal monar-
chv, and being fubjedled to an arbitrary government of a French De-
puty •, by being drained of its inhabitants, only to extend the con-
quefts of its matters, and to make other nations equally miferable; and
by being opprefled with exorbitant taxes, levied by military executions,
and employed only in fupporting the ftate of its oppreffors. They
dwell upon the importance of public faith^ aiid the neccffity of an
exa<fl obfervation of treaties, as if the pragmatic fandion had been
figned by no other Potentate than the King of Great Britain ; or as if
the public faith were to be obligatory to us only»
" That we fhould inviolably obferve our treaties, and obferve them,
though every other nation Ihould difregard them ; that wc fhould fliew
an example of fidelity to mankind, and ftand firm,, though we fliould
ftand alone, in the practice of virtue, I Ihall readily allow ; and there-
fore I am far from advifing, that we fliould recede from our ftipula.
tions, whatever we may fuffer by performifig, or negledl the fupport
of pragmatic fanfl;ion, however we may be at prefent embarrafTcd, oi
however inconvenient it may be to alTert it»
" But furely, that for the fame reafon we obferve our own ftipula-
tions, we ought to excite other powers likewife to the obfervation of
theirs ; or at leaft not to contribute to hinder it. But how is our prefcnc
condud agreeable to thefe principles ? The pragmatic fanfticn wa^
confirmed not only by the King of Great Britain, but by the Eledor
likewife of Hanover, who is therefore equally obliged, if treaties con-
ftitute obligation, to defend the Houfe of Auflria againfl the attacks of
any foreign power, and to fend in his proportion of troops to fupport
the Queen of Hungary.
" Whether thefe troops have been fent, thofe whofc province obliges
them to have fome knowledge with foreign affairs, can better inform the
Houfe than I ; but fince we have not heard them mentioned in this de-
bate, and have found by experience that none of the merits of that Elec-
torate are paffed over in filence, it may, I think, fairly be concluded^
that the diftrefles ofthe illuftrious Queen of Hungary have yet received
no alleviation from her alliance with Hanover j that her complaints have
moved no compaffion at that Court, nor the juftice of her caufe obtained
any regard.
" To
[ 6i 3
.' To what can be imputed this negligence of Treaties, this (Vifregard ,.2!t!U
©f iuaice, this defed of compaffion, but to the pernicious counfels of j74»-
thofe men who have advifed his Majefty to hire to Great Britain thofe
troops which he fiiould have employed in the afiiftance of the Queen of
Hungary ; for it is not to be imagined that his Majefty has more or lels
regard to juftice as King of Great Britain than as Elcflor of Hanover i
or that he would not have fent his proportion of troops to the Auftnan
arniy, had not the temptation of greater profit been indufttioufly laid
before him. , . ■, n. r?
" But this is not all that may be urged againftthis conduft: For caa
we ima-ine, that the power of France is lefs, or that her defigns are
lefs formidable to Hanover than to Great Britain ; nor is it lefs neceffary
for the fecurity of Hanover, that the Houfe of Auftria fhould be re-
Gftabliilied in its former grandeur,, and enabled to fupport the liberties
of Europe againft the bold attempts for univerfal monarchy.
« If therefore our affirtance be an ad of honefty, and granted, in.
confequence of treaties, why may it nor equally be required of Hano-
ver? And if it be an aft of generofity, why fhould this nation alone be
obliged to iaciifice her own intereft to that of others ? Or why fhould
the Eleftor of Hanover exert his liberality at the expence of Great
Britain ?. r , , ■ r -j ut
" It is now too apparent, that this great, this powerful, this formidable
kingdom, is confidered only as a province to a defpicable Eleftorate ;
and°that, in confequence of a fcheme formed long ago, and invariably
purfued, thefe troops are hired only to drain this unhappy nation of its
money. ' That they have hitherto been of no ufe to Great Britain or to
Auflria, is evident beyond controverfy ; and therefore it is plain, that
they are retained only for the purpofe of Hanover.
" How much reafon the tranfaftions of almoft every year have
given for fufpefting this ridiculous, ungrateful and perfidious partiality,
it is not neeefTary to mention. I doubt not but molt of thofe who fit in
this Houfe can recolledt a great number of inftances, from the purchalc
of part of the Swedlfli dominions, to the contraa: which we are now
called upon to ratify. I hope few have forgotten the memorable ftipu-
lation for the HefTian troops 5 for the forces of the Duke of Wolfem-
BUTTLE, which we were fcarcely to march beyond the verge of their own
country or th ever memorable treaty, of which the tendency is dif-
covered
- [ 62 ]
Chap. V. covered in the name*. The treaty by which we difunited ourfelves
"•■-"^"^^ ' from Auftria, deftroyed that building which we may perhaps now en~
deavour^ without fuccefs, to raife again; and weakened the only power
which it was our intereftto flrengthen,
" To dwell upon all the inftances of partiality which have been
ihewn ; to remark the yearly vifits that have been made to that delightful
country ; to reckon up all the fums that have been fpent to aggrandize
and enrich it, would be at once invidious and tirefome ; tirefome to thofe
who are afraid to hear the truth, and to thofe who are unvvfilling to
mention fadls difhonourable or injurious to their country. Nor lliall I
dwell any longer on this unpleafing fubjeft, than to exprefs my hopes,
that we fliall no more fuffer ourfelves to be deceived and opprelTed ;
that we fhall at length perform the duty of the Reprefentatives of the
people ; and, by refufing to ratify this contraft, fhew, that however th^
intereft of Hanover has been preferred by the Minifters, the Parliament
pays no regard but to that of Great Britain.
The motion was agreed to upon a divifion of_26o againft
193-
In July 1743, Lord Wilmington died, and Mr. Pelham
uthe MUift". fucceeded him at the Treafury, and Mr. Winnington fuc-
ceeded Mr. Pelham in the office of Paymafter, On the 22d
of December 1743, Mr. Sandys being created a peer, Mr^
Pelkam was made Chancellor of the Exchequer.
On the ifl- of December 1743 Parhament met. The King's
Speech recited the aftaiis of the Continent, which, from the
late battle at Dettingen, and other events, had engaged the
public attention. The ufual motion for an Addrefs, in anfwer
* In the debate upon the Hanover Treaty (Anno 1725) it was alleged by
Mr. Horatio Walpole, " That the Treaty between the Emperor and the
*' JCing of Spain might probably be cemented by a match between the eldeft
" daughter of the former (now Queen of Hungary) and the Infant Don
, " Carlos."
to
to the King's Speech, brought on a long debate, in which Mr. Chaf. v.
Pitt fpoke againft the motion i 'u/;^. "^"IT^jr^
« From what is now propofed, we may fee, that whatever change we v, p„. c ^
have got or may get, with refpeft to foreign meafures, by the late change l^^^^^ ">' ^'''
in our Adminiftration, the nation is to expeft no change with refpeft to
our domeflic affairs. In foreign affairs I fhall grant we have felt a very
remarkable change. From one extreme, our Adminiftration have quite
run to the verge of another. Our former Minifter betrayed the intereft
of his country by his pufillanirnity ; cur prcfent Minifter (meaning
Lord Carterit) facrificcs it by his Quixotifm, Our former Minifter
was for negotiating with all the World ; ourprefent is for fighting ao-ainft:
all the World. Our former Mir.ilter was for agreeing to every treatvj
though never fo didionourable ; our prefent will give ear to no treaty,
though never fo reafonablc. Thus both appear to be extravagant, but
with this diiference, that by the extravagance of our prefent, the na.
tion will be put to a much greater charge than ever it was by the extra-
vagance of our former.
'« It muft therefore be allowed. Sir, that by a change of a few men
in our Adminiftration, we have got a change of meafures, fo far as re-
lates to foreign affairs ; but with refpeil to our domeftic affairs, we have
met with no change in our meafures ; we can now, I think, expect
none. The fame fcreening, the fame plundering, the fame prodigal
fj)irit prevails. The fame criminal complaifance, we may depend on
it, the fame corrupt, extravagant tnd dangerous meafures will be made-
ufeof. They have, I am convinced, been already practifcd; otherwife
no Minifter would expect, that a Britifli Houfe of Commons would
cram their addrefs to their Sovereign, with fo many fulfome paneovrics
upon the conduct of his Minifters. I fay. Sir, no minifter would expec c
fuvjh complaifance;. for I hope the Hon. Gentleman who made the
motion will excufe me, if I fuppofe it was put into his hands by the
Minifter; and if he thinks he has acquired honour by making fuch a
motion, I promife him I ftiall never envy him the acquifiticn.
" The Hon. Gentleman who fpoke laft was In the right, when he
fa-id, in the beginning of the fcffion we could know nothing in a Parlia-
mentary way of the meafures that had been purfucd. I believe we ftiali
know as little in that way at the end of the fcffion r.s we do at the begin-
ning ^
J745
[ 64 ]
Chap. V. "'^"g» ^of ^ *'^ perfuaded our new Minifter will In this, as well as in
every other ftep of his domeftic condud, follow the example of his
prideceflbr, by getting a negative put upon every motion that may-
tend towards our acquiring any Parliamentary Knowledge of our late
raeafures. But if we have no knowledge of them, furely it is as (trong
an argument for our not approving, as it can be for our not anfwering ;
and if nothing relating to our late meafures had been propofed to be
inferred in our Addrefs upon this occafion, I ftiould not have taken the
leaft notice of them j but whether I have any Parliamentary Knowledge
or no, when an approbation is propofed, it lays me under a neceflity to
make ufc of the knowledge I have, whatever it may be, in order to
determine whether 1 am to join or not in the approbation propofed. Sup-
pofe I had no knowledge of any of our late meafures but what I have
gathered from foreign and domeftic newfpapers, even that knowledge
I muft make ufe of when I am obliged to give my opinion of themj
and if from that knowledge I think them wrong, I ought furely to rc-
fufe joining in any thing that may look like an approbation. Nay,
this refufal I ought to perfift in, till the Minifter be pleafed to furnifh
me with fuch Parliamentary Knowledge as may convince me that I
have been mifinformed. This, I fay, ought certainly to be my con-
duft, when, from the knowledge I have, I find more reafon to con-
demn than approve of any late meafurc ; but fuppofe that from the
knowledge I have, I find more reafon to approve than condemn ; yet
even in that cafe I ought not to approve, unlefs my knowledge be fuch
as may authorize that approbation ; and as no fort of knowledge but
a Parliamentary knowledge can warrant a Parliamentary Approbation^
for this reafon alone I ought to refufe it ; fo that if what is now pro-
pofed contains any fort of approbation, our refufing to agree to it, is
not a cenfure upon any paft meafure ; it is only a declaration, that wc
have not fuch a knowledge of paft meafures, as may be a fufficicnt-
foundation for our approving them in a Parliamentary Way ; which is
a declaration none but thofe who are admitted into the inmoft receffe*
of the Cabinet can refufe to make; and as we have not now, I believe*
any fuch in this Houfe, therefore every Gentleman here ought tojoin
in fuch a declaration, by giving his negative to this propofition now
before us, if it be fuch an one aj containi an approbation of our late
meafures
[ 65 ]
meafures ; and that it is fo, no Gentleman who attends to the words of c„;,,. y,
>743-
it, can make the lead doubt of.
'" Sir, It is not only an approbation of all that our Minifters have
advifed,' but an acknowledgement of the truth of feveral fads, which,
upon enquiry, mav appear to be falfe ; or at Icaft they are fuch as we
have feea no proof of, nor have any proper authority to aflfert. Sup-
pofe it (hould appear, that his Majefty was expofed to few or no dan-
gers abroad, but what he is daily expofed to at home, fuch as the over-
turning of his coach or the ftumbling of his horfe, would not the Ad-
drefs propofed be an affront and an infult upon our Sovereign, inftead
of being a compliment ? Suppofe it fhould appear, that our M:nifters
have Ihewn no regard to the advice of Parliament, and that they have
exerted their endeavours, not for the prefervation of the Houfe of
Auftria, but for involving that Houfe in dangers which it might other-
wife have avoided, and which, I believe, it will hardly be poffible for
us to avert; fuppofe it fhould appear, that though a body of Dutch
troops marched to the Rhine, they never joined our army j fuppofe it
ihould appear, that the Treaty with Sardinia is not yet ratified by all
the parties concerned, or that it is fuch a one as cannot be performed.
If thefe things fliould appear upon an enquiry, would not luch an Ad-
drcfs as this appear very ridiculous ? What aflurance have we that all
thefe fafts may not appear to be as I have fuppofed ? For as the King's
Speech from the Throne is always, in this Houfe, confidered as the
Speech of the Minifter, it cin never be allowed to be a proof upon
which wc ought to found any refolution.
" What I have faid. Sir, will fliew, that even though we had reafon
to conclude from fuch knowledge as we may have accidentally acquiad,
that all our late meafures were right, and that all the fads to be men-
tioned in our Addrefs were exaftly true, yet we ought not to exprefj
any fort of approbation, bccaufe we have as yet no Parliamentary Know,
ledge that can authorize a Parliamentary Approbation. But when the
contrary happens to be the cafe; when we have great reafon to con-
clude from every fort of knowledge we have hitherto acquired, that
our late meafures were fundamentally wrong ; that fads have been mif-
reprefented to us-, and that we may, very probably, have reafon to
condole what we are now defired to congratulate, how cautious ought
wc to be of faying any tiling in our Addrefs that may look like an ap-
VoL. I. K probation
[ 66 J
Chap. V. probation either of the meafures or the methods that have been taken
' "^ ' to profecute them.
" In order to fhcvv, St, that this is really the cafe, I muft begin
with the turn which the affairs of Europe took upon the death of the
late Emperor. Upon that emergency I fliail grant, that it was the
interefl of this nation to have had the Queen of Hungary eftabliflied
in the poflefTion of her father's dominion*, and her Hufband, the Duke
of Lorrain, chofen Emperor. This was our intereft, becaufe it would
have been the bell fecurity for the prefervation of the balance of
power ; but this was our only intereft, and it was an intereft we had
in common with all the powers of Europe, except France, We were
not therefore to take upon us the fole fupport of this intereft; and there-
fore, when the King of PrufTia attacked Silefia and the King of Spain,
the King of Poland and the Duke of Bavaria laid claim t) the late Em-
peror'i fucceffion ; we might then have feen that the eftablifhment of
the Queen of Hungary in all her father's dominions was become im-
poffiblc, efpecially as the Dutch refuted to interfere any other way than
by good offices. What then ought we to have done ? Since we could
not preferve the whole, is it not evident that, in order to engags foaie
of the claimants on our fide, we ought to have advifed her to yield up
a part ? This we ought to have infifted on, and the claimant whom we
ought firft to have thought of taking oiF was the King of Pruffia -, both
becaufe his claim v;as the fmalleft, and becaufe he was one of the moft
ntutral, as well as one of the moft powciful allies we could treat with.
For this reafon we cught c.rta'nl) to have advifed the Queen of Hun-
<rary to have accepted of the terms offered by the King of Pruffia when
he firft invaded Silefia. Nay, we ought to have infifted on ir, as the
condition of our affifling her againft any of the other claimants. Jf
we had done this, the Court of Vienna muft and would have agreed
to it; and in this cafe, whatever proteftations the other claimants might
have made, the Queen of Hungary would, to this day I believe, have
remained the undifturbed polTcffor of all the reft of her father's domi-
nions ; and her hufband, the Duke of Lorrain, would now have been
in poffeffion of the Imperial Throne.
" Did we at that time purfue this falutary meafure ? No, Sir, the
contrary appears not only from our Gazettes, but from our Parliamen.
tary Knowledge; for from the papers that have been, either accidentally
or
[ 6/ ]
or neceflTarily laid before Parliament, it appears, that inflead of infifting Chap^V.
upon the Court of Vienna agreeing to the terms offered by Prullia, we 1743.
rather encouraged them in their obftinac}', not only by our m;fnnrials,
but by his Majefty's Speech to his Parliament, the Addreflcs of both
Houfcs thereupon, and by flaming fpeeches made by our courtiers again ft
the King of Pruflla. What I mean, is his MajoRy's Speech on the 8rh
of April 1 741 ; the famous Addrcffes made upon that occafijn for gua-
rantying the dominions of Hanover, and the grant of 300,000!. for
enabling his Majefty to fupport the Queen of Hungary. Every one
muft remember the flaming fpeeches made upon that occafion by fomc
favourites at Court againfl: the King of Pruffia; and every one mufl:
remember, that the Queen of Hungary was not then, nor for fome
months after, attacked by any one Prince in Europe, except the Kin*
of Pruflia ; therefore the Court of Vienna could not but fuppofe that
both the Court and Nation of Great Britain were refolved to fupport
her, not only againfl: the King of Pruffia, but contra omnes mortaks ■
and confequcntly we have no reafon to be furprized at that Court's
fliewing an unwiUingnefs to part with fuch a plentiful country as thofe
Lordfliips of Silefia claimed by the King of Pruffia.
« This I fay, Sir, was fufficlent to confirm the Qutren of Hungary
in her obftinacv ; but this was not all. We had not only promifcd°her
our affiftance againfl: the King of Pruffia, but wc had adually begun
a negotiation for a powerful alliance againfl that Prince, and for par.
celling out his dominions amongft the allies. We had folicired not
only the Qiieen of Hungary, but alfo the Dutch and Mufcovites to
enter into this alliance ; and we had been at theexpence to take both
Danes and the Hcffians into the pay of Great Britain, for the ufe of
this alliance. Nay, even Hanover put itfelf to a great expence upon
ths occafion, by making an augmentation of near one third to the army
it had on foot, which I believe was the firft extraordinary expence it
was put to fince its happy ronjunftion with England, notwithflandinK
the great acqu^fitions it has fince made, and the many cxpenfivc broils
England has been involved in upon the fyle account of that Eledo-
rate. Therefore, if the Qoecn of Hungary fliewed any thing lij-g
obflinacy with regard to the claims of Pruflia, we may eafilv perceive
at whofe door that obflinacy ought to be laid ; and to them onlv the
misfortunes which afterwards befel that Pnnccfs ought mcfl juflly to
^^ be
[ 63 ]
l-c imputed. Vvhilil the French feemed refolved not to interfere in
the oft'.iirs of Germany, it was eafy to proraife her our afTiftance. It
was (life to engage in icherr.es that might contribute to her lupport ft^
wtU as to the enlargement of the dominions of Hanover, bccaiife
Prufiii was certainly not an equal match for the Queen of Huugary
«lone, and much lefs for the Queen of Hungar)- fupported by Hano-
ver and the whole power of Great Britain. During this pofture of
affairs, I hiy, it was fafe for us, that is to fay it was fafe for Hanover*
to proin'fe, and to concert Ichemes for the fupport of the Qiieen o
Hungary; but as foon as France bcgnn to appear, our fchemes wer^
all dropt, and our promifes forgot, becaufe it began then to be unfafe
fer Hanover to engage in the affair, and England furely is never to
mind any promifes, or engage in any fcheme?, that may poffibly bring
Hanover into any danger or dillrd's.
" From this time. Sir, we thought no more of affifting the Queen
of Hungary, except by ihcfe grants which were m.Tde to her by Par-
liament. Thefe indeed our Minifters did not oppofe, bicaufe they are
furc of making, feme way or other, a job of every grant made by
Parliament: but from the ufe that was made, or raiher the no ufe
tliat was made, of the Danifli and Heffian troops, notwithftanding
their being continued in Britifli pay, and frr m the infult tamely fuf-
fered by our fquadr^n in the Mediterranean, we cannot conclude that
our Miniftcrs, from the time the French begrn to interfere, refolved'
and were perhaps afterwards enga<^ed, to give the Queen of Hungary
no affiftance either by fea or land. Thus, after having led that Prin-
cefs upon the ice by our promifes, we lett hrr there to fhift for her-
fclf ; by which means the Duke of Bavaria came to be cholen Emperor,
and the Houfe of Auftria was Gripped of a great part of its dominions
and in the utP.:oft danger of being ffript of all, if Prance had inclined,
it fhould have been io •, but this was what faved the Houfe of Auftri;^
France had a mind to have the power of chat Houfe reduced, but had
no mind to fee it ablb'utely ruined ; becaufe t!;c pcwer of the Duke
of Bavaria, then Emperor, would have been railed to a hi_jur pitch
than was coufiftent with the French fcheme, which was to make the
Princes of Germany ruin one another as much as p> ffib'e, and then to
make fuch a partition as fhould render the Houfes of Bavaria, Aulhia,
Saxony and Pruffia, pretty near equal; in which cafe it is highly pro-
bable.
( 69 )
bable, and the French have not fince fcrupled to fay, that the King Chat.V.
of Pruflia's flr.re would not have been ib large as it has been fince ^.^^^
made.
" This prevented the French from fending fuch a powerful army
into Germany as they might have done; and by the bad conduft of the
generals they fent there, and the good conduft of the Queen of Hun-
gary's generals, together with the bravery of her troops, her affairs in
Germany took a new turn juft about the time of the late change in our
Adminiftration ; which brings me to the origin of the meafures that
are now carrying on; and therefore I muft confider the pofture of the
r.ffairs of Europe at that particular time, that is in February 1742.
But before I begin I muft lay this down as a maxim, which this nation
ought always to obferve, that though it be our intereft to preferve a
balance of power in Europe, yet, as we are the mofl: remote trom
danger, we ought always to be the leaft fufceptible of jealoufy, and
the laft to take the alarm; and with regard to the balance of power,
I muft obferve, that this balance may be fupported, either by having
one fingle Potentate capable of oppofing and defeating any ambitious
defign of France, or by having a well connedled confederacy fufficient
for the fame purpofe. Of thefe two I fhall grant, that the firft is the
moft eligible, when it can be had, becaufe it may be m.o£l; fecurtly de-
pended on ; but vvhen this cannot be had, the whole addrefs of our
minifters and negociators ought to be employed in eftablifliing the
fecond.
" The wifJora of mv firft maxim, Sir, muft be acknowledged by
every one who confiders, that when the powers upon the Continent
apply to us to ioin with them in a war again ft France, we may take
v/hat ftiare and what fort of ftiare in the war we think fit; whereas,
when we apply to them, they will prcfcribe to us in both; and what-
ever art fome gentleman may make ufc of to frighten themfelvcs, or to
frighten others, when it fcrves ihtir purpofe, v^ith the dependency of
all the powers of Europe upon France, we may reft fecure, that as
often as they are in any real danger of being brought under fuch a
dependency, they will unite among thenif Ives to prevent it, and will
call upon us for afliftance; nay, if they fliou'd be imperceptibly brought
under fuch a dependency, they would as foon as they jierceived it,
unite amongft themfclvts, and call upon us to join with them, in a
confe-
[ 70 J
V
confederacy againfl. France, in order to enable ihem to fliake off that
dependency ; fo that we can never be obliged to (land fingle and alone,
in fupporting the balance of power, nor fhall we ever have occafion to
call upon our neighbours on the Continent to join with us for fuch a
purpofe, unlefs when cur Minifters, for fome bye-ends of their own,
pretend dangers which have no real foundation ; for Europe is now in
a very difierent fituation from what it was in the time of the Romans.
Every country then was divided into fo many fovereignties, that it was
impoffible for the people of any one country to unite among ihtmfelves,
and much more for two or three large countries to unite in a general
confederacy againft the overgrown power of the Romans ; whereas
this is now prafticable, and always may be praiflifed as often as France,
or any other power in Europe, difcovers a real defign to enilave the
reft.
*' This brings me, Sir, to what I have already obferved, that the
balance of power in Europe may be preferved by a confederacy, al-
moft as fecurely as it can be by fetting up any one power as a rival to
the power of France. And now let me examine, which of thefe two
methods we ought to have thought on in February 1742. The Im-
perial Diadem was then gone from the Houfe of Auftria; and though
the Oaeen of Hungary's troops had met with fume fuccefs in the Win-
ter, fhe was ftill ftript of a great part of the Auftrian dominions-, fo
that the power of the Houfe was much inferior to what it was at the
time of the late Emperor's death, and flill more inferior to what it was
in the year 17 16, when we thought it neceffary to add Naples and
Sicily to its former acquifitions, in order to make it a match for the
power of France. Befide this, there was then a mofb powerful confe-
deracy againft that Houfe, and no jealoufy fubfifting againft the powers
of Europe of the ambitious defigns of France; for though that Court
had alTifted in pulling down the Houfe of Auftria, they had difcovered
no defign of cncreafing their own power or dominions ; but on the
other hand, by the haughty behaviour of the Court of Vienna, and the
height that Houfe had been raifed to, a jealoufy had arifen amongft
the Princes of Germany, of the overgrown power of that Houle •
which jealoufy had firft manifefted itfelf in the Houfe of Hanover, and
was at this very time fubfifting not only in the Houfe of Hanover, but
alfo in moft of the Sovereign Houfes of Germany. In thefe circum-
(lanccs
[ 7^ ]
fiances it was impofTible for our Minifters, however wrong-head jd we
may fuppofe them, to think of reftoring the Houfe of Auftria to its
former grandeur and power, or of fetting that Houfe up again as a
match for the power of France ; becaufe in fuch a fcheme, they mud
have feen that they would not be cordially affifted by any power in
Europe, and that they would be oppofed, not only by France and
Spain, but by all the Princes of Germany and Italy who were jealous
of the power of the Houfe of Auftria.
" In thefe circumftances, what was this nation to do? What ous;ht
our Miniftcrs to have done ? Since it was impoffible to eftablifh the
balance of power in Europe upon the fingle power of the Houfe of
Auftria, furcly. Sir, it was our bufinefs to think of reftoring the peace
of Germany as foon as poffible, by our good offices, in order thereby
to eftablifli a confederacy fufficient for oppofing France, in cafe that
Court fhoulJ afterwards difcover any ambitious views. It was not novv
fo much our bufinefs to prevent the IcfTening of the power of the Houfe
of Auftria, as ic was our bufinefs to bring about a fpeedy reconciliation
among the Princes of Germany, and to take care that France fliould
get as little by the Treaty of Peace, as fhe faid fhe expe£led by the
War. This, I fiy, ought to have been our chief concern, becaufe the
prefcrvat on of the balance of power was now no longer to depend
upon the fole power of the Houfe of Auftria, but upon the joint power
of a confederacy then to be formed; and till the Ptinces of Germany
were reconciled among themfelves, there was fcarcely a poftibility of
forming fuch a confederacy. If we had made this our fcheme the
Dutch would have joined heartily in it. The Germanic body would
have joined in it; and the peace of Germany might have been reftorcii
wichouc putting this nation to any expence, or diverting us from the
p ofccation of our juft and necefiary war againft Spain, in cafe our
differences with that nation could not have been adjufted by the Treaty
for reftoring the peace of Germany. But our new Minifter, as I have
faid, ran into an extreme quite oppofite to that oftheold. Our former
Minifter thought of notr.ing but negotiating when he ought to have
thought of nothing but war •, and this Minifter thought of nothing but
war, or at leaft the refemblance of it, when he ought to have thought;
of nothing but negotiation. A refolurion was taken, and preparations
were made, fcr fending a body of our troops to Flanders, even before
wc
L 72 ]
we bed any hopes of the King of Pruffia's dcfeiting his alliance with
France, and without our being called on to do io by any one power
in Europe : I fay, Sir, by any one power in Europe ; for I defy our
Minifters to fliew, thit even the Queen of Hungary defired any fuch
thing before it was refolvedon. I believe foine of her Miniftcrs were
free enough to declare, that the money thofe troops coft would have
done her much more fervice ; and I am fure, we were fo far from being
called on by the Dutch to do fo, that it was refolved on without their
participitation, and the meafures carried into execution, I believe, ex-
prefsly contrary to their advice.
" This Refolution, Sir, was fo far from having any influence on the
King of Pruffia, that he continued firm to his alliance with France,
and fought the battle of Crotflca, after he knew it was taken; and if
he had continued firm in the fame fentimen ts, I am very fure our troops
neither would nor could have been of the leaf! fervice to the Queen of
Hungary; but the battle of Crotflca fully convinced him, that the
French defigncd chieflv to play one German Prince againft another, in
order to weaken both ; and perhaps he had before then difcovered, that,
according to the French fcheme, his Ihare of Silefia was not to be fo
confiderable as he expected. Thefe confiderations, and not the elo-
quence or addrefs of any of our Minifters, inclined him to come to an
agreement with the Queen of Hungary ; and as flie was now convinced,
that fhe could not depend upon our promifes, Ihe readily agreed to his
terms, though his demands were now much more extravagant than they
were at firft; and what is worfe, they were now unaccompanied with
any one promife or confideration, except that of a neutrality; whereas
his firft demands were made palatable, by the tender of a large fum of
monev, and by the promife of his utmofl affiftance, not only in fupport-
ing the Pragmatic Sandion, but in raifing her hufband, the Duke of
Lorrain, to the Imperial Throne. Nay, he even infinuated, that he
would embrace the firft opportunity to affift in procuring her Hoiife
an equivalent for whatever part of Silefia (hefliould yield up to him.
" This accommodation between the Queen of Hungary and the
Kino- of Pruffia, and that which foon after followed baween her and
the Duke of Saxony, produced a very great alteration in the affairs of
Europe ; but as they promifed nothing but a neutralitv , and as the
Dutch abfolutcly refufed to join, either with the Queen of Hungary or
us.
[ 73 ]
us, in any offenlive meafures againfl: France, it was ftlll impoffible for
us to think of reftoring the Houfe of Auftria to fuch power, as to ren-
der it a match for the power of France i therefore we ought ftill to
have thought of nothing but negotiation, in order to reftore the peace
of Germany, by an accommodation between her and the Emperor;
and the diftrefles which the Bavarian and French armies in Germany
were drove to, furnifhed us with fuch an opportunity, as we ought
by all means to have embraced, and to have infilled on the Queen of
Hungary's doing the fame, under the pain of being entirely deferted
by us. A peace was offered both by the Emperor and the French, upon
the moderate terms of Uti Pojftdetis, with refpe6t to Germany j but
for what reafon I cannot comprehend, we were fo far from advifing the
Qiieen of Hungary to accept, that I believe we advifedher not to ac-
cept of the terms offered.
" This, Sir, was a conduft in our Miniflers fo very extraordinary,
fo diredlly oppofite to the intereft of this nation, and the fecurity of the
balance of power, that I can fuggeft to myfelf no one reafon for it,
but their being refolved to put this nation to the expence of maintain-
ing 16,000 Hanoverians; and this, I am afraid, was the true motive
our new Minifters had at firft for all the warlike meafures they refolved
on. Nothing will now fatisfy us but a conquefl of Alface and Lorrain, in
order to give them to the Queen of Hungary, as an equivalent for what
flie had loft; and this we refolved on, or at leaft pretended to refolveon,
at a time when France and Pruflia were in clofe conjunftion ; at a time
when no one of the powers of Europe could affift us ; at a time when none
of them entertained anyjealoufy of the ambitious defigns of Frajice ;
and at a time when moft of the Princes of Germany entertained fuch a
jealoufyof the power of the Houfe of Auftria, that we had great reafon
to apprehend the whole Germanic Body-, at leaft the moft confiderable
Princes of Germany, joining againft us. In cafe -we ftiould meet with
any fuccefs.
Sir, If our Minifters were really ferious in this fcheme,it was one
of the moft romant c that ever entered into the head of any Englifli
Don Quixote; and If they made this only a pretence for putting this
nation to the expence of maintair.ing 16,000 Hsnoverians, or of ac,
quiring fome new territory for the Eleftorace of Hanover, I am fore
no Bricilh Houfe of Commons ought to approve of their con du(5t.
Vol. I. L « Ic
f 74 ]
«' It is ridiculous to fay, Sir, that we could not advife the Qu«en of
Huno'ary to accept of the terms offered by the Emperor and France,
when their troops were cooped up in the city of Prague, becaufe tliela
terms were offered with a view only to get their troops at liberty, and
to take the firft opportunity to attack her with more vigour. This, I
fay, is ridiculous, becaufe if fhe had accepted of the terms offered}
fhe might have had them guarantied by the Dutch, by the Germanic
Body, and by all the powerful Princes of Germany, wh'ch would have
brought all thefe powers into a confederacy wirh us agair;ft the Emperor
and France, if they had afterwards attacked her in Germany; and all
of them, but efpecially the Dutch and the King of PruQia, would
have been ready to have joined us, if the French had attacked her in
Flanders, It is equally ridiculous to fav, that (he could not accept of
thefe terms, becaufe they contained nothing for the fecurity of her do-
minions in Italy ; for fuppofe the war had continued in Italy, if the
Queen of Hungary had been fafe upon the fide of Germany, fhe could
have poured in fuch a number of troops into Italy, as would have been
fufficient for oppofing and defeating all the armies that both the French
and Spaniards could have fent to, and maintained in that country, fince
we could, by our fuperior fquadrons, have made it impoffible for the
French and Spaniards to maintain great armies in that country.
" No reafon can therefore be affigned for the Qiieen of Hungary's
refufing the terms offered her for reftoring the tranquility of Germany,
but this alone, that we had promifed to affift her fo efftftually as to
enable her to conquer a part of France, by way of equivalent for what
fhe had loft in Germany and Italy; and fuch an afliftance as is neither
our intereft, nor in our power to give, as the circumftances of Europe
ftand at prefent. I am really furprized how the Queen of Hungary
came to trufl a fecond time to our promifes ; for I may venture to pro-
phecy, that fhe will find herfelf a fecond time deceived. We lliall
only put ourfelves to a vaft needlefs expence, as we did when fhe was
firfl attacked by Pruflia, and may give France a pretence for conquer-
ing Flanders, without raifing any jealoufy in the other powers of Eu-
rope, which otherwife fhe would not have done ; or we may bring the
Queen of Hungary a fecond time to the verge of dellruftion, and leave
her there; for that we certainly fhall do, as foon as Hanover comes to
be a fecond time in danger. From all which I mufl conclude, that our
prcfcnt
[ 7S ]
prefent fclieme of politics is fundamentally wrong, and that the longer
we continue to build upon fuch a foundation, the more dangerous it will
be for us. The whale fabric mull: crulh this unfortunate nation in its
ruins.
" But now. Sir, let us fee how we have profccuted this fcheme, bad,
as it is, during tnelaft campaign. As this nation muft bear the chiif
part of the expence, it was certainly our bufinefs to profecute the war
with all pofTible vigour, to come to aftion as foon as pofllble, and to
pulh every advantage to the utmoft. Since we foon found we could not
attack the French upon the fide of Flanders, why were our troops fo
long marching into Germany? Or indeed I fhould afk, why our army
was not firfl; aflembled in that country ? Why did they continue fo
long inadtive upon the Maine? If our army was not numerous
enough for attacking the French, why were the Heffians left behind
for fome time in Flanders ? Why did we not fend over 20,000 of
thofe regular troops that were lying idle here at home ? How to anfwer
all thefe queftions, I cannot tell ; but it is certain, we never thought of
attacking the French army in our neighbourhood, and I believe ex-
peded very little to be attacked. Nay, I doubt much if any adion
wouli have happened during the whole campaign, if the French had
not, by the mifconduft of fome one or other of ojr o-encrals, caushc
our army in a hofe-net, from which it could not have efcaped, if the
French generals had all obferved the diredions of their Commander in
Chief, and had thought only of guarding and fortifying themfelves in
the defies, and marching up to attack our troops. Thank God, tl.c
courage of fome of the French generals got the better of their dif-
cretion, as well as their military difciplinc. This made them attack,
inftead of waiting to be attacked j and by the bravery of the En^lift
foot, and the cowardice of their own, they met with a fevere repulfe»
which put their whole army into confufion, and oblig^-d it to retire
with precipitation over the Maine, by which our army efcaped the
fnare they had been led into, and got free liberty to purfue their retreat;
to Hanau.
" This, Sir, was a fignal advantage; but did we pufli this advant-
age? Did we purfue the enemy in their precipitate retreat over a great
river, where many of them muft have been loft, had they bjen clofcly
purfued ? Did we endeavour to take the leaft advantage of the confulion
L 2 they
'743.
[ 76 ]
Cmap.V. they had been thrown into by their unexpedled repulfe? No, Sir, th^
ardour of our Britifh troops was reftrained by the cowardice of the
Hanoverian; and inftead of purfuing the enemy, we ourfelves ran
away in the night-time, and in fuch haite, that we left all our wounded
to the mercy and care of the enemy, who had likewife the honour of
burying our dead as well as their own. This adion may therefore, on
our fide, be called a lucky efcape ; but 1 fliall never give my conlent
to honour it with the name of a viftory.
" After this efcape. Sir, our army was joined by a very large rein-
forcement. Did this revive our courage, or giv us any better flomach
for fighting? Notable, Sir. Though the French continued for fome
time upon the German fide of the Rhine, we never offered to attack,
them, or to give them the leaft difturbance. At laft, upon Piincc
Charles's approach with the Auftrian army under his command, the
French not only re-paflTed the Rhine, but retired quite out of Germany j
and as the Auftrian army and the allied army might then have joined
and might both have paffsd theRhine without oppofition at Mentz,
or almoft anv where in the Palatinate, it was expected that both armies
would have marched together into Lorrain, or in fearch of the French
army, in order to force them to a battle; but inftead of this. Prince
Charles marched up the German fide of jhe Rhine — to do what ? To
pafs that great river, in the fight of a French army equal in number
to his own, which, without fome extraordinary negleft in the French,
was imprafticable; and fo it was found by experience. So that the
whole campaign, upon that fide, was confumed in often attempting,
what as often appeared to be impracticable.
" On the other fide, 1 mean that of the allied army, was there any
thing done of confequence ? I know of nothing but that of fending
a party of Huflars into Lorrain with a manifefto. The army, indeed,
paflTcd the Rhine at Mentz, and marched up to the French lines upon
the frontier of Alface, but never offered to pafs thofe lines uniii the
French had abandoned them, 1 believe with a defign to draw our army
into fomefnare; for upon the French returning again towards thofe
lines, we retired with much greater hafte than we had advanced, though
the Dutch aux'Turies were then come up, and pretended at leaft to be
ready to jo:n our army 5 though, as I have heard, they found a pretence
fjr never com'ng into the line; and I doubt much if they would have
marche'...
t 17 ]
marched with us to attack the French army in their own territories, or
\ n eftany of their fortified places; for I muft obferve, that the French
lines upon the Queick were not, as to fome part of them, within the
territories of France. But fuppofe this Dutch detachment had been
ready to march with us to attack the French in their own territories, or
to inveftfome of their fortified places, it could have given me no joy j
and therefore I cannot join in any congratulations upon that event;
for a fmall detachment of Dutch troops can never enable us to execute
the vafl; fcheme we have undertaken. The whole force of that Republic
would not be fufficient for that purpofe; becaufc we fhould have the
majority of the Empire againft us ; and therefore if the Dutch had
joined totis virihus in our fcheme, inftead of congratulating, I fliould
have bemoaned their running mad by our example, and at our infti-
" Having now briefly examined our ccndud during the laft cam-
paign, from the few remarks I have made, I believe. Sir, it will appear,
that fuppofing our fcheme to be in itfclf poflible or practicable, we have
no reafon to hope for fuccefs, if it be not profecuted with more vigour
and better condudt than it was during laft campaign. While we con-
tinue in the profecution of this fcheme, «he Hanoverians indeed will
be confiderable gainers, let whoever will be the lofer, becaufe they
will draw <^ or 500;Oool. yearly from this nation, over and above what
ihcy have annually drawn from us ever fince they have had the good
fortune to be united with us under the fame Sovereign. But we ought
to cunfider, even the Hanoverians ought to confider, that this nation
is not now in a condition to carry on an cxpenfive war, for ten or twelve
years, as it did in the reign of Qj^ieen Anne. We may fund it out for
a year, two or three, but we are now fo much in debt, that if we go on
fo:- a few years, adding m'llions to it every year, our credit will cer-
tainly at laft, I am afrad, fooner than fome amongft us imagine, be
undone; and if this misfortune ftiould h ppen to u.=, neither Hano-
ver nor any other foreign ftate would be able to draw a fh'lling more
from us. A (lop to our public credit would put an end to our paper
I currency. An univerfal bankruptcy wpu'd enfue, and ail tlie linle
■ ready money left amongft us would, by the happy pon'eflbrs, be 1- ckfd
up in iron chefts, or hid in bye-corneis. It would then be impofTible
to raife our taxes, and conf quently impollible to maintain e ther
fleets
[ 73 ]
fleets or armies. Our troops abroad would be obliged to enter into the
fcrvice of any prince that could maintain them, and our troops at honne
would be obliged to live upon free quarter. Nay, this they could not
do long ; for the fanner would neither fow nor reap, if he found his
produce taken from him by the llarving foldier. In thefe circumfiances
I muft: dcfire the real friends of our prefent happy eftablifhmtnt to
cunfider what might be the conrequence of the Pretender's being landed
amon^ft us at the head of a French army. Would not he be looked
upon by mo'd as a third Saviour ? Would not the majority of the people
join with him, in order to refcue the nation from thofe that had brought
it into fuch confufion ?
" This danger, Sir, is I hope one of thofe that may be called
imaginary; but I am fure it is far from being fo imaginary, as that we
have b^en frightened with in this debate, of all the powers of the Con-
tinent of Europe being brought under fuch a flavifh dependence upon
France as to join with that nation in conquering this idand, or in bring-
ing it under the fame flavifh dependence with themfelves.
" I had almoft forgot. Sir, to take notice of the famous Treaty of
Worms-, and I wifh after ages may never take notice of ir. I wifh it
could be erafed out of our annals, as well as records, fo as never to be
hereafter mentioned i for that treaty with its appendix, the convention
that foUovved it, is one of the moft deftrufiiive, unjuft and ridiculous
treaties we ever made. By that treaty we have taken upon ourfclves a
burthen which I think impoffible for us to fupport; and we have en-
o-ac-ed in fuch an ad of iniuftice towards Gcnon, as muH alarm all
Europe, and give the French a fignal advantage •, for from thence all
the princes of Europe wdl fee what regard we have to juftice, where
v/e think we have power ; and therefore mofl of them will probably
jpin with France in curtaihng our power, or at lead in preventing its
increafe. The alliance of Sardinia and his affiitance may, I admit, be
of great ufe to us in defeating the defigns of the Spaniards in Italy;
but gold itfelf may be bought too dear ; and I am afraid we Ihall find
the purchafe we hav.c made, to be at lead but a precarious bargain, efpe-
cially if Sardinia (hould be attacked by France as well as Spain, which
Will be the certain confequence of the fcheme of politics we arc now
purfuing. For the fe reafons, Sir, I hope no Gentleman, .nor even any
Minifter,
C 79 ]
Minifter, will expedl that I fhould declare my fatssfaflion at that Chap. V.
treaty's being concluded. ,^^j.
<' It is very furprifing, Sir, to hear Gentlemen talk of the great
advantacre of unanimity in our proceedings, when at the fame time
they are doing all they can to prevent unanimity. If the Hon. Gentle-
man had intended, that what he propofed fhould be unanimoully agreed
to he would have returned to the anrient cuflom of Parliament, which
fome of his new friends have fo often upon former occafions recom-
mended. It is a new do6trine, to pretend that we ought, in our Ad-
drefs, to return fome fort of anfA'er to every thing mentioned in his
Majefty's Speech. It is a doflrine that has prevailed only fmce our
Parliaments bc^an to look more like a French than an Englifh Parlia-
ment ; and now we pretend to be fuch enemies to France, I fufpefted
we fhould have laid afide this doflrine. The very method of proceed-
ino- in Parliament muft Ihew this doftrine to be falfe. His Majefty's
Speech is not now fo much as under our confideration, but upon a pre-
vious order for that purpofc; therefore we cannot now properly take
notice of its contents, an\' further than to determine whether we ought
to return thanks for it or no ; for even this is what we may refufe, with-
out being guilty of any breach of duty to our Sovereign ; but this I
believe no Gentleman would have thought of, if the Hon. Gentleman
who made this motion had not tacked to it a long and fulfome pane-
gyric upon the conduft of our Minifters. I am convinced no Gentle-
man would have objefted againft our expreffing our duty to our So-
vereign, and our zeal for his fervice, in the mort ftrong and affeftionate
terms ; nor would any Gentleman have refufed to congratulate his Ma-
iclly upon any fortunate event happening to the Royal Family ; and
the Hon. Gentleman would have defired no more, if he had intended
that his motion fliould be unanimoufly agreed to; but as Minifters are
generally the authors and drawers up of the motion, they always have
a greater regard for themfelves th.m for tlie fervice of their Sovereign;
and this is the true reafon why fuch motions fcldom meet with an unani-
mous approbation.
*' As for the danger. Sir, of our returning, or not returning to our
national cuftom upon this occafion, I th.nk it lies wh'dly upon the
fide of our not returning. I have fliev.'n, that the meafures we are noiV
purfuing are fundamentally wrong, and that the longer we do purfue
them.
[ 8o ]
Chap. V. them, the heavier our misfortunes will be. Unlefs fome flgnal Provi-
j. ,^ vidence intervenes, Experience, I am fure, will confirm what I fay. By the
immediate intervention of Providence, we may, it is true, fucceed in the
moll improbable fchemes; but Providence feems to be againftus. The
fooner therefore v;e repent, the better it will be for us; and unlefs re-
pentance begins in this Houfe, 1 flmll expetfl it no where elfe, 'till dire
experience has convinced us of our being in the wrong.
" For this reafon I hope, and I wifh that we may now begin, to put
a flop to the farther profccution of thefe deftruftlve and dangerous
meafures, by refufing them our approbation. If we put a negative
Upon this queflion, it may awaken our Minifters out of their deceitful
dream, if we agree to it, they will dream on, till they have dreamed
Europe and their country, as well as themfelves, into perdition, if
they flop now, the nation may recover; but if by fuch a flattering
Addrefs we encourage them to go on. It may foon become impoffible,
for them to retreat; and therefore, for the fake of Europe, as well
as my country, I Ihall moft heartily join in putting a negative upon
this queftion.
The Addrefs was agreed to.
1744- On the 1 2th of January 1744, the Report from the Com-
mittee of Supply bemg made to the Houfe, viz. " That 634,344!.
" be granted, for defraying the charge of 21,358 effe6live men,
•♦to be employed in Flanders in 1744;" Mr. Pitt fpoke
againft agreeing with the Committee, in this RefoUition, to
the following purport :
■s.eech agairft " As it is not the cuftom, at this time, to lay before Parliament, any
[rFiandeM-s""' ' Information of our public meafures, which, as well as the motives foj-
adopting them, are too great fecrets to be communicated to this Houfe,
I proteft I know nothing of them; nor can I, from any public ap-
pearances, judge of them. No man can, who has not an intimate
correfpondence with fome of our Minifters of the Clofet ; which, I
ihank God ! I have not ; and therefore, if I miftake or miftate our late
or prefent meafures, I hope the Gentlemen, who think themfelves happy
in having fuch a correfpondence, will excufe me.
" There are two points. Sir, which ought to be confidered, and
fully difcuflcd, before we agree to the Hon. Gentleman's motion j and
[ 8i ]
that is, the end of our giving afliftance to the Queen of Hungary, and ^^.^^^ y^
the manner in which we are to give that afliftance. If the French ' — /— '
ftill infift upon taking a great part of the Queen of Hungary's domi- ^^^^'
rions in Germany from her, and giving them to the Emperor, in order
to induce him to agree to their taking Flanders, or fomething die to
themfelves, I think we ought to endeavour, Mis viribits, to prevent
fuch a fcheme's taking effeft ; becaufe I am, and always have been
of opinion, that the the Monarchy of France is already more powerful
than is confiftent with the fafety of Europe. I thought foeven before
they made the acquifition of Lorrain, which they were permitted to
do, by a moft criminal connivance of our Minifters, at a time when we
had a better opportunity than, I am afraid, we Ihill ever have again,
for reducing the power of the Houfe of Bourbon. If this, therefore,
were the end of our giving afliftance to the Queen of Hungary, I
fliould approve of our giving her our utmoft afliftance-, yet, even in
this cafe, I fliould not agree to the Hon. Gentleman's motion, becaufe
I do not approve of the manner he propofes for giving her our aflif-
tance.
" But, Sir, if the French have entirely departed from this fcheme;
if they departed from it as foon as they found themfelves abandoned
by Pruflia and Saxony; if they were then willing, as I believe they
were, to reftore the peace of Germany, upon the fingle condition of the
Queen of Hungary's reftoring to the Emperor his hereditary domi-
nions, I think, we ought not to have encouraged her, by our afliftance,
to have continued the war in Germany, and much lei's ought we to en-
courage her, which I am afraid we do, to think of procuring, by our
afliftance, an equivalent from France, for what flie has yielded to
Pruflia and Saxony in Germany. If this be the end of our aflifting her,
I difapprove of the end as much as I do of the manner ; and I difapprove
of it, not becaufe I fliould not be glad to fee the power of France re-
duced, but becaufe I think the prefent a very improper time, either
for the Queen of Hungary or us to think of it. There is a certain
fpirit which prevails, and by which courts as well as private men 2re
governed. This fpirit a wife and confiderate Minifter will always have
great regard to, and will take his meafures accordingly; for the World
is not to be direfted by every whim that may enter into the head of an
ignorant, though cnterprifing Minifter. The ambitious fchemes of the
Vol. I. M late
[ 82 ]
Chap. V. jj^g Kj^g of France had railed a fpirit of jealoufy againft that Monar-
»743- '^^y^ in almoft every Court of Europe, which produced feveral confede-
racies againft it, and one at laft which brought it to the brink of perdi-
tion. Since his death, the Court of France, being made fenfible by
experience of the danger of raiflng fuch a fpirit, have guarded agauifl:
doing fo as much as poffible, fo that there is now no fuch fpirit in any
Court in Europe ; but, on the contrary, there is a fpirit of jealoufy
among all the Ptinces of Germany againft the power of the Houfe of
Auftria •, therefore no one Court in Europe will join with us and the
Qiieen of Hungary, in this project againft France.
" When I fay h, Sir, I mean humanly fpeaking ; for the race, I
know, is not to the fwift, nor the battle to the ftrong. Suppofe thca
that Providence ftiould work miracles in our favour, and give us unex-
peftcd fuccefs againft Fiance in the execution of this defign. Suppofe
their armies, like that of the Midianites, fhould fet every man his
fword againft his fellow, and their walls, like thofc of Jericho, fall
down flat before us ; yet can we fuppofe, that the Princes of Germany,
who are fo jealous of the power of the Houfe of Auftria, efpecially
fuch of them as have lately got hold of fome part of the Auftrian terri-
tories ; I fay, can we fuppofe, that thofe Princes would fit ftiJl and fee
the power of the Houfe of Auftria vaftly increafed, and the Monarchy
of France very much reduced, when ic is fo evident, that the prefer,
vation of the poflTeflions they have fo lately acquired, and perhaps their
future independency, muft depend chiefly upon the friendfhip and af-
fiftance of France ? It is, I think, almoft certain, that in cafe of our
fuccefs, they would all unite together for putting a ftop to it
" Thus, Sir, if the procuring the Queen of Hungary an equivalent
from France, be the end or defign of our maintaining an army in Flan-
ders, it is fo evidently impradicable, that I am convinced it cannot be
the true end. It muft be a pretence made ufe of for covering fome hid.
den defign, which our Minifters dare not own, and which would ccr.
tainly coft fome of them their heads, if it ftiould be proved upon them.
I mean that of laviftiing the blood and treafure of England, for the
fdkc of getting an opportunity to maintain 16,000 Hanoverians, or
for the fake of getting fome little territories added to the dominions of
that Eledorate. And if the end be to defeat the Fiench in their
fchemc of taking a great part of the Queen of Hungary's dominions
from
L 83 ]
from her, and giving them to the Emperor, that he may confcnt to Chaf. V,
feme additions being made to their Monarchy, we ought to be well j-j^y
convinced, that there is ftill fome fuch fcheme inpetto^ before we agree
to load our country with To great an expcnce ; becaule from the public
accounts we have great reafon to believe, that, if ever the French had
fuch a fcheme, they have now given it up ; and becaufe we have no rea-
fon to believe, that the French would embark in a fcheme which mulb
be attended with great danger, difficulty and cxpence to them, when
unaffilled by any of the Princes of Germany, The only hopes they
can now have of being able to execute fuch a fcheme, mud arifc from
our encouraging the Queen of Hungary to be immoderate in her de-
mands, which may raife the jealoufy of the German Princes to fuch a
height, as may force them to join aga'n in an alliance with Franc, for
reducing her power, and putting an end to her ambitious views.
" In all I have yet laid. Sir, I have not mentioned Italy, becaufe I
believe no one is fo ignorant as to fuppofe, that in order to affift
the Queen of Hungary to preferve lier dominions in Italy, the beft me-
thod is to form an army in Flanders, or to attempt to make an im-
prefllon upon France on that fide, where every one knows their Monar-
chy is the beft guarded, and the leaft fufceptible of an impreffion ;
therefore, no one furely will pretend, that this is the end of our forming • ♦"
or maintaining an army in Flanders.
" I Ihall now. Sir, confider the manner in which we ought to aflift
the Queen of Hungary ; and let the end be what it will, I am very
fure the manner propofed is in every rcfpeft wrong. I muft lay it
down, and I (hall always confider it as a certain maxim, that we ought
never to think of aflifting any of our allies upon the Continent with a
great number of troops. If we fend any of our troops to their alTif-
tance, it ought always to be, rather with a view to give our Gentlemen
an opportunity to improve themfclves in the military art, than with a
view to affift our allies. They have no occafion for our men, and the
Queen of Hungary lefs than any other. She has men, and brave men
too, in abundance. She only wants money to arm and fupport them*
Therefore, the only manner in which we ought to think of fupportin"
her, or any other of our allies upon the Continent, is with our money
and our navy. And my reafon for laying this down as a maxim i$,
n9t only becaufe the fca is our natural element, but becaufe it is dan-
M 2 • gerouR
[ ^4 ]
Chap.V. gerous to our liberties, as well as deftrudlive to our trade, to cncourag
^■"^ — ' wrcat numbers of our people to make the profeffion of arms their trade,
fo as to depend upon that alone for their livelihood. A farmer, a day-
labourer, a cobler, may be a good foldier, if you take care to have him
properly difcipHned, and always will be ready to defend his country,
in cafe of an attack ; but as he has another way of living, he may be
a good fubjedt; whereas a man who has no other way of living, can
never be a good fubjeft, efpecially in a free country ; and for this rca-
fon we ought to have as few of them as poffible, either abroad or at
home. At Icaft, they ought never to be kept long in the fcrvice; for
after a long difufe, there are very few of them can afterwards turn to
any induftrious employment for their fupport.
" Another reafon is. Sir, becaufc cuftom has made our troops more
expenfive than thofe of any other country ; and therefore our money
will always be of more fervice to our allies, becaufe it will enable them
to raife and maintain a greater number of troops than we can furnifh
them with for the fame fum of money. This, Sir, I fliall prove by
figures, which are fuch ftrange obftinate things, that they will not twift
and wind at the pleafure of a Minifter, or any of his orators. By the
motion now made to us, our own troops in Flanders are to coft us for
• • next year, 634,344!. and, I fuppofe, the 16,000 Hanoverians will
coft us near 400,000!. To thefe two fums I fhall add 200,000). for wag.
gon money, dry and green forage, douceurs, and the like ; for I believe
we ftial! find, that this article for laft year amounts to a much larger
fum. Thefe three articles make 1,134, 344I. I fliall call it the even
fum of i,2oo,oool. which we muft pay next year, for maintaining an
afmv of 37,000 men, one third pait of which I Ihall fuppofe to be
horfe or dragoons. Now, if we had fent this fum to the Queen of
Hungary, let us fee what an additional number of men flie might have
maintained with it. By feveral treaties, and particularly by the accef-
fion of the States-G--neral to the Vienna Treaty of 1731, the charge
of 1000 foot is fixed at 10,000 guilders per month: which in fterling
mone\ , at the rate of 10 guilders 16 ftivers per pound ilcrling, is
Q26I. and the charge of 1000 horfe is fixed at 30,000 guilders for the
fame time, which is 2778I. fo that i,20o,oool. would have maintained
near ioS,ooo foot for the Queen of Hungary, or near 36,000 horfe ;
or it would have maintained an army for h«r of 54,000 foot, and
iSjOoo
( 85 )
j8,ooohorfe for the enfuing year j and I muft afk even our Minifters,
if they do not think, that an additional army of 72,000 men, to be
employed wherever Ihe pleafed, would harve been of more fervice to
her and the common caufe, as they are pleafed to call it, than our
37,000 men in Flanders ? For though I will not allow that any
of her troops are better than the Britilh, yet I may take upon mc to
fay, that the worft of her troops are better than the Hanoverians were
ever yet fuppofed to be.
" But now. Sir, fuppofe we could think it of advantage to the
common caufe to affifl the Queen of Hungary with troops inftead of
money, the very worll place we could think of fcndmg thefe troops to,
or employing them in, is Flanders. If we had formed no army there,
the French would have formed no army there, nor would they have at-
tacked any place there, for fear of provoking the Dutch to declare
againli them. Whereas, if we form an army next fummer in Flanders,
though we do not begin to ad: ofFenfively with that army, as I firmly
btlieve we do not intend to do, it may furnilh the French with an ex-
cufe for attacking the Queen of Hungary in that country, and that ex-
cufe may be admitted by the Dutch, who feem at prefent to have no
fort of jealoufy of France ; and for that, as well as feveral other rea-
fons, they feem refolved not to enter into any of our romantic fchemes.
If we muft affifl the Queen of Hungary with troops, v/hy did they
not ftay and take winter quarters in Germany, or upon the Rhine, hy
which we might have fecursd a palTige for Prince Charles in the Sprint ?
If it be alledged, that the Princes and circles of the Empire would
not admit of our troops taking winter quarters within the Empire, this
of itfelf alone was a good reafon for our calling home our troops, dif-
miffing our mercenaries, and refolving to affift the Queen of Huno-arv
for the future, as wc ought to have done from the beginning, foiely
with our money, and cur fquadron in the MediterraTean.
" In fliorr. Sir, £s I could at firft fee ro reafon for fending our
troops to Flanders, unlcfs it was to furnifli our Minifters with a pretence
for loading us with the maintenance of 16,000 Hanoverians, 1 can now
fee no reafon for our keeping them there, unlefs it be to furnifli a pre-
tence for continuing that load upon us i and ;s I think our keeping
the n there may be attended with infinite danger to the caufe of the
Queen of Hungary, 1 cannot therefore agree with the report of the
Committee."
The
r 86 3
Chap. V. The Rcpoit was agreed to.
Some apology or explanation Is neceflary, for Inferting the
preceding fpeeches, under the name of Mr. Pitt, — The Rea-
der has undoubtedly obferved, that the ftyle in which they are
written, does not feem to prcfervc Mr. Pitt's language, or
phrafe ; but they have been printed in the Parliamentary De-
bates of this period ; and it has not come to the Editor's
knowledge that there is any better, or even any other account
of them. They were written by a Mr. Gordo)i, a Minifler of
the Church of Scotland, originally for the London Magazine —
when Dr. Samuel Jchnfoji ceafed to write the fpeeches for the Gen-
tleman's Magazine; or rather when Cave, the printer of that
mifcellany, was punifhed for printing them 3 — Gordon continued
ibnie {ketches of them, with lefs accuracy, and in inferior language,
but with more attention to the argument, until the death of
Frederick Prince of Wales, in 175 1. His praclice was to
go to the Coffee-houfes contiguou».to Weflminfter Hall ; where
he frequently heard the Members converfing with each other,
upon what had pafTed in the Houfe; and fometimes he gained
admiffion into the gallery; and as he was known to a few
of the gentlemen, two or three of them, upon particular occa-
fions, furniihed him with fome information.
The vigorous oppofition which Mr. Pitt had made in Par-
liament, to the meafures purfued for the defence of Hanover,
raifed him very high in the efteem of the Englifli nation. He
had for fome years been admired as an orator, — he was now re-
vered as a patriot. The fpirit and energy which diftinguifhed
his Parliamentary condu6f, evinced that he was aftuated by-
principle, not by an illiberal paflion, to difplay the fuperiority
of
[ 8; J
of his talents i that his oppofition was the refult of conviaion,
not of pique ; that it was not founded in a penbnal confidera-
tion of the men who held the offices of government, but in an
indignant abhorrence of the meafures, which, he faid, infulated
Great Britain, from a participation of the advantages her mo-
ney was voted to procure, and gave her a right to demand.
Amongft the many perfons of elevated rank, who ho- ^I'-H^-rs^'^f,^
noured this condutl of Mr. Pitt with the warmeft approba- Lcg.cy.
tion, was the late Sarah Duchefs Dowager of Marlborough.
This lady, by a codicil to her will, dated on the i ith of Auguft
1744, gave to Mr. Pitt a legacy, in thefe words : *
«' I alfo give to William Pitt, of the parifti of St. James,
" within the liberty of Weftminfter, Efq. the fum of Ten
•* Thoufand Pounds, upon account of his merit, in the noble
<' defence he has made for the fupport of the laws of England,
** and to prevent the ruin of his country."
» she died in Oaober following, and the money was paid.
CHAP.
[ 88 J
C H A P. VI.
State of the Minijlry — Lord Carlijle dif appointed of the Privy Seal
•—Lord Cobham joins the Pelhams — Lord Granville opfofed in
Council, and refigns — 'The Broad Bottom Miniflry appointed —
Mr. Pitt's reply to Sir Francis Dajh'wood, on the Adarefs'—'
Mr. Pitt's reply to Mr. Hume Campbell, on the Nablcmens' new
raijed Regiments.
^ROM the time that Sh' Robert Walpole had been com-
pelled to reUnquifli the Government, the Britifli Councils
had not been influenced by the principles of any fyftem, plan,
or regulation. It was a government of expedients, proceeding
w'^iftry!" fortuitouflyj too cowardly to aiSl upon a bold meafure, and too
ignorant to frame a wife one. The members of the Cabinet
being compofed of Delertcrs from all parties, became a fa6lion,
without confidence in each other. Lord Bath, who had been
their creator, was the only cement which held them together.
It has been obferved, that Lord Carteret, who had been
made Secretary of State by Lord Bath, had gained an afccn-
dancy in the clofct, by favouring the predilections of the King,
refpe£ting Hanover. This afcendancy alarmed the other mem-
bers of the Cabinet. They beheld, with jealoufy. Lord Car-
teret's encreafing influence with the King. There was how-
ever, a manly firmnefs and conflitutional dignity in Lord Car-
teret's condufl. His German meafures were always commu-
nicated to the Britifli Cabinet in the frji inftance ; nor was
there any attempt ever made to carry them into execution, un-
til they had been propoied to, and adopted by, his colleagues in
office. But had the King concerted th&mfecretly, and not com-
municated
[ 89 ]
municatcd the information to his Britifh Minlflers, until it was ^hap, vi.
neceflaiy to involve his Britifli dominions in the expenoc, and in^
when it was too late to make any alteration ; it is more thaii
probable, that there was not a gentleman, either in out of Court,
at that time, who, if he had been Secretary of State, would not, in
fuch a cafe, have laid the Seals at his Majefty's feet.
It has long been feen clearly, and faid by wife and honeft men,
that the foundation of all other fa6lions, is the fa6lion at Court.
The Court fa6lion, which had been lately formed by Lord
Bath, gave rife to feveral fa6lions. Daring thefc difputes.
Lord CoBHAM ind his friends, kept aloof.
0
The unfettled Itate of the Miniftry was made apparent to the
whole kingdom, by the contention amongft them for the Privy
Seal, which Lord Gower had refigned. — Lord Bath, who in-
terfered upon this occafion, and affected to aft by the authority
of the King, fent for Lord Carlisle, and alTured his Lordfliip
he fliould be appointed Privy Seal ; and Lord Carlisle thought
himfelf fo certain of the place, that he informed his friends the
appointment was made. The Pelhams refifted this fcheme of
Lord Bath's with all their might ; and the Duke of New-
castle went to the King, and demanded the place for Lord
Cholmondelev. Thofe who knew the King, faid his Majefty
was taken by furprifc, and confented with reluftance. Several
other alterations were made, by which the power of Lord Bath's
friends was decreafed, and that of the Pelhams advanced.
This 'arrangement, however, was but of fliort duration. The
two parties continued to ftruggle for fuperiority.
A war with France was the favourite meafure of the King at
this time, on account of his German dominions ; which were
Vol. L N ^ expofed
[ 9° ]
CHAr. VI. expofed to the enmity of France, by his alliance with the Court
1744. of Vienna j and Lord Carteret, now Earl Granville, by
the death of his mother, entering fully into his Majefty's views
refp^cting this war, became a favourite in the clofet.
The circumftance of a favourite in that fituation, was a mat-
ter of great alarm to thofe, who could not endure a rival. Six-
teen thoufand Hanoverian troops were laft year taken into
Britifh pay. This meafure was extremely obnoxious to the
nation. Lord Granvilll avowed the meafure, and being fe-
cure, as he thought of the King's fupport, he treated his col-
leagues with fome hauteur, in a debate in Council upon it.
The Pelhams were now convinced, that Lord Grakville was
Lord CfibSam
ioinsthePei- jjj.^}^ their Hval and enemy j and therefore they refolved, to
remove, if poffible, fo dangerous a competitor. In order to
carry this point, their firft ftep was to Itrengthen their party.
They made overtures to Lord Cobham, who, at the requeft of
the Duke of Newcastle, met his Grace at Lord Harring-
ton's. At this meeting, the accefiion of Lord Cobham was
fettled, The principal terms were, that the expence of the Ha-
noverian meafures Ihould be diminifhed, and that his Lordfhip's
friends fliould be included in the next change of the Miniftry.
With refpe6l to his Lordflrip, and the Grenville's, the matter
was eafy — all the difficulty was concerning Mr. Pitt. The
King had entertained a violent prejudice againft him, on ac-
count of his oppofition to German meafures. This prejudice.
Lord Granville was fuppofed to have encreafed, by flating
in the clofet, more than once, Mr. Pitt's Parliamentary con-
du6l, in the mofl unfavourable light. The Duke of Newcas-
tle promifed to remove this prejudice from the King's niind>
and
[ 91 ]
CH^r. vr.
and to accommodate Mr. Pitt at a future period, which, he
alTured Lord Cobham, fhould not be far dillant. '''**"
The junction of Lord Cobham with the Pei.hams, Influenced
feveral others to follow his example; fuch as Sir John Hind
Cotton, Mr. Waller, Mr. Doddxngton, and many more J
fo that this junflion had the efFedl of a coalition of parties. In-
deed it rauft be confefled, that all parties, except Lord Bath's.
joined in oppofing Lord Granville.
This union was negociated, and completed, during the fum-
mer and autumn of 1744. The firft effeds of it were felt by
Lord Granville, in a Council, called on the affairs of Hano-
ver, previous to the meeting of Parliament j when his Lordlhip .t''p''rcTir'"'
propofed to continue the fixteen thoufand Hanoverian troops in
Britifli pay, for the year 1745. This propofition was ftrongly
oppofed, and the Council divided upon it. Four and himfelf
were for it, and eleven againft it. Eight thoufand only was the
number agreed upon.
Upon this defeat, Lord Granville took his refolution to ^V^ cranviue
■■ rtfigns,
refign; and accordingly waited on his Majefty on Tuefday, the
fourteenth of November, 1744, and refigned the Seals.
A new Adminiftration was immediately formed, or perhaps,
had been already formed ; which, from the circumftance of
its having arifen out of the coalition of parties, already men-
tioned, was commonly denominated the Broad Bottom. [The
particulars of this change, the reader will find in the Genera]
Lift of Changes, at the end of the work.]
Parliament met in November 1744, and exhibited fuch a fcene
of unanimity, as had not been feen fmce the King's acceflion. i-^j.
The feflion clofed on the fecond of May I'ji^^ -, immediately
N 2 after
[ 92 3
^tlll^l^ ' aftsr vvhich, the King went to Hanover; having firft added Lord
'745- CoB^AM to the lift of Lords Juftices, for the adminiftration of
Government during his abfence, created him Field Marrtiall, and
given him a regiment of horfe (late Nevilles.)
In Odober 1745, Parliament met, on account of the Scots
rebellion. Theie was a fliort debate upon the Addrefs, in an-
fwer to the King's Speech, occafioned by an amendment offered
by Sir Francis Dashwood, afterwards Lord Le Despencer,
exprefling, " That for the firmer eftablifliment of his Majefty's
" throne on the folid bafis of his people's affedtions, it fhall be
" our fpeedy care to frame fuch bills, as may^effed:ually fecure to
" his Majefty's fubie6ls the perpetual enjoyment of their un-
*' doubted right, to be freely and fairly reprefented in Parlia-
" ments, frequently chofen, and exempted from undue influence
" of every kind."
The motion was feconded by Sir John Phillips.
Mr. Pitt's reply. Mr. PiTT oppofcd the motioD. — The amendment, he faid, being
offered at a time fo extremely improper as the prefent, was fraught
M.S. with a dangerous tendency. There was only one motive to which this
motion could be afcribed; and it was, to make Minifters odious in the
eyes of the people, if they put a negative upon it. But the contrary*
however, he would venture to fay w ould be the faft ; for, although mo-
tions of this kind are always popular, yet in this hour of difticfs and
difficulty, when rebellion raged in the kingdom, and an invafion from
France was expefted, when the people were erioufly intent upon meafures
of the higheft confequence, they could not think favourably of thofe,
who attempted to draw off" their attention from fubjeds ot alarm, to
points of fpeculation. In fuch circumftances fhall we, he afked, em-
ploy ourfelves in contriving bills to guard our liberties from corruption,
when we are in danger of lofing them, and every thing elfe that is
dear to us, by the force of arms ? Would not this be like a man's
amufing himfclf with making regulations to previ^nt his fervants cheat"
ing him, at the very time that thieves were breaking into his houfe ?
Bu
t
C 93 ]
But why arc we to introduce this fubjeft into the addrefs ? — No county Chat. VI.
no city, nor corporation have requefted their reprefentatives to bring ,.,,£,
in any fuch bills, — the people are every where engaged in makino-
fubfcriptions, and forming affociationi, for defending their Sovereign,
and themfelves, againft thofe, who have traitcroofly confpired to rob
him of his crown, and them of their liberties. Do gentlemen wifh to
give a turn to the fpirit of the people, to create a contention about the
Conftitution, that the kingdom may fall an eafy prey to the enemy i*
— " If, Sir, I did n it know the Honourable Gentlemen, who made and
feconded this motion, I fliould really fufpeft their having fome fuch de"
fign ; and however much I may, from my own perfonal knowledge, b^
convinced, that they have no fuch defign, they m.iy be aflured, that if
they do not withdraw their motion, the fufpicion will be ftrong againfl:
them, amongft thofe perfons who have not the honour of their ac-
quaintance."
The motion was negatived, without a divifion.
On the fourth of November, 1745, the Hon. Alex. Hume
Campbell, * brother to Lord Marchmont, moved. That an
addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, mofl humbly to befeech his
Majefty, that the officers in the new f regiments, now raifing,
or already raifed, may not be allov/ed any rank, after thofe re-
giments are broke.
* This gentleman had been brought into Parliament on purpofe to oppofe Mi-, Pitt,
Some time after, he left liit friends, and was appointed Solicitor General to the Prince
of Wales; but on the fecond of February, 1746, he was difmifled from that Prince's
iervice.
f Several Noblemen h.iving raifed regiments on account of the Scots Rebellion; for the fervice of
his Majefty, thefe new regiments were :
HORSE.
Duke of Montagu's,
Duke of Kingfton's.
FOOT.
Duke of Bolton's,
Duke of Bedfor. 's,
Duke of Montagu's,
Du'-e of Ancafter's,
Marquis of Graiihy's,
Earl of Cholmondeley's,
Earl of Halifax's,
Lord Vifcount Falmouth'f,
Lord Vifcount Harcourt's,
Lord Gower's,
Lord Heibe- t's,
Lord Edgecumbe's.
Mr,
Campb^l.
H.S,
I 94 ]
iCnxr. VI. Mr. Pitt reprobated dils motion with warmth and indignation. He
■*-'^'''^*^ faid, that a comminjorij and the rank implied by it, were infeparable.
A comm^ffion contained a power conferred by the Kine, by which the
Mr. Vitt's rfply '^ _ ' .
*o Mr. Hume pcffonwho icceived ir, became fubordinate to feme, and fuperior to
others. The motion, he contended, was irrational, contrary to common
fenfe, and imprafticable, as well as impolitic ; by tending to difcourage
ihole noble perfons, who were exerting their utmoft influence in the
iervice of their country. The officers who are to be employed under
them, are, by this motion, he faid, to be ft'gmatized, as unworthy of
rank, Thefe gentlemen are not driven into the army by neceflitv; but
are offering themfelves to fcrve their country in the day of diftrefs, from
fnotives of the warmeft zeal. And fhall we difgrace thefe men ? Shall
we check their noble and generous ardour in the hour of danger ? Thofe
who defire the Houfe to agree to this moton, cunnot be fcrious, or if
ferious, cannot be aware of the obvious conftrudion of iheir condudt. — •
Is this the time, he afked, that loyalty ought to be ftigmatized, inflead of
being rewarded with honour ? Are gentlemen endeavouring to obtain
that objeft by oblique paths, from which they ate reffrained in the
diredt way? The motion at beft is fuipicious; it is paradoxical.
The argument in fupport of the motion, is an infult upon the whole
army; for it is this. That the army will behold with difcontent this new
promotion of ofRcers. 1 he very afifcrtion is an impeachment of the al-
legiance of the army. It would be a reproach to the dignity of this
Houfc, if our deliberations here, were to be influenced by the views
of any clafs of men. The right of deciding what meafures are moft con-
ducive to the public interelt and fecurity, belongs not to the army,
but to ihi.s Houfe.
Thofe who advife us to deny rank to the new officers, advife us to deny
what the King has already granted, and what he h ad an undoubted right
to giant J — they advife us to vacate his commifTions, and to break his
promifes ;— they advife us to weaken him, at the time that he wants the
moll afiiftance ; and to Ihew to our enemie*, that he is at variance with
his Parliament,
The motion was negatived,
CHAP.
C 95 I
CHAP. VII.
Errors of Uijiors — Lord Bath at Court — His overtures to Lord
Cobham — Duke of Newcajlle ajks the place oj Secretary at War for
Mr. Pitt, avd is refufed — Miniflry refign — Lor'd Granville ap.
pointed Secretary oj State — Lord Granville refgns, a?id the late
Miniflry refiored — Mr. Pitt fnade Vice Treajurer of Ireland, md
afterwards Paymajler — Makes no private ufe of the public moriey in
his hands — Refufes to accept the perquifite of office on the Sardi-
nian Suhfidy.
cha?. vir,
THE verfatility of Courts has been tlie popular theme of """7^77^
writers, daring feveral of the latter centuries. It would
have been more to the honour of hiflory, had the caufes of fuch
mutability been explained. But it has been the misfortune of
the public, that few of the modern hiftorians have been in fi-to-y.
tuations in which they might obtain true information. This
has more than once occafioned Lord Mansfield, and other
great men to fay, that nothing is fo falfe as hifiory. Ti/idalh
Smollet, Goldfinith, and a long train of others, have ftated, that
about this time a very extraordinary change took place in the
Britifh Miniftry. That Lord Granville was made Minifter,
and the Pelhams refigned ; — that ina few days afterwards Lord
Granville refigned, and the Pelhams were reftored. The
London Gazette furniOies them with the appointments and the
dates, which are the only fa6ls to be depended upon : all the reft
being" of their own invention. Dv. Newton fays, that Lord Bat«
wrote an account of thefe tranfadions, at the defire of George
the Second ; but that on the death of his fon, Lord Pulteney,
in the reign of George the Third, his Lordihip burned it—
Fide
[ 96 ]
Chap. VII. p-j^ indigmis. If 1* had been written at the defire of the King,
^7^5' it is more than probable, that it would have been publifhed.—
However, if it was not more true, than the account of the great
change in the Miniftry in the year 1742, written by the fame
hand, and given us by Dr. Neivtoji, the lofs is not important
nor worthy of regret.
Upon the King's return from Hanover, Lord Cobham claimed
of the Duke of Newcastle, the performance of his promife»
refpefling Mr. Pitt. The Duke wiflied to poftpone the mat-
ter; but Lord Cobham infilled upon it. At length his Grace
undertook to lay the affair before the King. A more unfavou-
rable period could not have been chofen. The King was at this
time diffatisfied with the condu6l of his Minillers. The dil,
million of the eight thoufand Hanoverians, he imputed to their
perfonal diflike of Lord Granville ; and the rapid progrefs of
the Rebellion, he imputed to their negligence, while he was
abroad. He fufpefted that the Pelhams were averfe to war,
whidi was true; and he had conceived an idea, probably from
Lord Granville, when Minifter, that war at this time, was
his only refource. It was anomiflion in the Broad Bottom trea-
ty, that Lord Bath had not been profcribed ; for foon after the
King's return from the continent, his Lordfliip appeared at
t^^j^Bathat (_>Qm.j. federal times — and was each time honoured with an
audience. His own friends have faid, that in thefe audiences>
he did not fail to exaggerate the caufes of the King's difguft with
his fervants, and to flatter the abiUties of his friend, Lord
Granville, and to warmly reprefent his zeal for his Majefly.
The French war was Lord Granville's favourite meafure. It
was alfo the King's. On this great point, as well as in fome lefTei'
ones.
[ 97 ] I
ones, there was a co-incidence of fentiment, which naturally Chap. vi/.
led to a partiality in favour of Lord Granville. ,745.
During the time that Lord Bath was thus improving his
intereft in the clofet, he made overtures to Lord Cobham, L„,jEa,i/.
with a view to form a new Adminiftrationj in which he offered G!bi,U°
to include Mr. Pitt. But Lord Cobham returned an anfwer
importing, that Lord Bath had deceived him in 1743, and he
fliould not dupe him in 1745. This refufal of Lord Cobham,
gave his Lordfhip a ftronger claim upon the Duke of New-
castle. The common language of lord Bath's and Lord
Grantille's friends at this time, was, that the King was fur-
rounded by a fa6lion ; that he was a prifoner upon his throne ;
and that an Adminiftration on a broader bottom ought to be
formed, for the intereft of the country, and for the emancipa-
tion of the King.
At length the Pelhams took the alarm ; and whether, from
the apprehenfion of lofmg Lord Cobham, or of lofmg their
places, or both; the Duke of Newcastle refolved to lay be-
fore his Majefty, a lift of fome alterations in the inferior depart-
ments of Government, which they intended to make, in order |^,;;f/;;;s;.
to introduce Mr. Pitt; who, in this arrangement, they pro- '''^ " ^"■
pofed for Secretary at War, in the room of Sir Wm. Yonge, to
be made one of the Vice Treafurers of Ireland. But when the
King came to Mr. Pitt's name, he gave an immediate and po-
fitive refufal to the whole lift. The Duke ftated to his Majefty
his engagement with Lord Cobham; the King angrily replied,
then he muji break his engagement.
Lord Bath and Lord Granville inftantly feized this op-
portunity of improving their influence in the clofet. Their
Vol. L O friends
[ 98 ]
Chap. VII. frieuds applaudcd in the vvarmeft: terms of panegyrlck, the fpirit
1746. which the King had fliewn in the rejeftion of Mr. Pitt ; and
they added, " that Lord Bath had advifed his Majefty to
" ftand fteady, and be true to his own interefl."
In confequence of the King's negative on the propofed em-
ployment of Mr. Pitt, the Duke of Newcastle met Lord
CoBHAM again at Lord Harrington's. After fome converfa-
tion on the neceflity of rejigning, and the Duke faying, that Lord
Hardwicke was decidedly of that opinion, and had both fug-
gefled and warmly recommended it, the Duke put this queflion,
— " Will Lord Cobham, and his friends, adhere to us (the
Pelhams) in and out of Court, if we engage, never to nego-
ciate with the Court, without including Lord Cobham and all
his friends ?" Lord Cobham confeflTed, the propofition was fo
handfome, he could not, as a man of honour, refufe giving it his
moft hearty afTent. This compact being made, and the union
thus cemented, between the great Parliamentary intcrefts, and
the great Parliamentary abiHties, the Pelhams now confidered
themfelves flrong enough to combat any fa6tion, however fa-
voured and fupported it might be in the clofet.
The meafure of a general rejignatton was immediately adopted.
1746. Accordingly, on the next day, Feb. 10, 1746, the Duke of New-
castle and Lord Harrington refigned. The King immedi-
ately gave the Duke's Seals to Lord GranVille. But the follow-
Miniftryrcfign.j^g^^y^ Mr. Pelham, Lord Hardwicke, Lord Pembroke,
Mr. Legge, Mr. George Grenville, and feveral others, all
went to Court, and refigned their employments. Neither the
King, nor Lord Bath were prepared for this ftroke. They had
not the leaft expeftation of it. And they were informed, that
icveral Noblemen and Gentlemen, who held commiffions in
the
[ 99 J
the army, were preparing torefign in a few days. The King, Lord Chap. vii.
Bath, and Lord Granville, were alarmed beyond expreiiioa at 1746.
thefe refignations. It was upon this occafion only, that the King
difcovered his own infignificancy. He found, that the afTu-
rances of men, without alliances, were no fupport to a Sove-
reign ; and that if a King would be maintained in his royalty,
he mufl take thofe into his feiTice, who have the greateft in-
fluence amongfl; his fubjefls. It is a maxim, that a King
without his people, is either more than he ought to be, or lefs
than he fliould be. Lord Granville faw the ftorm gathering
round the political hemifphere ; and having no other fupport
than his great friend. Lord Bath, who had loft all efteem with
the nation, by his treacherous condudl in 1742, he refolved to
defert his own chimerical enterprize, and refign alfo.
If it was cruel, or unhandfome, in the Whigs to leave the
King, when he had given his confidence to their enemies; it was
infinitely more cruel and inhuman in thofe new favourites,
to abandon their Sovereign, whom they firft deceived with
promifes, which they knew they could not perform, and
next betrayed to the mercy of his late fervants ; whofe re-
turn to office they now barbaroufly obliged him to folicit,
without making one effort to accomplifli that pretended email'
cipation, with which they affe6led to colour the motive of
their prefumption.
But the Whigs took no advantage of the diftrefTes of the
King. When his Majefty fent for them to refume their offices,
they only ftipnlated for leave to fulfil their engagements.
They afked no peerages, they fecured no reverfions, they de-
manded no penfions ; and above all, however odious the royal'
attachment to Hanover was become, they offered no illiberal
O 2 refentment
[ 100 ]
Chap.jvii. lefentment to the royal mind upon that account, by which they
'7^6. might have obtained an unHmited popularity. They did not
leave the King, until he had withdrawn himfelf from them; nor
did they with-hold their fupport, the moment he was difpofed
pointed. ^Q receive it. They all returned to office on the fourteenth of
February, 1746; fo that Lord Granville's Adminiftration
vicrTrl!iarcr laftcd three whole days In the new arrangement, Mr. Pitt
was made a Vice Treafurer of Ireland. The reft of the changes,
the reader will find at the end of the work. And upon the
AppoiottdPay- dcath of Mr. Winnington, which happened in May following,
Mr. Pitt was appointed Paymafter in his loom. In his office of
Paymafter, he was early diftinguiftied by his difinterefted inte-
grity, and incorruptible virtue. There are two Fadls related, of
his conduit, while in this office, which refledl the higheft honour
upon his chara6ler. They have already been publifhed in
thefe words :
" When he was appointed to the Office of Paymafter of the
Forces, he found it had been cuftomary to have ioo,oool. by
M.kesnopri- advance, generally lie in the hands of the Paymafter, which, in
v»te ui! of the ' o j j ' ^
public m9ney. ^^iQ time of fomc of thofe that prefided before him in that office,
ufed to be fubfcribed in Government Securities, which brought
3 or 4000I. per ann. more or lefs, into their private purfes. —
And in our memory there happened a conjunfture, when this
money fo fubfcribed into the land-tax, was called for, upon an
extraordinary emergency, for the ufe of the army : — but being
locked up in the Exchequer, and all public funds bearing a large
difcount, it could not be fold but at fuch a great lofs, as would
have been of the utmoft damage to the fubfcriber. What was
the confequence — The payment of the army, in the time of war
and rebellion, was flopped, when there was the greateft occafion
for
[ loi ]
for public credit, and pundtuality in the payment of thofeCHAP. Vli.
troops, on whom our whole depended. 1746,
" But when Mr. Pitt went into that department, he placed
whatever fums of money belonged to the office, in the Bank,
where they might be ready for the pubhc fervice, without ever
appropriating any part of it to his private ufe, as had been the
cuftom of former times 5 he never fubfcribed one fhilling into
the funds, nor ever availed himfelf of any intereft arifmg from
public monies at his difpofal, but was fatisfied with, and touched
no more than the legal appointment.
" The next fai5t is — that when the Parliament granted Sub-
fidies to the King of Sardinia, and Queen of Hungary, payable
' Refufcstheper-
at his office, half per cent, or more, ufed to be taken on the I"'''" "" •'•=
■* Sardioian fubli-
whole fubfidy, in the moll reputable times, and by thofe of the ^^'
raoft approved chara6lers — as a perquifite of office : — this Mr.
Pitt refufed, which would have come to a large fum, as the
grants at that time to both thofe powers, were very confiderable.
— When the King of Sardinia was told this, he could not help
cxpreffing his furprize, at fuch an inftance of greatnefs of mind,
and difintereftednefs, and therefore ordered his agent to offer
the fame fum, as a royal prefent to Mr. Pitt, who had before
refufed it as a perquifite. His anfwer to this was, that as the
Parliament had granted thofe fums for fuch ufes, he had no
right to any part of the money ; — that he did no more than his
duty in paying it entire j and hoped the refufal of the King's
prefent upon that occafion, would not give offence. When his
Sardinian Majefty heard this, he faid, furely this Englifhman
was fomewhat more than a man."
GHAP.
[ i02 ]
CHAP. viir.
Lord Granville and Mr. Pelham reconcikd-^The Prifice's claims in
the Coriiip boroughs — New Oppofition formed — Mr. Pitfsfpeech
on the Mutiny Bill, concerning the half-pay officers— -On the
Glafgow petition — On the Mutiny Bill, concerning the Wejimin-
fter ele^ion — On Dunkirk — On the treaties ivith Bavaria, and
Spaifi—^Death and charaBer of the Prince of Wales.
Chap. viii. ' I ^HE fame unanimity which diflinguifhed the two laft
'~~~~^. ' -i- feflions of Parliament, continued until the peace of Aix la
1747.
Chapelle, in 1748. Even Lord Granville became reconciled
to the Minifter. This extraordinary reconcihatioa was effected
by Robert Nugent, Efq. afterwards Earl Nugent, as he
Lord Grsnville ,.., --_ ., _
ar.dMr.Pehamhinilclf related It in the Houfe of Commons, m the year 17S4.
yecoiicilcd.
" He appointed them, he faid, to meet at his houfe, and their
meeting was to be kept a profound fecret. One repaired to his
houfe quite muffled up, fo that it was impoffible for any one
who faw him to know him. He juft introduced them to one
another, and left them to themfelves. He took care, in the
mean time to have a good fupper ready for them, of which they
partook j they drank heartily after it : the wine put an end to
the referve on which they had afled : they fpoke freely : confi-
dence was eflabliflied between them : they became fincere friends,
and remained fo ; and cared not the next day, who knew the
ftory of this interview."
When the rebellion was effeftually crufhed, the Miniftry re-
i!'the'c.'rmr fo^vcd to diffolve the ParUament. The Prince of Wales
boroughs. having been informed of this refolution, he held a Stannary
Court,
[ 103 J
Court, In his capacity of Duke of Cornwall. In this Court ,
fome claims, attached to that honour, were revived ; which,
had they been admitted, would have given the Prince a
confiderable influence in fome of the CorniHi boroughs, f.ord
BoLiNGBROKE was fuppofcd to have been the Prince's advifcr
in this affair. When the King heard it, he fent the Duke
of Newcastle to the Prince, with a melfage, declaring the
claims fet up by the Court of Stannary, to be wholly inad-
mifllble.
The new Parliament met in November 1747 ; but although
it was obvious the Prince's friends were joined by the Tories, ''^''
there was no oppofition made to the meafures of Government,
and the feflion paffed over with the fame unanimity as before. Nev.> orpfui.
But during the prorogation, a ftrong oppofition was formed,
and it was refolved to a6t with vigour. The Prince put him-
felf publicly at the head of it. Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, (after-
wards Lord Holland) Mr. Murray, (afterwards Lord
Mansfield) and feveral other gentlemen of diflinguiflied abi-
lities, adhered to Mr. Pelham.
One the 29th of November J748, commenced the fecond ^. ^
feflion of the new Parliament. But although the treaty of Aix
la Chapelle had been concluded, and publifhed in the preceding
month of Oiftober, no copy of it was laid before Parliament.
The King mentioned the treaty in his fpeech, and the terms of
it were feverely reprobated in the debate upon the addrefs. But
Mr. Pitt did not fpeakon the fubjedl.
When the Mutiny Bill was brought in, there appeared to be
fome frelh claufes added, particularly one, fubjetting officers
upon half -pay, to the penalties of the bill. This was warmly
oppofed, as being dangerous to the Conftitution.
Mr.
[ i04 J
»„..-^— » ' Mr. Pitt defended theclaufe. What danger, he alked, could arife,
'749- from obliging a half-pay officer to continue upon the military eftabjifli-
ment ? It is admitted on all hands, that while he is in full pay, he nuift
nnthcii.utiry cmploy his tuTie, hjs Itudy, and even his fword, as his fuperiors fliall
diredt. There may poffibly be danger in this, but it never can happen
until the diredion becomes wicked, nor prevented but by the virtue of
the army. It is to that virtue we eren at this time truft, fmall as our
army is ; it is to that virtue we muft have trufted, had this bill been
modelled as its warmeft opppofers could have wifhed ; and without this
virtue, fliould the Lords, the Commons, and the people cf England, en-
trench themfclves behind parchment up to the teeth, the fword will find
a paflage to the vita's of the Conftitution.
A petition from the city of Glafgow, praying to be re-im-
burfed the fum of ten thoufand pounds, extorted from that
city, by the Pretender, during the late rebellion, occafioncd a
(debate in a Committee of Supply, on the 12th of April 1749;
when it was moved to grant the faid fum. The motion was
oppofed by Mr. Bowes ; other towns, he faid, deferved the fame
favour ; and if this fum was granted to Glafgow, other places
having the fame claim, would expert the like.
He was anfwered by Mr. Pitt, who faid, * I fhall not enter into a
MrKtt-sreech^'^P"'^ with the Honourable Gentleman, whether there are not many
"-"/tbu^'"'^'"' places, both in England and Scotland, that have an equal pre;cnce
to loyalty as the city of Glafgow, and that fhewed as much zeal for the
fupport of the Government during the late rebellion, as that city j but
this I will aver, that there was no city, town, pr place in Great Britain,
that fuffered fo much, or that (hewed greater zeal in the fame circum-
ftances. And without derogating from the merit of any one, I may
Uy, that there are not many cities in the united kingdom, that have fo
often, or fo remarkably diftinguiihed themfelves in the caufe of liberty^
It was this, Sir : It was the whole tenor of this city's condu<5t, from the
fime of the reformation, that drew the refentment of the rebels upon it,
and
♦ This fpeech wa« alfo ^rritten by Gordon.
[ 105 ]
and made them refolve upon the extravagant demand they at firft madeC«Ap.VIlI.
upon that city. If they had infifted upon their firft demand, the city j,^,,.
muft have been ruined ; becaufc it would have been impuffible for the
inhabitants to have raifed fuch a fum. Of this they had the good for-
tune to convince the chiefs of the rebels ; and even the rebels Ihevved,
that they had no inclination to ruin fuch a flourilhing city, though the
inhabitants appeared generally to be their enemies. Shall a Britilh Par-
liament, Sir, fhew lefs regard to their friends, than the rebels Ihewed to
their enemies ? The rebels gave them io,oool. that is to fay, they paffed
from io,oool. of their firft demand, rather than ruin the cityj and this
I may the morejuftly call giving them io,oool. becaufe, if the rebels
had plundered the city, they would have found three times the value of
that fum among the inhabitants. If then, the rebels gave that city
io,oool. rather than expofe it to ruin, fhall a Britiih Parliament refufc to
give it io,oool. to preferve it from ruin ?
It really fhocks me. Sir, to fee fuch a queftion Hand a debate in a
Britifh Houfc of Commons. If the rebels had fucceeded in their fla-
gitious attempt, and had called a SlaviOi Parliament, for they would
never have called a free one, I fhould not have wondered to fee fuch a
queftion oppofed in a Houfe of Commons alTembled by their authority;
but it aftoniflies me to fee I'uch a queftion oppofed in a Houfe, where
every member prefent profefles his friendfliip for that city, and acknow-
ledges the gratitude due to it from the public, for its behaviour. The
Hon. Gentleman told us, he did not intend to depreciate the real
merit of the city of Glafgow : I do not know what he intended ; but he
endeavoured to fliew, that the behaviour of that city was not fo meri-
torious as reprefented, becaufc they attempted nothing in favour of
Government, till after the rebels had marched into England, from
whence they had reafon to exped that noneof th«m would ever return.
This Sir, was certainly an infinuation, that the people of Glafgow
never did any thing in favour of the Government, as long as they
thouo-ht the Government in any danger from the rebellion ; and if this
had really been the cafe, I ftiould have had no great opinion of their
merit. But I ftiall ftiew, that before the rebel army entered Eng.
land, it was not in the power of the people of Glafgow to do any thing
in favour of the Government ; and that they had not then the leaft
Vol. I. P """fo"
[ io6 J
reafon to imagine thai: Government was ovt of all danger from the
rebellion.
When W3 coTfider, Sir, that the rebels miixheJ through one half
of E-iglanM, without any oppofition from the militia : When we confi-
der, that even in thfir retreat back again, though purfued by the Duke
and the regular forces, they met with no obftrudlion from the militia;
we cannot with any juftice blame the fouth or weft parts of Scotland,
for not oppofing them with their militia. And as to the city of Glaf-
gnw, it had neither time to provide for its defence, nor was it capable
of making a refiftance, had it had time : The town is an open town,
without fo much as a wall round it, and the inhabitants had neither
arms, ammunition, nor any fort of military difcipiine among them ; fo
that it was impofliblefor them to think of oppofing an army of High-
landers, who are by the care of their chiefs, bred up to artns and military
difcipiine from their infancy. Befides, they had no time for fuch an
undertaking; for the rebels came down upon them in a very few weeks
after firft appearing in arms; and, till the battle at Preflon, every one
had reafon to believe, that General Cope, with the forces under his com-
mand, would have given a good account of them.
The cafe was very different. Sir, both with regard to Newcaftle and
Carlifle, becaufe both being furrounded with a wall, may, in a few
days, be fo foftificd, as to be able to refift a flying party. Yet how
little refiftance did the latter make ? For though they had many weeks
to prepare for their defence, though they had hopes of being relieved
in a few days by the army then afiembled at Newcaftle, under Marfliai
Wade, they gave up their city the very next day after they found the
rebels were preparing for a general aflault ; and yet that city, or at leaft
the caftle might have held out much longer againft the rebels, who had
no battering cannon along with them ; for a fmall party of the rebels
held out the caftle afterwards for fome days againft the Duke, and would
probably have held out much longer, if they had not heard that fome
battering cannon were upon the road from Whitehaven, to be employed
againft them.
Now, Sir, as to the opinion the people of Glafgow might have of the
fafety of the Government, or the event of the rebellion, at the time the
rebel army marched into England, they could not have fuch thoughts of
cither
[ 107 ]
fither as the Hon. Gentleman was pleafed to reprefent ; for as to tlie
fmall number of that army, the people in Scotland had from thence rca-
fon to fear, that the rebels were well affured of being joined by great
numbers in England, or that there was treachery both in Lis Majelly's
councils and armies ; for without fome fuch well-grounded hopes, no
one could fuppofe, that men of common fenfe would think of invading
England with an army of 5 or 6000 Highlanders. At the time of the
Revolution, when it was at firft faid, that the Prince ot Orange was to
invade England with an army of 30,000 men, and many of the King's
friends feemed to be frightened at the news, a noble Lord, who was
known to be a firm friend, feemed to make light of the news, and faid,
he apprehended no danger from fuch an army ; but when it was after-
wards reported, that the Prince was to bring 20,000, he began to be
afraid; and when he heard that the Prince was to come with 14,000
only, then, cries he, « We are undone !" When they alked him the rea-
fonj why he was fo much afraid of 14,000 when he feemed no way afraid
of30,ooo, heanfwercd, " An army of 30,000 could not conquer Eng-
« land; but no man would come here with an army of 14,000, if he
« was fure of not finding a great many traitors amongft ourfelves,"
This, Sir foon appeared to be a juft way of thinking; ar,d though
the event fliewed, that if the rebels had any fuch hopes, thofe hopcj
were very ill grounded ; yet this the people of Glafgow could not fore-
fee ; therefore, from the fmall number of the rebel army, they had, ac-
cording to the fame way of thinking, rather caufe to dread the event,
than to fuppofe that none of that army would ever return : Nor could
they fuppofe this from the fpirit that appeared in England in favour ot"
the Government ; for though I am very well convinced, that this fpint
was fincere- and true, yet I am afraid, that if the rebel-leader could have
perfuaded his people to have ventured a battle againft the Duke in Staf-
fordlhire, or to have given him the flip, marched towards London, and
fought a battle near this city, the fate of England would have dependi-d
upon the iflue of that battle; for if they had obtained a viaory, and
made themfclves matters of London, I quettion much, if the fpirit of
the populace would not foon have taken a very different turn.
I muft therefore conclude, Sir, that when the rebel army marched to
England, the people of Glafgow could form no judgment with any ccr-
taintv, about the event of the rebellion ; and conkquently, that what
P 2 they
r ic8 ]
C«AP. VIII. they did afferwards, could proceed from nothing but their fteady attach-
' — ' — ' ment fo this Govtrnment; and I muft add, that their zeal was much
the more meri o lous, as it was manifeiled after they had feverely fmarted
for it, in having fuch a large fum of money cxiorted from them by the
rebels, mi rely on account of the zeal they had formerly (hewn for fup-
porting the liberties of their country. A burnt child, they fay dreads
the fire ; and if the people of Glafgow, after having fmarted fo fenfibly
for their loyalty, had refolved to lie quiet, and wait the event of things,
their conduft, would have been cxcufable : By holding fueh a conduft,
they would have been confiderable gainers, even though we fhould
grant the money now moved for. But they honcftly and bravely re-
folved not to be idle fpeftators of the confufions of their country. They
refolved to be aftlve in putting a happy end to them as foon as poffible ;
and with this view, as ioon as they had an opportunity, they put them-
felves to very great expence.
To fay, Sir, that this expence was attended with no fiiccefs or
effeft, is what no man can lay with any certainty ; for the regiment
they raifed andfent to Stirling, with two more, fo effedtually guarded
that pafs, that no reinforcement ever did march that way to the
rebels; and the regiment they kept at home, very probably pre-
vented any reinforcement being fent by the way of GUfgow. And
though our army was unfortunate at the aifair of Falkirk, yet if the
the Glafgow regiment had not been there, it might have been much
more uniortunate, and the viftory of the rebels more complete; for
though that regiment was engaged in the aftion, it is evident, that it
was not defeated and difperfed, becaufe if it had, the men would have
run home, whereas it retreated in good order to Edinburgh, v/ithout the
lofs of a man, except thofc that were killed, wounded, or taken prilb-
ners at the battle.
As to the behaviour of the Northern counties, and that of Newcaftle
in particular, comparifons are odious, Sir, and I Ihould have avoided
making any, if I had not been forced to it by the Honourable Gen-
tleman who fpoke laft. I fliall readily acknowledge, and gratefully own
the dutiful zeal of all chefc places for the fupport of his Majefty's Go-
vernment; and I muft likewife confefs, that thole who do not defire
from the public any reimburfement of the expence they were at upon
that occafion, have more merit than thofe that do; but at the fame time
muft
muft obfcrve, that before the rebels left Ldinburgh, all thofe pi ices were \^^ J'
fecured againfl any vifii from them, not only by the ftrong town of Bcr- 1749-
wick, but by an army equal to that of the rebels rncamped near New-
caftle, and commandrd by ce of the bed Generals in the frvice;
whereas the inhabitants of Glafgow (hewed their zeal for his Majefly,
even when the rebels were mafters of their country. And as to the ex-
pence, it muft be acknowledged, that over and above the relief now
prayed for, that city was, either voluntarily, or by compulfion, at a
much greater expence, in proportion, than any of the places mentioned;
for, from what was faid by the Gentleman at your bar, it appears, that
over and above the two fines extorted from them by the rebels, their
expence amounted to above 8000I. which is greater than what the town
of Newcaftlc is faid to have been put to •, and is, I am fure, more in
in proportion, for the fingle city of Glafgow alone, than 30,000!. is for
the whole county of York. Befides, Sir, none of thofe placei fiiffered
any interruption in their trade or manufaftures, whereas the trade and
manufaftures of Glafgow were at full (lop, almoft during the whole time
of the rebellion. To which I muft add, that the expence of the former
was voluntary, whereas a great part of the latter's expence was by com-
pulfion, which makes a very great difference ; for people may gcneroufty
contribute more to the affiftancc of Government, as all thofe places did,
but they will never voluntarily contribute more than they can fpare j
whereas a people may be forced to contribute what would infallibly
prove their ruin, ihould they meet with no retribution; which is the
he cafe now before us.
Then, Sir, as to the city of Carlifle, the rebels might perhaps raife
the taxes there, as they did in many other places; but I cannot think
they impofed any fine upon that city : I am rather inclined to think they
favoured it, becaufe the people abfolutely refufed to fupport his Majef-
ty's commanding officer there in making a ftout refiftance, which was the
caufe of the city and caftle's being furrendered. I therefore think, we
have no need to be afraid of an application for relief from any of thofe
places ; at leaft, I am fure that if any fuch application fhould be made,
it cannot be fo well fupported as the application now under our confi-
deration ; and confequently, our complying with this, can be no prece-
dent for our complying with any future.
But
( »'0 )
Chap. VIII, ^^^ tlut of introducing a bad precedent, is not, it feems, Sir, the only
'—-'^ — ' danger we are to expofe ourfelves to by agreeing to this motion : we are
befidcs threatened with the danger of exciting a rebellion in England,
This, Sir, is fo imaginary a danger, that I cannot think there is any one
Gentleman in this Houfe that is really afraid of it. If there fhould be
no future application of this kind, we can be in no fuch danger j be-
caufe no man can bedifobligcd at the Parliament's not granting him re-
liff, if he does not apply for it; and I have good reafon to hope, that
that there will be no fuch future application. I hope all gentlemen
and bodies politic in Great Britain, will follow the example of the city
of Glafgow, and defire no relief for what they voluntarily contributed
towards the fupport of his Majefty's Government, nor for what they fuf-
ffred in being obliged to give free quarters to the rebels ; and if wc
have no application upon either of thefe heads, I believe we can have
no applcation made to us upon any other. Butfuppofe we (hould have
fome applications, we ihall then have an opportunity to confider their
merit j and if the circumftances of the peticioners fhould appear to be
fame with thofe of the petitioners now before us, 1 do not queflion their
meeting with the fame fuccefs. If their circumftances fhould appear to
be different, and not near fo merritorious, we may refufe their petition
with fiifetv; becaufe, however partial they may be in their own favour,
the reit of the nation will judge impartially, and approve our rcfufal ;
and if the reft of the nation approve it, we can be in no danger of its
exciting a rebellion in this part of the kingdom.
Another danger we arc threatened with upon this occafion is, that if
we ao-ree to this motion, it will encourage people not to be aftive in de-
fending themfelves againft any future invafiqu or infurreftion, or per-
haps, under the pretence of force, to contribute to its fupport. This
I fliall grant. Sir, might be the confequence of laving it down as a gene-
ral principle, that all who fuffer by an jnvafion or infurreftion, fhall
have their lofs made good by the i.ublic; and therefore it would be
wrong to lay down fuch a general principle. But if the laying down
a principle would furely be wrong, it would J3e much rrjore fo, to lay the
contrary down as an unalterable maxim of ftate. It would be unjuft,
^s well as imprudent, to lay it down as a principle, that thofe who ho-
neftly and bravely rifk their lives and fortunes in oppcfition to an
invafion or infuirc<^ion, and have fuffrred fevercly on account of that
oppofition
»7S°'
[ III ]
oppofitlon, fliould meet with no relief fro;n the public, efpecially when Chap. VITr,
their prcftivacio or ruin depends upon that relief, which appears to be
the cafe now before us. And if we confidcr this, we muft allow, that if we
think (jf the jultice due to the public creditors, or of relieving our poor
labourers and manufadturers, we mud agree to this motion, becaufe the
the public revenue will fuffer a great deal more by the ruin of fuch a
trading town as Glafgow, than it can fufFer by granting the relief defired
by the petitioners for preventing that ruin.
This relief, Sir, they cannot have from the produce of the forfeited
eftates in Scotland. It wouJd be like prefcribing a remedy to a fick
man, which could not be got ready ttll after his diftemper had put an
end to his life. It will be feveral years before any thing can be made
of thofe eftates; and in the mean time, the city of Glafgow muft be
ruined with law charges, by their creditors fuing for their money, which
they will certainly do, if their intereft be not regularly paid. This it is
impoflible for the Corporation to do out of their prefent income, and at
the fame time fupporc their neccflary annual expence; therefore their
ruin mufl be inevitable, or the relief now moved for mult be granted.
The motion was agreed to.
The feflion ended the 13 th of June, 1749.
Nothing material happened during the fummer.
On the 1 6th of November, 1749, Parliament met again j
when it appeared, that the party in Oppofition had increafed
confiderably in number; and being under the patronage of the
Prince of Wales, who was highly popular at this time; they
were, from that circumftance, favourably judged of by the
public. The addrefs, and many other points, were warmly de-
bated ; but Mr. Pitt did not fpeak upon any of them.
When the mutiny bill was brought in, (January 1750) Col.
GtORGE TowNSHEND, afterwards Marquis Townshend, pro-
pofed a claufe, by way of rider, for preventing any non-com-
miflioned
«-5c.
[ 112 ]
Crap. viit. nilflloiied officer's being broke, or reduced to the ranks, or any
V??"' foldier's being punifhed, but by the fentence of a Court Maitial.
He informed the Houfe, that his claufe was founded upon in-
dubitable fa6ls. He faid he had witnefTes at the door, to prove,
that a ferjeant and corporal were reduced to the ranks, becaufe
fome of their party in the rear, as they were going upon duty
to the play-houfe, happened to fay in the ftreet, Vanaeput jor
ei}er ! — for this heinous offence, which they could not prevent,
the two non-commiffioned officers were, without trial, reduced
to the ranks. There was a long debate.
Mr. Pitt (who was ftill Paymafter) fpoke againft the
Mr.pitt's rp«cu claufe. —
B"iii,caic"-i'nmg I ncvcr Will agrcc, he faid, to call officers and foldiers to the bar of
e"ciion.'"'° " this Houfe, to traduce and impeach each other. If they once learn the
way to come here with their complaints, they will next come with their
petitions. Our bufinefs is to confider of the number of forces neceffary
jvj s, for the defence of this kingdom, and our pofTeiTions, and to grant the
money for the maintaining that number. We have no bufinefs with the
condud of the army, or the officers or foldiers complaints; thofe are
fubjeds which belong to the King, or to fuch as Ihall be commiffioncd
by him to hear them. If we give ear to them, we Ihall not only de-
ftroy the difcipline of the army, but make Parliament deteftable ; foj.
it will be impoffible to give fatisfaftion to both partier; befides caufing
great trouble and ncgleft of duty, in coming from diftant parts of the
kingdom. Therefore, I hope, Sir the Houfe will not permit any enquiry
to be made into the complaint that has been offered. There is not the
Icaft pretence for faying that it relates to the freedom of eleflion; nor
to the particular eledlion for Weftminfter now going on. It relates
fingly to the duty of two non-commiffioned officers, fent out with a
party, upon duty, and it was the ferjeant's duty to have made report of
this circumftance, if it happened, and he knew of it, to his commanding
officer. "Why he did not, is not for us to enquire; nor is it a queftlon
for this Houfe to determine, v/hethcr the commanding officer has pu-
nched his ferjeant and corporal with unmerited fevery. It belongs to a
Court Martial, or Board of Officers,
The
M.S.
[ 113 J
The'claufe was withdrawn;
On the 5th of February, 1750, Lord Egmont moved for co-
pies of all letters and papers, relative to the demolition of Dun-
kirk, according to the late treaty of Aix la Chapelle. *
Mr. Pitt oppofed this motion. He faid it was not only impolitic ^^^^.^,^^^^^^^^
but dangerous •, as tending to involve the nation in another war with onD.nki k.
France, when it was notorious we were in no fituation adequate to bear
the cxpence. It was a very good anfwer to the motion, to fay it was
premature; for fince the conclufion of the treaty, there had not yet been
opportunity to execute all the articles of it : that the coft of the work
bting to be defrayed and performed by the French, they may fay, " our
finances arc reduced, we cannot afford the money at prefenc, but (hall in
a little time." At all events, the motion, he faid, was highly improper
at that moment. It was an affront to the French Court, and as we
were not in a condition to fupport it, by any flrong meafures, it was ex-
hibiting our petulance and impotence. At a future periud, with a re-
cruited finance and repaired marine, the motion may be proper, if the
terms of the treaty have not been complied with. But if the motion is
carried, and it fliould come out, that Dunkirk is now in the ftate that it
was in by the treaty of Utrecht, explained in the year 1717, which he be-
lieved to be the faft, would any Gentleman fay, this was a crime in the
prcfent Miniifry ? or a fufficicnt reafon for a quarrel with France?^
The motion was negatived by 242 to 115.
On the 1 7th of Janury 1 75 1 , the Parliament met. The King
in his fpeech informed them, that he had concluded a treaty with
Spain, and another with the Elcftor of Bavaria. The addrefs
was moved in the ufual ftile, approving of thefe treaties, al-
though they had not then been laid before the Houfe ; which
occafioned a long debate.
* Lord Melcombk fays, (in hk Diary) that this motion originatad with the Prince ;
and when the inutility of it was repreicnted to hit Royal Highnefs, he faid, " that
making the motion ^YOuld make the Miniftiy feel they had la CorJt an Col,
Vol. I. Q Lord
I'i'.
[ iH ]
CuAP.vili. Lord Egmont moved to leave out all the words of approba-
1751. tion in the addrefs. He was anfwered by
Mr. Pitt ; who faid, the treaty with Bavaria was founded in the beft
political wifdoni j it was a wife meafure, as tending mofl effcftually to
Mr.p;tt'sfpeechprcferve the balance of power in Germany ; and of courfe to prefervc
wVhBev'jrir thc tpaoqu Tuy of Europe. The Elector of Bavaria was taken off from
andSpaiD. ^j^^ Ftcnch intcreft by it; which, as it contributed to weaken the Houfe
of Bourbon, it contributed to the continuation of peace. The treaty
with Spain, was a wife and advantageous meafure. The Court of Spain
^■^- had agreed to many conceflions-, they had agreed to pay a large fum to
the South Sea Company; to the re-cftablifliment of the Britifti trade in
Spain ; that Britifh fubjefts were to pay no other duties on merchandize,
than what the King of Spain's own fubjedls were to pay. Lord Eg-
mont had obfervcd; that the claim of «o fearch had not been revived in
the treaty -, and not being even mentioned in ir, this elTcntial point had
been totally abandoned. To this part of Lord Egmont's fpecch, Mr.
Pitt anfwered, that he had once been an advocate for that claim ; it
was when he was a young man ; but now he was ten years older; had
confidered public affairs more coolly ; and was convinced, that the claim
o( fio Jearch, refpefling Britifh veffels near the coafl: of Spanilh America,
could never be obtained unlefs Spain was fo reduced, as to confent to
any terms, her conqueror might think proper to impofe.
Lord Egmont's motion was negatived, by 203 againft 74.
DtHhrf the On the 20th of March the Prince of Wales died.
PrinoeofWalfS
It is not the defign of this work to ftate the particulars of any
event, which have been already related in other books, unlefs fuch
relation is very erroneous. This event is no otberwife neceffary
to mention here, than as it annihilated the plan of a regular and
iyftematic Oppofition that was forming, and when completed,^
was intended to act under his Royal Highnefs's protection and
controul. Lord Melcombe's printed account admits this fact,
in part. But there are letters from perfons of the firfl confide-
tion.
t ri5 ]
ration, which may perhaps, in fome future day be printed, ^"■'^''•^'^"•
which flate this and other traits of the Prince's chara6lcr, '-S'-
ftronger, and with more truth than Lord Melcombe has done.
The printed accounts of the Prince's charafler, are not very
exa6l. Perhaps they were written foon after his death, when
gn impartial writer, might be influenced by caution.
There was a caprice in his Court, which a dignified mind,
like that of Mr. Pitt, could not approve. After his death, this
caprice was fucceeded by a partiality to two or three perfonsj
which laid the foundation of a FaiSlion of the moft Angu-
lar and extraordinary kind, and of an Influence in the fucceed-
hig reign, as difgraceful as it was unfortunate.
Q^2 CHAP.-
[ ii6 ]
CHAP. IX.
I'he Regency appointed — The Bedford's turned out-^Mr, Pitt's
treatment of the Duke of Newcajile — Mr. Pitt's Bill for the
"Relief of the Chelfea Penf oners.
nr^HE death of the Prince of Wales filled the Oppofition
**■ with the greateft confternation and confufion; Several
thought of making terms with the Minifter — othei-s of feceding
—and fome were for remaining with the Princefs, and taking
the chance of events.
The Regency The firft mcafure of Government was the fettlement of a
appomc. Regency; which was done upon fair and liberal terms. The
Princefs Dowager was made Regent, and guardian of the minor,
as well as of her other children. Being a female, there was a
Council of Regency appointed, confifting of the great Officers
of State, and the Duke of Cumberland was placed at the
head of it. This compliment to the Duke, occafioned fome in-
vidious fpeeches in Parliament, from Gentlemen who were not
acquainted with the Duke's real chara6ler. Time has fnewn
that the analogies they offered in the way of prophecy, had not
the leaft foundation in truth. The Duke had, in the judgment
of thefe Gentlemen, treated the Scot's rebels with too much fe-
verity. But this was a juftifiable feverity. And thofe who
had latent defigns, forgave not the difappointment.
The debate was upon the claufe refpeding the Council. Mr;
Pitt defended the bill; but by fomething he faid concerning
the Council, Mr. Fox thought he hinted at the Duke of Cum-
berland, and began defending the Duke; but Mr. Pitt ex-
plained
[ 117 3
plained in fuch terms, that Mr. Fox went away without divld- ^;|^^
ing. The debate being in a Committee, the Speaker (Onslow) i7i'-
made a very able fpeech againft the claufe; which he deprecated.
as fraught with great and probable evils; he dreaded no impro-
per ambition in the Duke, nothing he was confident, was far-
ther from his Royal Highnefs's heart j but his apprehenfion was,
that the Duke and Princess \nov\^,v\oI coalefce in meafures;
and he infinuated in delicate terms, his anxiety upon the mifun-
derftanding which fubfifted between the Princess Dowager and
the Princefs Amelia; and the warm affeaion between the
latter Princefs and her brother. This fpeech gave Mr. Pel ham
a great deal of uneafinefs; and he often mentioned it,
The Regent was not Impeded in her juft authority, by any
harfti conditions; nor were there any limitations of her power
introduced, that implied the leaft fufpicion of her integrity or
reaitude. The King himfelf treated her with every mark of jc-
fpea, attention, and afFeaion. He frequently vifited her; and
12,5001. were immediately paid her; and notwithllanding the
war, which quickly followed, demanded greater fupplies than the
war of any former period, yet her money was always aaually
paid ; and' when the Prince of Wales (George III.) arrived at
the age of eighteen, the King ordered him a feparate allowance,
(over and above what was given to the Princefs) of 40,0001 per
annum, from his Civil Lift.
The Party which had arranged themfelves under the late
Prince of Wales, being now without head, or cement, the
Pelhams faw they had an opportunity of encreafing the num-
ber of their fupporters, by embracing the fugitives, and turning
out the Duke of Bedford and his friends ; who had never aded » 1.a .u,.
cordially
[ n8 ]
Chap. IX. cordially with thenij not even during the war. In June 1751,
'""^Ttp!"^ the Duke of Bedford was difmifled from the office of Secretary
of State, and Lord Sandwich from the poflof Firft Lord of
the Adinirahy, Lord Trentham, (fince created Marquis of
Marquis of Stafford) from the fame Board, and fome others
of his Grace's friends, from other offices. Thefe Noblemen and
Gentlemen being joined by thofe, of the late Prince's party, who
had not united with the Pelhams, they formed a frefh oppofi-
tion; and though they were not eonfiderable in number, yet
they were fuppofed to be privately countenanced by the Duke
of Cumberland, and to have a fecret communication with
Mr. Fox. Lord Holdernesse fucceeded the Duke cf Bed-
ford, and Lord Anson was placed at the Admiralty.
The feffion clofed in June, and nothing material happened
during the fummer.
Parliament met again on the 14th of November 1751, but
there were no debates ; and the feffion clofed on the 25lh of
March 1752. Five days after the Parliament rofe, the King
went to Hanover. During his Majefty's abfence, there was ^
great deal of intriguing and negociating, amongft; the parties ;
in all which, Mr. Pitt and the Grenvilles were totally
omitted. The encreafing weight and confequence of Mr. Pitt
in the Houfe of Commons, excited the jealoufy of the principal
perfons in office, as well as of thofe in Oppofition. He was not
ignorant of the clandiftine proje6ls of both parties ; but he de.
fpifed them. In one conference he had with the Duke of New-
castle, he treated that Nobleman in fuch a manner, that if he
had not dreaded him, he would have difmifled him ; for he ftill
held the port of Paymafler. The fubjedl of the conference was,
the
r-'-
[ 1^9 ]
the meafures the King was taking in Germany, to fecure the Chap. ix.
election of a King of the Romans: In which Mr. Pitt told '" ij^^r'
him, he engaged for fubfidies without knowing the extent, and
for aUiances without knowing the terms. The Duke com-
plained of Mr. Pitt's hauteur, to his confidential friend, Mr.
Stone, who advifed his Grace to overlook it, faying it would be
moft prudent.
»75i-
»754-
In the fucceeding feflion, which began on the nth of Janua-
ly 1753, and ended the 7th of June, in the fame year, Mr. Pitt
took no part in any of the debates.
And he was alfo totally filent in the next feflion, which com-
menced on the 15th of November 1753, and clofcd on the 6th of
April 1754.
In 1754 Parliament was difTolved.
The new Parliament met on the 14th of November 1754.
Mr. Pitt was ftill in his office of Paymafter. The next day,
(the 15th) as foon as the addrefs was reported, Mr. Pitt moved
for leave to brine in a bill, which will be an everlafting menu- .. ^ . .,
" O Mr. Tut s bill,
ment of his humanity. He prefaced this motion with a me- [re ch J?ei'r?/.
lancholy defcription of the hardfliips to which the out Peifioners """'"
of Chelfea-hofpital were expofed, by the prefent improper mode
of paying their penfions. The poor difabled veterans, he faid)
who were entitled to this excellent charity, were cruelly op-
prelTed, by a number of wretches, who fupplied them with mo-
ney in advance. By the prefent method, the poor man can re-
ceive no money, until he has been twelve months upon the lift.
This was extremely unjuftj becaufe the poor veteran's merit,
and
[ 120 ]
^X^' ^"^ claim to the chanty, [commenced from the moment of his
'^^^* difabihty in the fervice. But by this delay of the firft payment,
he was under the neceflity of borrowing money, upon the cir_
tificate of his admiffion upon the lift. He was fupplied with
a pittance, by one of the people called ufurers ; who compelled
the poor wretch to allow him a moft exorbitant intereft. The
practice continuing a few years, the penfioner had nothing to
fubfifton; the whole of his penfion being fwallowed up in
ufury. To remedy this grievance, he propofed, by his bill, that
when the penfioner was admitted upon the Hft, half a year's
penfion ihould be advanced, and paid him j with fome other re-
gulations on the fame humane principle, and the bill to com-
mence on the 25th of December, 1754. The bill was imme-
diately brought in, and unanimoufly paffed both Houfes, with
uncommon expedition.
Mr. Pitt took no part in the debates during the feflion j
which ended on the 25th of April, JJSS'' ^^'^ ^^^^^^ ^^7^ after,
the King fet out for Hanover.
CHAP.
( 121 )
CHAP. X.
Death of Mr. Pelham — Mr. Fox wiJJies to be made Secretary of
State, and Minijier of the Houfe of Comtiwjis — Explanation of
Minifier of the Houfe of Cornmom — Mr. Pitt expeiis to be made
Secretary of State — Sir T!homaiRobinfon appointed — General dif-
fatisjaSlion — Tarty at Lcicefer Hoife — State of the nation.
I
N March 1754 Mr. Pelham died. This event proved as Ckap. x,
fatal to the Miniftry, as the death of the Prince of Wales '"^'l,:^
had been to the Oppofition.
Mr. Fox, who was Secretary at War, 'wifhed to fucceed to
Mr. Pelham s fituation, and the Oppofition offered to act un- to be m^de s«
derhim, if he was appointed ; but the Duke of Newcastle
faid, " he had been feco?id Minifier long enough ; that he
would not have a£led in that capacity under any body but his
brother ; and now his brother was gone, he would be at the head
of theTreafury himfelf." Mr. Fox then folicited the Duke, to
fucceed his Grace in the ofhceof Secretary of State : and it is very
probable, that this requeft would' have been granted, had he not
infifted upon having the management of the Houfe of Commons;
which the Duke preremptorily refufed ; and upon that point the
negociation broke off.
The management of the Houfe of Commons, as it is called,
is a confidential department, unknown to the Conflitution. In Houffoi com*.
the public accounts, it is immerfed under the head of Secret Ser-""""'*
vice. It is ufually given to the Secretary of State, when that
pofl is filled by a Commoner. The bufinefs of the department
Vol. I. R is
r 122 J
Is to diftribute, with art and policy, amongfl the members, who
tiave no oftenfible places, fums of moneyj for their fuppart du-
ring the fedion ; befides contracls, lottery tickets, and other
douceurs. It is no uncommon circumft-ance at the end of a
feffion, for a gentleman to receive five hundred or a thoufand
pounds, for hisfervices. *
When it was known, that <-he Duke of Newcastle intended
Mr. Pitt expefls
tob. sc«raary fi^g Treafurv for himfelf, Mr. Pitt expected, that the Seals of
of 3 lace. ■' '
Secretary of State would have been offered to him. It is cer-
tain,
• Mr. Fox was fo confident his negotiation with the Duke would fucceed, that
while it was pending, he feiit the following letter to his friends ;
" Sir,
»« The King has declared his intention to make me Secretary of State, and I
{very unworthy as I fear I am of fuch an undertaking) mujl take the coJiduii of
the H'jufe of Commons. I cannot therefore well accept the office, till after the
lirft day's debate, which may be a warm one. A great attendance that day of my
friends, will be of the greateft confequence to my future fituation, and I fh»ould
be extremely happy, if you would for that reafon, fliew yourfelf amongft them,
to the ^reat honour of, &c. &c.
H. F O X."
In the memoirs of the Marchionefs of Pompadour, (vol. I. pages 57, 58, 59,
Eng. Tranf. 1766.) we are prefented with a very interefling anecdote, written to
Cardinal Fleury, by an EngliJI} Mlr.ijier of that time.
•' I penfion f writes the Minlfter) half the Parliament, to keep h quiet. But as
the King's money is not fufEcient, they, to whom I give none, clamour loudly
for a war ; it would be expedient for your Eminence to remit me three millions
of French livres, in order to filence thefe barkers. Gcld'is a metal which here
correiSts all ill qualities in the blood. A penfion of 2000I. a year will make the
moft impetuous warrior in Parliament, as tame as a lamb."
By the help of this anecdote, we are enabled to comprehend the myjllcal mean-
ing of a Minifter's ^'tf««/«f of a Parliament, and of a Minifter's conducing a
Houfe of Commons. — The former phrafe we find ufed by Mr. Tindal, in the
oftavo edition of his hiftory of England, vol. 2i{l, page 439— It runs thus ;
«' Mr. P , before his death, had fettled the ylan of the new Parliament.')
—..—and fame vol. page 510, he fubjoins — ♦* As to the eledlions they went
much in the fame track that had bitn laid out by Mr. P— — ."
[ J^3 ]
tain, that he did not afk for them, but he expelled them without Chap. x.
afking. This chfappointment was in fome degree paUiated, by 175+,
makuig Mr. George Grenville, Treafurer of the Navy ; who
at that time lived in the utmoft intimacy with Mr. Pitt ; and
they were become relations, by Mr. Pitt having lately married
his fifter. Mr. Legge was appointed Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, and Sir Thomas Robinson Secretary of State, and fome*^;^^_-^'^^^J''^''-'^
other alterations were made. But notwithftanding this ar-
rangement, there was a general diflatisfadion throughout all cener;.! <iif-
parties. Some difliked the meafures, others difliked the men ;
in fine, nobody was pleafed j neither thofe in office, nor thofe
out : and there was a new party forming, that feemed to menace
more danger to their views, than their own differences. This
was the party of Leicefter-houfe ; which threw a general alarm,
and confter nation over the whole. No one was quite certain of Pirty »t uktc
whom this party confifted. Several individuals in ofnce, and 111
Oppofition, were fufpe6led of fecretly belonging to it.
The flame of war had been kindled in North America, and it
was preparing to burft out in Europe. Great Britain was every
day moreclofely rivetted to the continent, by frefli engagements ; nation. ' "
while her own proper bufinefs was totally negle6led. Her fleet
was rotting in ordinary; her army, except fuch corps as were un-
der the eye of the Duke of Cumberland, relaxed in difcipline.
Her Minifters were timid by difunion, and their meafures were
enervated by ignorance. Hov^'ever unpleafing the fa6l may be
to relate, it is a fa6t, which the bed informed perfons will not
contradid, that the principal, if not only attention of all defcrip-
tions of men, was employed at this time in intriguing and nego-
tiating for places. But in this general aflertion, it is not to be
underftood, that all parties were influenced by the fame motives. ,
R 2 There
[ »24 ]
There is no doubt that fome perlons were actuated by the pafllon
of I'clf iniereft ; but it is equally true, that there were many who
were governed by a finceredefire to ferve the country; that offices
were ho otherwife their obje6ls, than as they gave them power
and fituation to do good. This diftinclion it is not only proper,
but necefTaiy to make; becaufe it was a principle laid down in
the next reign, and the votaries of the Court diffeminated it
with uncommon art and induftry, that all mankind were knaves
alike ; that the fubje6ls of all Kings, ought to look for honefty
in the royal bofom ; they faid it refided no where elfe. This
political biafphemy, came with unpardonable effrontery from
the followers of a Court, wliich owed its elevation to the true
orthodox principles of the Conftitution.
CHAP.
I '«5 1
CHAP. XI.
Caufes of the difag)-eements at Leicefinr-boufe^^Lord Harcmtt and
jDr. Hayter refign their pojis of Governor and Preceptor to the
Prince — Duke of Bedford's motion upon this fubjeSl in the Houfe
of Lords-'^Further explanation of the principles inculcated at
Leicefter-houfe.
UPON the death of Frederick Prmce of Wales, the edu- CwAP-xr,
cation of the Prince (George III.) had been committed '"Tt^jT'
to Lord Harcourt as Governor j to Dr. Hayter, Bifliop of
Norwich, as Preceptor; and to Andrew Stone, Efq. brother
to the Primate of that name, as Sub-Governor; recommended
by the Duke of Newcastle; and to Mr. Scott, as Sub-pre-
ceptor ; recommended by Lord Bolingbroke. In about a
year and a half, a dlfagreement broke out amongft them, of a
very interefting nature. It was faid by the fnends of Leicefter-
houfe, that the Governor and Preceptor did not difcharge the
duties of their truft with alacrity. But it came out afterwards,
that this complaint lay deeper than was at firftfuppofed. There '
were two perfons concerned in this affair, whom it is proper to c ur.softt,e
mention particularly. Mr. Stone, was the moft particular .^il'ST"'"
friend and advifer of the Duke of Newcastle. The other,
Mr. Murray, afterwards Lord Mansfield, was in precifely
the fame fituation, and degree of credit, with Mr. Pelham.
Between Mr. Stone and Mr. Murray there fubfifted the
warmeft intimacy; not only their friendfliips ; but their princi-
ples and politics were perfectly congenial. Lord Bufe, who
had been Lord of the Bedchamber to the late Prince, and w^s
continued in the family, gained a fuperiour influence, by aiiiduity
and
Houfc.
ttr
*eliS"'
C t^6 1
Cha?. XI. attention. He was moreover favoured by the Prlncefs. The
»753' reierve of Lord Harcourt, and the very orderly demeanour
of the Bishop, gave great advantage, as well as opportunity, to
Lord Bute, who excelled in the aflumption of theatrical grace and
gefturej which, added to a good figure, rendered his converfa-
tion particularly pleafmg, and at length created a partiality in his
favour. The Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pelham, had in-
formation of every circumftance at Leicefter-houfe. In a little
time, the Bishop found fome very improper books put into the
hands of the Prince. He complained of this matter to the
Duke of Newcastle. And in a few days Lord Harcourt
i'ndDrH.ytcr and the B I SHOP refigned. From the period of making this ro2/«/^r
complaint, it became a flruggle between the party of Leicester-
houfe, and the Pf//6^wi, which fhould have the power of educating
the Prince. While this difpute was going on, a third party (the
Bedfords) interfered for the fame purpofe ; by attacking Stone
and Murray. Thefe gentlemen were charged with being Jaco-
bites. Lord Ravensworth brought the charge. A Committee
of the Privy Council was directed to enquire into it. The Com-
mittee fat feveral times upon it : but the two Confidents had the
addrefsto acquit themfelves ; though Mr. Fawcett, Recorder
of Nevvcaftle, fwore to their having drank the Pretender's health
feveral times.
On the 22d of March 1753, the Duke of Bedford made the
cukeofBcd- following motion in the Houfe of Lords : '* That an humble
for d't molioo. "
addrefs be prefented to his Majclty, that he would be gracioufly
pleafed to give orders, that there be laid before this Houfe. the
feveral examinations of the Lord Ravetifworth^ the Dean of Dur^
bamy Mr. Fawcett^ the Lord Bifliop of St. Afaph^ th« Lord Bi-
ihop oi Gloucester y the Honourable Mr. Murray^ his Majefty's
Sohcitor
[ 127 1
Solicitor General ; Andrew Stone, Efq. and flich other examma- Cwaf.xl
tions apon oath, ai> a >.'e been taken Dero.e the Lords appointed 1753.
by his Majerty to enquire into intormauous of a very material
nature, relating to a perfon in the fervice of their Royal High-
nelies the Prince of Wales and Prince Edward j and the other
perfons mentioned in the courfe of the faid examinations, like-
wife all letters and papers relative thereto, and the report made
by their Lordlhi^js to his Majefty thereupon." But the Duke of
Newcastle, and the reft of the Miniftry were againft the
motion ; and therefore it was negatived. Lord Harcourt faid
in the debate, that he found he had no authority over the
Prince's education j nor could he be of any fervice, unlefs the
Sub-governor and others (Scott and CrefTet*) were difmifTed, all
of whom he had flrong reafons to believe, were yacoh'fes, and
therefore he had refigned. The Pelhams thought they had
gained their point, in the prote6lion of Stone and Murray,
and in appointing Lord Waldegrave and the Primate to
fucceed the refigners -, while the faft was, they were deceived and
betrayed by their own people. By this fecret manoeuvre, the
influence and afcendancy of Lord Bute were completely efta-
blifhed- At that time was circulated by the Bedford party a re-
markable paper, which the reader will find in the note, -f- And in
the
» CrefTet was Secretary to the Prlncefs ; and upon her recommendation, was
appointed Treafurcr to the Prince,
f A Memorial of feveral Noblemen and Gentlemen of the ft;/} rank and fortune.
The Memorialifts rcprefent,
THAT the education of the Prince of Wales, is of the utmoft importance to
jhe whole nation : that it ©ught always to be entrufted to Noblemen of the moll
unblemifhed honour, and to Prelates of the moft diftinguiflied virtue, of the mod
accomplifhcd learning, and of the Dioft unfufpedcd principles, with regard to go-
vernment
[ 128 ]
CsAP. XI the weekly paper, called the Protefter, (pnnted m fmall folio, like
*^7r^ the North Briton, Auditor Szc. and which feerrss to be the paper
alluded to by Lord Melcomee, in his Diary, pp. 235 and 236)
number fifteen, September 8,1753, after faying a good dea labout
Stone, are thefe words, " And whatever may be the mifgivings
and repinings of thofe who expelled a kingdom of their own,
and who now fee themfelves for ever excluded, Thofe who have
the forming of the Touthy have reafon to proraife themfelves a
like afcendancy over the Man."
This bufmefs being fettled, Leiceftcr-houfe went on as it
pleafed. Stone and Murray, and Lord Bute, were in perfe6t
union ; not indeed oflenfibly, but confidentially; And in a very
little time, (that is before the war broke out) Lord Bath paid
his Court to Lord Bute, and was admitted of his Cabinet. From
this time may be dated that unhappy and dangerous idea, which
Lord Bute had imbibed, of forming a doul>Ie Cabinet: He
had
vernment both in Chureh and ^State : That the misfortunes which the nation
formerly fufFered, or efcaped, under King Charles I. King Charles II.
and King James II. were owing to the bad education of thofe Princes, who
were early initiated in maxims of arbitrary power : That for afaftion to engrofs
the education of the Prince of Wales to themfelves, excluding men of probity
and learning, is unwarrantable, dangerous, and illegal : That to place men about
the Prince of Wales, whofc principles are fufpeded, and whofe belief in thg
myfteries of our faith is doubtful, has the moft mifchievous tendency, and ought
juftly to alarm the friends of their country, and of the Proteftant fucceflion :
That for a Minifter to fupport low men, who were originally improper for the
high truft to which they were advanced, after complaints made of dark, fufpicious,
and unwarrantable methods made ufe of by fuch men, in their plan of education,
and to proteft and countenance fuch men in their infolent and unheard of beha-
viour to their fuperiors, is a foundation for fufpeding the worft defigns in fuch
Minifters : That, it being notorious that books •, inculcating the worft maxims
cf government, and defending the moft avowed tyrannies, have been put into the
hands
• Fjth«r Oaleans's Revolutions of the Houfe of Stuart. — Ramfays travtls of Cyrus. — Sir Robert
Filmer's Petritrch, and other books inculcating tlie fame principles.
C >«9 J
had it from Lord Bath, who told him, the official men ought
never to be trulled with information of any meafure, until it
was given them to execute. They were the fervanis, he faid, of
the executive power; not the power itfelf. This extraordinary
dodtrinc will appeair more fully, if the letters at Fojitlnll are
are printed j for Mr. Alderman Beckford was one of thofe,
who at this time, paid their devoirs at Leicefter-houfe.
After
hands of the Prince of Wales, it cannot but affect the memorial i/ls, with the
moft melancholy apprehcnfions, when they find that the men who had the ho»
nefty and refolution to complain of fuch aftonifliing methods of inftrudtion, arc
driven away from Courtf, and the men, who have dared to teach fuch doc-
trine?, are continued in truft and favour. That the fecurity of this Government,
being built on Whig principles, is alone fupported by Whig zeal. That the ef-
tabliftiment of the prefent Royal Family being fettled in the timely overthrow of
Queen Anne's laft Miniftry, it cannot but alarm all true Whigs, to hear of fchooi.
mailers of very contrary principles, being thought of for preceptors ; and to fee
none but the friendsand pupils of the late LonS Bolingbrokc cntrufted with the
education of a Prince, whofe family that Lord endeavoared, by his meafurcs, to
exclude, and by his writings to expel, from the throne of thefe kingdoms : That
there being great reafon to believe, that a noble Lord has accufed one of the Pre-
ceptors of Jacobitifm, it is aftonifhing that no notice has been taken of a con:-
plaint of fo high a nature ; on the contrary, the accufed perfon continues in th?
fame truft, without any enquiry iito the grounds of the charge, or any ftep
taken by the accufed, to purge himfelf of a crime of fo black a dye : That no
fatisfaiElion being given to the Governor and Preceptor, one of whom, though a
Nobleman of the moft unbiemifl^cd honour, and the other a Prelate of the moft
unbiaiTed
f AlluJingto the refijiutioiu of Lord Harcoiii « anJ Dr. Hayter, who wei'e fiicceedej bjr Lo.il Wal-
^icEiave aiiJ Dr. S;one.
The following lines were wiitteri under Di . Hayter's portrait, publifceU at this time :
Not gentler virtues glowM in Canibray's brcaft,
Not more his young Telem.ichus was blcfs'U i
'Till Envy, Faction, «nj ambitiuiis raje.
Drove from a £»i!ty Court the pious Sage.
B.ick to his fiock wrh tianfport, lie uith<lre%v.
And but oiie iigh, an honeft one, he knew !
■O ju.irJ my royal Pupil, Heaven ! he faid !
Let not liis youthbe, like my age, bctray'd !
I would have form'J hi» footfteps in thy way,
Bui Vice prevailsi and impiouii men bear fway !
Vol. I. S
[ 130 ]
After Stone and Murray had been acquitted by the Privy
Council, very little attention was paid to Leicefter-houie, or its
concerns, by the Pelhams, or their Whig friendy. In a very
few years, the ideas of a feparate intereft, and of a feparate
party, were become perfectly vilible at Leicefter-houfe.
CHAP.
unbiafll'd virtue, who have both been treated iii the grofTeft terms of abufe, by a
menial fervant of the family ; it is derogatory to his Majefty's authority, under
which they afled ; is an affront to the Peerage ; and an outrage to the dignity of
the Church. That whoever adviftd the rcfufal of an audience to the Bifhop of
Norwich, who was fo juftly alarmed at the wrong methods which he (nw taken in
the education of the Prince of Wales, is an enemy to this country, and can only
mean, at lead, to Q;overn by a faftion, or is himfelf influenced by a more dange-
rous faction, which intends to overthrow the Government, and reftore that of the
exiled and arbitraryHoufe of Stuart. That to have a Scotchman[Murray] of a mod
difaiFefted family, and allied in the neareft manner, to the Pretender's firft Mini-
fler, confultcd in the education of the PrinceofWales, and intruded with the moil
important fecicts of Government, muft tend to alarm anddifguft the friends of the
prefent Royal Family, and to encourage the hopes and attempts of the Jacobites.
Ladly, the Memorialifts cannot help remarking, that the three or four low, dark,,
fufpeded perfons, are the only men whofe ftation is fixed and permanent; but
that all the great offices and officers, are fo conftantly varied and fhuffled about,
to the difgrace of this country, that the beft afFeded perfons apprehend, that theVe
is a fettled defign in thefe low and fulpefted people, to infufe fuch jealoufies,
caprices, and ficklcnefs, into the two Minifters, whofe confidence they engrof?,
^ may render this Government ridiculous and contemptible, and facilitate
the revolution, which the Memorialifls think they have but too much rcafon to
fear is meditating.
God preserve the King.
L 131 J
\
CHAP. XII. '
Sttfjdiary treaties <with Hanover, Hefe and RuJJia-^Payment to
RuJJia refufed—Duke of Newcaflk fends Mr. Torke to Mr. Pitt
~^Mr. Fox offers to join Mr. Pitt — Debate on the Jubfidiary
treaties Mr. Pitt turned out — His baltances jound in the Bank
^-The Duke's Miniftry appointed— Further debate on the trea-
fl^^ Prance menaces an invafion of Great Britain — HeJJians
and Ha7ioverians arrive in England— France takes Minorca-
Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox explain the caujes of that capture— Ano-
ther caufe — Convention -with Pruffia.
ON the 15th of September, 1755, the King returned from Chaf.xii.
Kanover, with a fubfidiary treaty he had concluded with ' ;^^
Helle, for 12,000 thoufand men, for the defence of Hanover or
Great Britain. Another treaty with Ruffia, which he had ne-
gotiated abroad, for 40,000 men, for the defence of Hanover, Tr.^n«-^^^^^^^^^^
in cafe that Eleftorate fliould be invaded, was >//7W, and-''^^"""-
figned at Kenfmgton on the 30th of the fame month.
In the month of Oaober, a draft from Peterfburgh, was pre-
fented to the Britifh Exchequer for loo.oool. in confequence of
the Ruffian treaty. Mr. Legge confulted Mr. Pitt. They p^j---o^^^
united in refufmg payment, until the treaty had been approved
by Parharaent.
While the King was at Hanover, the Duke of Newcastle
received information of the negotiations carrying on there ; and
being fenfible of the difapprobation with which the treaties with
Hcfle and Ruffia, would be received in England, he endeavoured,
by negotiations at home, to ftrengthen his minillerial power.
S 2 Of
[ ^32 ]
Cha». xil Of all his opponents, he reckoned Mr. Pitt themofl: formida-
^-^'~^'^ h\e : to him, therefore, he firft applied. He fent the Hon.
Mr.YorVcf.ntCHAS. YoRKE to him, lo fcuTid htm, as he called it. When Mr.
YoRKE had opened his bufmefs, and began to make a tender
of the Duke's fincerc friendlliip for Mr. Pi tt, his trace's un-
limited confidence in Mr. Pitt ftopped him fhort, and
faid, " that as to friendlhip and confidence, there were none be-
tween them ; if ever there had been any, they were now entirely
deftroyed: that he ^Mr. Pjtt) laboured under the King's dif-
pleafure, which the Duke of Newcastle ought to have re-
moved ; the Duke perfectly knew, that the royal difpleafure
arofe from mifreprefentation, and until that profcription was
taken off, he would enter into no converfation whatever, either
with his Grace, or with any body from him."
Mr. Fox having been informed of this difference between
Mr. Fox«fnr. the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt, tnade a propofal to
fojem. r. '"•j^j^ j^^. pj^j.^ againft the Duke of Newcastle. Mr. Pitt
rejefted the propofal. It is eafy to fee Mr. Pitt's motive for
this. Mr. Fox was the favourite of the Duke of Cumber-
land; and his Royal Highnefs had differed with the Duke of
Newcastle, concerning the preparations for war, in which he
thought the Minifter negligent and backward ; and he had in
contemplation the appointment of a new Miniftry ; — if Mr.
Pitt had accepted Mr. Fox's propofal, he muft have taken a
fubordinate fituation ; which he would never think of under
Mr. Fox.
The Prince's party at Leicefter-houfe, was encreafing, and
Mr. Pitt was fuppofed to belong to themj but it was not true;
he was their friend, but not their coadjuton
Parties
I m 1
Parties were in this ftate when Parliament met, on the 13th Chap. xrr.
of iNoveniber, i~s5- ^— v-~.-^
The treaties with RufHa and Hefle were mentioned in the
King's fpeech. And an iiilinuation of an engagement to ap-
prove of them, was introduced in the Addrefs of each Hoafe.
Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge condemned them in the ftrongefl:
terms.
Mr. Pitt faid they were advifed, framed, and executed, not with a
view to the defence of Great Britain, in cafe (he (hould be invaded by
France: not with a view to protedl the allies of Great Britain, if they "^'.P'"'' '!'««'»
ihould be attacked b; France: but purely and entirely for the preferva- ti""with Heffe^
tion of Hanover, againft the attempts of France and her confederates j''"''^m!s!'
which I believe to be fo entirely the only objedt of the treaties, that I am
convinced they would not have been made, had not that Eledtorate be-
longed to the Sovereign of this ifland.
They mud be confidered as parts of a vaft comprehenfive fyftem,
to. gather and combine the powers of the European continent into a de-
fenfive alliance, of magnitude fufficient to withftand the utmofi- effort*
of France and her adherents againft the Eleftorate; and all this to be
cffe(5tecl at the fingle expence and charge of Great Britain.
I conceive this whole fyftem and fcheme of politics, to be abfolutely
impradicable.
This unfizable projedV, impradtieable and defpcrate as it is, with rc-
fpedt to all human probability of fuccefs, will, if fully purfued, bring
bankruptcv upon Great Britain.
The three laft wars with France coft Britain above one hundred and
twenty mil' ioni of money, according to the beft of my inlormation fc
which fum amounts to the rate of more than forty millions each war. If
I were to be provided with materials to be more exa6t, I {hould not think
it worth while to confult them for the fake of accuracy, the immenfity of
the fum being fuch by any calculation, that a miftake of a few millions
can produce no fenfible abatement in the argument; for whether forty or
thirty millions be the medium of our former expence in the three wars
with
- ' [ 134 ]
^'uAT. XII. with France, the prefent fyftem of politics, If carried roundly into exccu-
'"""'^ tion, prefcnts us with an effufion of treafurcftill more enormous, becaufe
I • C f
'n the firfl; place, the matntcnai ce of our jull and neceflary war, in
North America, an objedt which had no place ia the tines uf King Wil-
liam and Q^een Anne, and dd not run very high in the late war, will
prove a very inflaininatory article in our account ; and in the next place,
the expence of paying and f-reding thofc military multicopies which
foufht the former wars, was divided bctwc'en the EnglilTi, the Dutch, and
Other nations, in the alliance. All whiih expence is by the f) Item of
thcfe treaties prepared for Britain alone ; and when v/e confider, that
fuch immenfe iflues of money, outmcafuring any experinnient of paft time,
are to bcfuppl;ed by new loans, heaped upon a debt ot eighty millions,
who will aniwer for t'he confequence, or inlurc us from the fate ot the de-
cayed States of antiquity.
We are are prefled into the ferviceof an Eleftorate. We have fulFered
ourfclves to be deceived by names and founds, the balance of power, the
liberty of Europe, a common caufe, and many more fuch expreflions,
without any other meaning, than toexhaufi our wealth, confume the pro-
fits of our trade, and load our poftcrity with intolerable burthens. None
but a nation, that had loft all figns of virility would fubmit to be fo
treated.*
The
* Mr. Pitt fpoke a (econd time in this debate. It is not at prefent known, that
any notes have been preferved of this fecond fpeech. But it is certain, that the
argument of it was prefectly fimilar to the following Proteft.
House of Lords, November 13, 1755.
It was moved to leave oiit thefe words in the motion for an addrrfs— .
*' Or againfl; any other of his dominions, although not belonging to the Crown
«* of Great Britain, in cafe they fhall be attacked on account of the part taken by
^« his Majefty, for the {upport of the eflential interests of Great Britain."
After debate,
The queftion was put, " whether thofe words fliall ftand part of the (jueflion ?"
It was refolved in the affirmative.
Dijeiitlent,
jft, Becaufe the words of the addrefs objefted to, pledging die honour of the
nation
[ ^35 J
The addrefs, however, was agreed to Bat next day the Duke's Chap. xil.
negotiations for a new Miuifti y being finilhed, and his arrange- 1755. '
me.'its ready, sir Thomas Robinson refigned, upon a penfion
for three hves, and the Wardrobe. iVIi-. Fox was on the fame
day, appointed Secretary of State in his room.
On the 2oth of November 1755, Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge
WereMr.Putdlfmif.
fed.
nation to his Majefty in defence of his Eleiftoral dominions, at this critical con-
junfture, and under our prefent encumbered and perilous circumftances, tend
not only to miflead his Majefty into a fallacious and delufive hope, that they caa
be defended at the expence of this country, but feem to be the natural and obvious
means of drawing on attacks upon thofe Eleftoral dominions; thereby kindling
a ruinous war upon the continent of Europe, in which it is next to impoflible that
wc can prove fuccefsful, and under which Great Britain and the Eledlorate itfelf
may be involved in one common deftruftion.
2dly. Becaufe it is, in efFedl, defeating the intention of that part of the aft of
Settlement (the fecond great charter of England), whereby it is enaited, ' That
in cafe the crown, and imperial dignity of this realm fhall hereafter come to any
perfon not being a native of this kingdom of England, the nation be not obliged
to engage in any war for the defence of any dominions or territories, which do not
belong to the crpwn of England, without the confent of Parliament." For if,
at this junfture, under all thecircumftances of our prefent quarrel with France, to
which no other prince in Europe is a party, and in which we do not call for, acr v
wiih to receive, the lead affiftance from the Eledorate of Hanover, it fhall be deem-
ed neceflary in judice and gratitude, for this nation to make the declaration objected
to, there never can be a iituation, or point of time, the fame reafons may not be
pleaded, and fubfift in full force ; nor can Great Britan ever engage in a war with
France, in the defences of her moft efl'cntial interefts, her commerce, and her
colonics, in which flie will not be deprived of the moft invaluble advantao^s of
fituation, beftowed upon her by God and Nature, as an ifland.
3dly. Becaufe, without any fuch previous engagement, his Majefty might fafelv
rely upon the known attachment of this Houle to his facred perfon, and upon
thegenerofity of this country, famous and renowned in ail tunes, for her hu-
manity and magnanimity, that we ftiould fet no other bounds to an objeft fo defi-
rable, but thofe of abfolute neceftity and felf-pefervation, the firft and great law of
"aturc. TEtdTLK."
t U6 ]
CHAf.xii. difmified from their offices, as were alfo Meflrs.Gflo. and Jame$
»7iS' Grenville.
It is proper to remark, not only becaufe the circumftance is
peculiar, and exhibiting a prominent feature in Mr. Pitt's
chara6ler; but as it is an example worthy the imitation of all
honeft flatefmen, That when Mr. Pitt was turned out, all the
balances belonging to his office, were lodged in the Bank. Thofe
who encouraged the many attempts which were made to throw
a fhade upon his moral character, were the difcoverers of this
fad, to their utter mortification.
Sir Geo. Lyttelton, afterwards Lord Lyttelton, was
New nunii^ry.
made Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Barrington, Secre-
tary at War, Lord Darlington and Lord Dupplin joint
Paymafter, Mr. Doddington, afterwards Lord Melcombe,
Treafurer of the Navy ; and many other alterations took place,
which the reader will find in the general lifl of Adminiftrations,
at the end of the work.
The new Adminiftration were called the Duke's Minijlry j be-
caufe his Royal Highnefs had recommended the principal per-
Ibns who compofed it. Notwithftanding the refpedtability of
the recommendation, yet there never was an Adminiftration
more unpopular and odious.
The firft meafure was to vote the loo.cool. for Ruflia,
which Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge had refufed to pay: alfo
54,ocol. to the Landegrave of Hefle.
Mr.Pitt'sfpcfch
fifblijlen!* "*" Mr. Pitt oppofed thefc votes. He contended, that a naval war, wc
**■*' could and ought to fupport; but a continental war, upon this fyftem,
wc could not. He admitted, that regard ought to be had to Hanover ;
but it (hould be fecondarily. If Hanover was made our//;'? objeft, and
we
[ '37 1
we proccccded upoa this fylleiTi, it would lead us to bankruptcj'. c^^, xir.
It was impoffible to defend Hanovfr by fubfidies. An open country ^^ '- — —^
could not be defended againft a neighbour, who could march 150J000 '^^^'
men into it, and fupport them by as many more. If Hanover fhould
be attacked on account of her connexion with Great Britain, vvc ought
not to make peace, until wc had procured her full and ample fatisfac- ft
tion, for every injury and damage (he may have fuftaincd. But the idea
of defending Hanover by fubflTdies, he ridiculed, as prepofleous, abfurd,
and impradicable. This fyftcm, he faid, would, in a few years, cod
us more money than the fee fimple of the Elecftorate was worth ; for it
was a place of fuch inconfiderable note, that its name was not to
be found the map. He ardently wilhed to break thcfe fetters, which
chained us, like Prometheus, to that barren rock.
In the months of January and February, 1756, France began
to march large bodies of her troops towards the Tea coaft, par-
ticularly into Picardy, and to Dunkirk; and threatened to invade
Great Britain. Thefe piepartions overwhelmed our timid Cabi-
net with alarm and defpair. The Miniftry thought it was " wifell
and beft" to defend Great Britain with an army. Accordingly
in the month of March, the King fent a meilage to Parliament,
acquainting them, that he had made a requifition for a body of
Heflian troops, purfuant to the treaty lately made with the
Landgrave of HefTe CalTel, to be brought forthwith hither.
Both Houfes thanked the King for his meflage.
The unanimity with which thefe addrelTes of thanks had been
carried, encouraged Mr. Fox to move another addrefs to the
King; which was, befeeching his Majefty, that for the more
effeftual defence of this ifland, and for the better fecurity of the
^religion and liberty of his fubjeds againft the threatened attack
by a foreign enemy, he would be gracioufly plcafed to order
twelve battalions of his Elefloral troops, together with the
ufual detachment of artillery, to be forthwith brought into this
kingdom.
Vol. I. T There
[ I3S ]
CHAf.xil. There was fome debate upon this motion ^ but people in ge-
^7?r7^ neral were afraid to oppofe it j becaufe they forefaw it would
be immediately faid they were Jacobites, and meant to favour a
defign of bringing in the Pretender again ; and Mr. Fox threw
out this idea, when he made the motion.
Mr. PitT however declared his dlfapprobation of the mca-
Mr. Pitt Is _ ^^ .
agamrtbiinginsfui-e . thc natural forcc of the nation, hc faid, was fufficient to
in ioreign troops
repel any attack of the enemy. That ftate alone is a Sovereign
ftate qui fun jl at viribuSy non alicno pejidet arbitrio, which fubfifts
by its own ftrength, not by the courtefy of its neighbours.
Accordingly next month both Heffians and Hanoverians ar-
rived in England, and were encamped in different parts of the
kingdom.
The people hearing their danger from authority, and feeing
thefe foreigners brought over to defend them, were panic flruck,
and gave themfelves up to dcfpair.
This condu6l of the Court of France, in menacing an inva-
fion upon England, was no other than a feint to conceal her
real defign ; which was an attack upon Minorca, or Gibraltar.
The French Cabinet had formed this defign with a view to in-
duce Spain to join in the war j but they did not communicate
their defign to the Court of Madrid, until it was too late. P'or
the King of Great Britain in his memorials to the Spanifh mini-
ftry, prefented by the Britifli minifler at Madrid, complained of
the conduct of the French in America, and of their hoflile defigns
in Europe ; of which the King takes notice in his fpeech at the
opening of the fefilon, and fays, that the King of Spain had af-
fured him he would obferve a ftrit^ neutrality.
In
r 139 ]
In the month of December 1755, it was deliberated in the CuKr.xn.
French Cabinet, whether they fhould attack Gibraltar, or Mi- i;ss,
norca. The former was determined uponj and that when
it was conquered, it fliould be given to Spain, if Spain
would join France in the war againft Great Britain. The King
of Spain reje6led the propofal, on account of the pacific aflu-
rance abovementioned, which he had fo recently given. So the
French changed their plan, and attacked Minorca. They might
have taken Gibraltar at that time, for it was almoft defencelefs.
It is not probable, that it would have held out fo long as fort St.
Philip did. However, fome months before the French landed
upon Minorca, our Miniftry received repeated information of
the preparations making at Toulon, for equipping a fleet, and
embarking an army, with all the implements neceflary for a fiege,
and the moft pofitive alTurances, that Minorca was the objeft of
attack ; but they were fo thoroughly frightened by the French
menaces of an invalion of Great Britain, that they gave neither
attention nor credit to the information concerning Minorca ;
although it came in llreams from all parts of Italy, the fouth of
France, and other places. In March they believed the intelli-
gence, and not before. The fate of Minorca, and all the cir- .
cumftances attending it, are very well known. Lord Anson
was the perfon moft in fault.
Mr. Pitt upon his legs in the Houfe of Commons, charged
the lofs of Minorca upon Lord Anson, and the Duke of New-
CASTLE J and added, with refpccl to Lord Anson particularlv,
that he was not fit to command a cock-boat upon the river
Thames. [But in his fpecch, on the 22d of Jan. 1770, which
fee in the fecond volume, he faid the lofs of Minorca was owing
to the want of four battalions.]
T 2 xMr.
[ 14© r
Chap. XII. ]\/[j.. p^x faid, the lofs of Minorca was owing to the Dutch fe-
J75S« fufing the fix thoufand men, he demanded, according to the
treaty of 1 674 ; for had they been granted, he could have re-
lieved Minorca. There may be fomething in this ; but the
Dutch were juftifiable in their refufal : if they had complied,
the French would have treated them as principals in the war.
The great error was in the Admiralty not fending a larger fleet,
and not fending it fooner. Mr. Byng's only fault was, ading
with too much prudence. He was facrificed, through the ma-
ff.S.^''"^ nanagement of Lord H , to fcreen Lord Anson ; and fo
determined were this party upon the meafure, that they had pro-
vided a Naval Officer upon whom they could rely, for Prefident
of the Court-Martial; had not Lord Temple prevented it. It
is one of the worfl; features in the chara<5terof Gkorge the Se-
cond, that he yielded to this manoeuvre j and he was highly of-
fended with Lord Temple for defeating it. Mr. Pitt faid af-
terwards in the Houfe of Commons, that more honour would
have accrued to the King and nation, from a pardon to the un-
happy Admiral, than from his execution.
\ronvnm,iiwufc In order the more efFe6lualIy to provide for the fecurity of
Hanover, early in the month of January 1756, a convention was
made with the King of PrulFiaj the main object of which was,
to keep all foreign troops out of Germany ; and Parliament
voted 2c,oool. to make good this treaty. Thus the treaty with
RulTia was virtually renounced.
CHAP.
( 141 )
CHAP. XIII.
Further account of Leice/ier Houfe — The two Princejfes of Brunf-
•wick in England— Obfervations — Mr. Fox refgns—Carte-
blanche offered to Mr. Pitt — Miniftry changed — Mr. Pitt ap-
pointed Secretary of State— The King and Duke wijl^edto have
kept Mr. Fox,
THE nation was highly incenfed by the lofTes of Minorca, q^^^ ^jj^
of the fort of Ofwego in America, and by fome other defeats "^ -~"^
and mifcarnages. The appearance of the Heffians and Hano-
verians in England, ferved but to encreafe the public indigna-
tion. A fpirit of refentment, and of deteftation of the Minifters,
pervaded every part of the kingdom.
Befid^s the frowning afpedl of public affairs, there was ano-
thei of a private, but not lefs alarming nature to the Miniftry.
This was the party at Leicefter-houfe. The Prince's levees were
crou-led. Mr. Pitt, Lord Temple, and the Grenvilles, ^'^f*''^''""'''''
and many others, were frequently feen there. This gave the
Lord Chancellor (Hardivicke) and the Duke of Newcastle
much concern. Their ivijh now ijuas to get pojjejjion oj the
Pri7ice. Accordingly they advifcd the King to fend a mef-
fage to his Royal Highnefs, offering him a fuite of apartments
at St. James's and Kenfington palaces. Had this ftep been taken
in the year 1752, it might have been produdlive of the hap-
piefl emancipation. There would have been wifdom in the
meafure at that time : and it muft have fucceeded. But in 1756
it was too late : the bloflbm was off, and the fruit was let.
Upon the receipt of this meifage Leicefter-houfe was thrown
into
[ ^42 ]
uX— J 'into the deepeft confternatlon. The two Princeffes of Bi-unf-
'^^^' wick, whom the King had laft year invited to Hanover, were
now in England.
We are yet too near the time, to relate with fafety, all the
circumftances of this interefting affair.
ob-crva- - There is fuch a delicacy prevails in England, greater than in
fome arbitrary monarchies, concerning the conduft of the Royal
Family, that truth of them is ufually fuppreffed, until it is for-
gotten. The juftice of Hiftory is thereby perverted; and the
Conftitution, in this important point, is Uterally and efficiently
deftroyed. The King of England is no more than the firft
Map-iftratc. It is an office held in trull. And although the
maxim is, that he can do no wrong, which is founded upon the
prefumption, that every Privy Counfellor, according to the Ad
of Settlement, figns the advice he gives ; yet this law is not always
obferved ; and if it were, all important matters are tranfafted
in the King's name, and he affents to them. In whofe name
then are they to be fcrutinized, examined, and canvaffed ? The
advifer is feldom known. The nation has unqueftionably as
deep an intereft in the conduft of the Royal Family, as in
the condud of the Miniftry. Will any body now fay, that
the German meafures in the reign of George the Second^
were not the fa'vourite meafures of that King, or that they
did not originate with him? If the free fpirit of the
Conftitution was fairly recognized, it mufl appear, that the
conduft of the Royal Family, is, in every part of it, a proper
fubjeft for public difquifition. The people are interefted in it;
the welfare of the country is concerned in it. Even the ftmale
branches
[ HI ]
blanches are called the diUre. of the nation, and when
they marry, their portions are taken out of the public purfe.
But lawyers fay, the people can only know, and fpeak, by
their reprefentatives. If this legal opinion is well founded,
the liberty of the prefs, which Engliihmen fometvmes efteem,
but oftener betray, is a fliadow, an ignis jatuus. Certaui it is,
that time-ferving judges and timid juries, have made a deeper m-
cifion in the liberties of England, than all the arms of all the
Stuarts. Some years ago it was a notion in Weftminfter-hall,
that no perfon out of Parliament, had a right to make obferva-
tions upon the fpeech delivered by the King to his Parliament.
But after a httle refleaion and examination, this law-notion was
exploded; itwasinfupportable: it tended to eftablifti a prm-
leged vehicle of impofition upon the whole nation : than which
nothing could be more unjuft, nor more foreign to the Britifti
Conftitution. The people have a right to examine the condud
of every man in a public fituation; and it will hardly be con-
tended, that they have no intereft in that of the Royal Family.
Therefore in thofe cafes, where the party is not only in the
higheft ftate of elevation, but pofTefTes the greateft extent of
power, does not the exercife of this right become moft effen-
tially their concern I To this delicacy, or fomething worfe, is to
be afcribed, the general falfification of all 7nodern biftory. If
the Reader will give himfelf the trouble to compare the anec-
dotes of this work, with the hiftories of the times, he will fee a
itjanifeft difference; and yet the writer declares, that he has not
inferted a fingle word, which, in his judgment, is not founded
in the purefl veracity.
We
[ U4 ]
Chap, xiil We will return to the faft' before us. All that can with
1756. prudence, or impunity, be added at prefent is, the offer was not
accepted*. Upon which fomething elfe was talked of. But
Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt " Jhod in the gap, and saveb
Leicester-house •!•."
The Minifters having failed in their defign j and being-
frightened at the florm of public indignation, which was ready
to burft upon their heads, determined to refign. The Duke of
Newcastle applied to Mr. Pitt. His Grace affured him,
the King was perfectly agreeable to take him into his fervice.
Mr. Pitt anfwered him fomewhat abruptly, vhat he would
accept of no fituation under his Grace. This was on the 20th
(jf 06lober 1756. The King then defired the Duke of Devon-
shire to go to Mr. Pitt, who was at Hayes, in Kent, and offer
carte-bianche him z. carte-bknchc , except as to Mr. Fox, whom the King
Pitt. * wifhed to keep in his fervice. Mr. Pitt gave a pofitive refufal
as to Mr. Fox.
Miniftry refign. Whcn Ml'. Fox heard this, he immediately refigned : His re-
lignation threw the Miniftry into confufion j and diftreffed the
King extremely. The Duke of Newcastle and the reft of his
Majefty's fervants refigned alfo.
New Miniftry. At the eameft requefl of the King, the Duke of Devonshire
took^ the Duke of Newcastle's place aX the Treafury j and
* A Princefs of the Houfe of '^axe Gotha was in the contemplation of the
Princefs of Wales. But the indention was difapproved by a Higher Perfon.
'\- Thefe are the concludinrr words of one of Lord T 's letters, in
which the particulars of thi» affair are ftated ; and which, may, in a future day-
be publifhed, to Ihew the gratitude of certain people,
again
I H5 ]
^gain waited on Mr. Pitt at Hayes, with a mefTage from liis^"*'' '''"'
Majelly, requeuing to know the terms upon which he would '7S^*
come into office. Mr. Pitt gave his arrangement. Himfelf
to be Secretary of State. Lord Temple firft Lord of the
Admiralty. Mr. Legge Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
Great Seal to be in CommifTion. G. Grenville Treafurer of
the Navy. J. Grenville a Lord of the Treafury, &c, &c.—
The whole were accepted.
While this change of Minifters was in agitation, the King
gave orders for the return of the Hanoverians to Germany. It
was the King's refolution, to aflemble an army for the defence
of Hanover, early in the fpring, and to give the command of
it to the Duke of Cumberland. It was with this view, that
the treaty with Hefle had been made ; and that the Duke of
Cumberland had formed the laft Miniflry, as confifting of
thofe perfons in whom his Royal Highnefs thought he could
beft confide j and that was the reafon the King wiflied to keep
Mr. Fox in place, becaufe he knew the Duke had a great parti-
ality for him. But the tide of public odium having fet foUrong
againft Mr. Fox, and his coadjutors, the Court were obliged to
furrenderj and to admit Mr, Pitt. The King, however,
continued his refolution to purfue the plan he had laid down,
for the proteftion of his German dominions.
On the 28th of November, 1756, the Prince of Wales's
houfliold being eftabliflicd, he held his firft levee at Savile-
houfe.*
* The principal perfons of his Royal Highnefs's houfchold were.
Earl of Bute, groom of the ftole,
Earl of Huntingdon, mafter of the horfe.
Earl of Suffex, Lord Down, and Lord Robert Bertie, with the Earls of
Pembroke and Eufton, and Lord Digby, lords of the bed-chamber.
Meffrs. Schtitz and Peachy, with Hon. S. Marfham, Hon. G. Monfon,
C. Ingram, and E. Nugent, grooms of the bed-chamber.
Lord Bathurft, Treafurer.
Hon. James Brudenell, privy furfc. S. Fanfliaw, comptroller.
Vol. 1. U CHAP.
[ '45 ]
C H A P. XIV.
Mr. Pitt's firjl adimniJJration — Raifes fwo thoufand Highlanders
— Refufes to fupport the Duiie of Cumberland — Commanded to
rejign — Prefented 'with the freedom of fever al cities and corpo-
rations— The Kings diJlreffes—Mr. Fitt made Minifler upgn his
own tenns — His triumph over Mr. Fox—l'he correjpondeme of
the Admiralty gi-^en to Mr. Pitt.
Chap. XIV. •'"^N the fecond of December, 1756, Parliament met. The
ns^' \^^ fi'ft meafure of Government, after fending away the
Mr. pitt't ffrft Heffian troops, was the eftabHfliment of a national militia.
1"
On the firil of January 1757, orders were given, for raifing
two thoufand men in the Highlands of Scotland, for the Britilh
Raif-s'v.-'ithor.
landHigKbr.cirs fej-vicc in Amcrica. This meafure reflected the greateft honour
upon Mr. Pitt's wifdom and penetration; and whether he
adopted it from the paper, which the reader will find in the
note, or whether it originated with himfelf, it equally fliewed
the fuperiority of his mind, to all vulgar and local prejudices."*
He fent a fquadron to the Eaft Indies, under Admiral Stevens,
and
• The following plan, for carrying on the war, was fubmitted to his Royal
Hiohnefs the Dukeof Cumrerland in May 1756, and was by his Royal High-
nefs's command, delivered to Mr. Pitt, by the Earl of Albemarle, in
December 1756 : —
♦' France conftantly keeping numerous armies in pay, is always prepared fof
war. Wars of a fliort duration, for the nioft part, have proved advant.igeous to
that kingdom ; but wars of long continuance, very detrimental, and ruinous to
the people. If the prefent war is well conducted, before the next year ends, that
nation will be filled with complaints of lofles, and his Majefty's fubjefts joyful
for the fuccefles againft their enemies.
•« The land forces in Great Britain and Ireland, may be put on a better efla-
bljlhment, by railing more infantry. Two thoufand horfc of all denominations,
are
[ H7 J
and another to the Weft Indies, under Admiral Cotes. Hls^"'^^- '^^^•
lefolution was to employ the whole Britifli fleet. 1757.
The debates in Parliament were few, and inconfideiable this
feffion. Although Mr. Pitt delivered a meflage from the
King, requefting a fum of money for the army that was form-
ing in Germany, he did not fupport the motion.
The
arc fuflicient for the fcrvices in Great Britain ; and one tlioufand dragoons for
Ireland. The troopers and dragoons reduced, will form feveral companies of
grenadiers.
•' The Britifli regiments of foot would appear nobly, if they contained twelve
companies in each; two of them grenadiers.
" Improvement in agriculture, filhcries, multiplving and enlarging manufac-
tures, the increafe of buildings, &c. give fo much employment, that workmen
are wanted in moll parts of England.
" Tlierefore it is expedient to procure out of Germany, fome regiments, for
the fervice of America, and reward them with lands, at the cone Ijliou of the war.
" Tuio regiments, a thoufand men in a corps ^ may bt raifnd in the North of Scot-
land for the faid fervict, and on the fame tertnt. No men on this ifland are letter
qualified for the American war, than the Scots Highlanders,
'• Certainly the Scots regiments in the Dutch fervice, ought immediately
to be recalled. Better it will be for them to ferve their own country, than perifli
in fickly garr^foni.
'• In the North of Ireland two thoufand brave ProteftantJ, or more, if nccef-
fary, might be raifed with celerity, and facility ; upon the proinife of havino-
lands affigned to them, when the war is finifln.d.
" It ought not to be fuppofcd, that the French really intend to invade Great
Britain or Ireland ; the difficulties and dangers which mud attend the eiiterpr zc,
are more than enough to deter them ; ncverthelefs, the report of an invafion,
made fuch an impreffion on the minds of fome men in power, or thev would have
it fo believed, that this idle rumour or feint, occafioned the lofs of Minorca, and
the negleft offending to many ihips as were neaeflary in the Wefl: Indies.
*' The naval forces of Great Britain, being more than twice as ftroiig as tlic
French, and this kingdom fo well provided with conveniences., for conlhuftiiie;
Ihips of war, that three may be built here, as foon as one in France ; the
Eritifh crullers and fquadrons, may always exceed the French by a third in all
parts; which muft dillrefs their commerce to a high degree, ruin their tl(heries>
and ftarve the inhabitants in tlic French fugar colonics. 'J'he war continuing
Lf a three
[ 148 ]
C.-Ai'.xiv. The late Cabinet faw, that the King was very far from being
"^{^ reconciled to Mr. Pitt. They employed every fecret whif-
perer, to widen the breach, and filled every private channel to
to the royal ear, with prejudices againft him. An enquiry was
inftituted into the caufes of the lofs of Minorca, which, if pofli-
ble, encreafed their difapprobation. But the circumftance which
offended his Majefty mod, was Mr. Pitt's refufal to fupport
the army in Germany; in which refufal he was joined by Mr*
Legge. The Duke was preparing to fet out for Germany ;
and the royal reqiiejl, at firft, was to have an immediate fupply of
money, without waiting for the approbation of Parliament. The
toOpp'>rtTheD. King and Duke, finding the new Minifters hoftile to their plan
•t CiimberUtid.
of German meafures, determined to remove them. The Duke
declared, he would not go to Germany unlefs Mr. Pitt was
removed.
three or four years, France muft inevitably be greatly diftrefled ; her merchants
bankrupted ; and her manufadures brought to ruin ; others obliged to feek their
food in foreign countries ; whereas, in England, the manufaftures, more efpe-
cially, the woollen, fell at higher rates, when at war with France, than in times
cf peace.
'• When the French perceive, this nation takes proper means for maintaining
a war, and that their secret frtends are deprived of directing
AND ADMrNISTERING THE AFFAIRS OF TH I S GOVERNMENT, («) they will ufc
every artifice and device, that fraud and cunning can fuggeft, to make an infulnous
feact : but it is earneftly recommended, that the war may endure, until the enemy
is entirely fubdued in America, and fo totally difabled, as not to become trouble-
fonje to this kingdom in future times."
Note, by the Avithor of the preceding: —
(j) When his Royal Highnefs ftrmeil the Adminiftration, of which Mr. Fox had the lead, the
French perceived this influence of their sic«et friends fomewhat abridged j and althoueh they
ftill bad a ftiare of power ; yet they were obhged to ad very cautioufly. Upon the AdminilUation
being put into the hands of Mr. Pitt, thefe sicret fxisnds were wholly excluped from the
Cabinet. While he guided, Great Britain was iw her own hands. When in llie next reign, peace was
refolved upon, 'hofe secret fkiekos came forward again, to comiuft the iiegoii: tion. Then Mr.
Pitt was forced out «f Adminiftration. He then felt the Secret Influence of the Clofet. 0»r alliet
were deferted : and peace was made with tbe enemies of the n.ition, who were the fiieiids of thm»
IttKET rilEKCI.
[ H9 ]
removed. On the 5th of April, 1757, the King commanded Chap. xiv.
Mr. Pitt to refign j and on the ninth the Duke fet out for 1-57.
Germany. Lord Temple was alfo turned out; and Lord commaosed w
WiNCHELSEA put at the head of the Admiralty -, Mr. Legge
was turned out, and Lord Mansfield was appointed to fuc-
ceed him; no fuccefTor was appomted to Mr. Pitt; Lord
Holdernesse. the other Secretary of State, executed the duties
of both offices.
This change of the Miniftiy, operated like a convulfion on
the nation. The people were exafperated beyond meafure, at
the difmiffions of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge ; whom they now
joined together, as the political faviours of the kingdom.
Thefe difmiffions were univerfally afcribed to the fecret influ-
ence, which it was believed, the late Miniilers flill poffelTed in
the King's clofet.
It was judged unconftitutional to addrefs the throne upon
thefe changes; therefore another method was adoptCvl to
convince the King of the fentiments of the nation. This
was to fend addrefTes of thanks to the difmiffed Patriots, ''■'''''r'"'*''''
' the fr edom »f
exprelTing the highefl: approbation of their condu6V; with pre- '^'''"'' ?'*"=•■
fents of their freedom of moft of the principal corporations, in
gold, and other boxes, of great value, and curious workman-
ffiip.
This Inteftine commotion alarmed the Court exceedingly.
They faw the danger of permitting the ferment to encreafe.
The Duke of Newcastle, though at this time not in office,
was the firft perfon who went to the King, and advifed his Ma-
jefty to recall Mr. Pitt. The Monarch wept : He complained Kiug-.diflrcm,
of all his fervants. He thought none of them had ailed with
fidehty towards him, fince the time of Sir R. Walpole. At
length.
bis o»incrm5
! [ '50 ]
C«A>. x'TV. length, he coufcnted to give the Duke of Newcastle full
i»S7. power to negociate with Mr. Pitt, and all his friends. The
Duke of Newcastle faw Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple pri-
vately: for although theflream of popularity run in favour of
Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge, yet in all mcafures of confequencc
Mr. Pitt folely confided in Lord Temple. The Duke in-
formed Mr. Pitt, that he was commiffioned by the King, to
agree to Mr. Pitt's terms; and he hoped, and trufted, thatfuch
condefccnfion in his Majefly, would meet with the mofl favou-
Mr. Pitt made _ r 11 /- •
Mniiie. upon rablc interpretation. Mr. Pitt's reply was full of gratitude and
humility to the King. The Duke then faid, that it was his
Majefty's wifli, to form an healing Adminiftration, and he had
left it entirely to the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pity, to
fettle every arrangement, in the mofl amicable manner.
Mr. Pitt's firfl propofition, was the exclufion of Lord
Anson from the Cabinet. The Duke of Nlwcastle pleaded
earneftly to have Lord Hardwicke in the Cabinet. He faid
it was the King's requefl. Mr. Pitt confented, on condition
that Sir Robert Henley had the Great tieal : this ftipulation
was defired by Leicefter-houfe. Lord Temple to be Privy Seal.
Himfelf Secretary of State, as before. The Duke of New-
castle offered Lord Temple the Treafury. Mr. Pitt inter-
pofed, and faid, " that could not be; his Cirace muft go there
himfelf.* But, if at any time hereafter, he fliould think proper
to
* There were two reafons for this. The firft was, the Houfe of Common*
had bcenchofen by Mr. Pelham ; at whofe death, his pocket lij} (as it is called)
was given to the Duke of Newcastle, and thiscircumftance made asw^^r ftipu-
lation in the arrangement ; which was, that the Duke ihould transfer his majority
to Mr. Pitt. Mr. Pitt himfelf defcribcd this faft, on a fuhfequentoccafion, in
thefc words, " I borrowed the Duke of Newcastle's majoiity to carry oi)
the Public bulinefs."
The
[ ^5' ]
to retire, Lord Temple fhould fucceed him." Having gone on^"''''''^'^'
fome time, in making the arrangements, the Duke faid, what 1757-
fhall we do with Mr. Fox? Mr. Pitt replied, " he may have
the Pay-office." This was a triumph to Mr. Pitt — to put";;';i';7„^,.
Mr. Fox belonv him, and into the office he had left. But it was
a triumph too diminutive for the dignity of Mr. Pitt's mind.
However, he enjoyed it j whith {hews the influence of little
pafTions in men of the firft abilities. Lord Anson was pro-
pofed for the Admiralty. Mr. Pitt declared, that Lord
Ansov fliould never have the Correfpondence. The Duke re-
plied, that would be fuch an alteration of the Board, as could
not be made without his Majefty's confent. Here the confe-
rence broke off*. Mr. Pitt had an audience of the King. He
laid befoi:e his Majefty, the difference between the Duke of
Newcastle and himfelf, concerning the Admiralty. The
King confented, that the Correfpondence with the naval officers,
ufually in the Board of Admiralty, fhould be given to Mr. Pitt,
and that the Board fhould only lign the difpatches, without
being privy to their contents.* It was at this audience that the
following remarkable words were fpoken, which Lord Nugent
repeated
The other was — Lord Tf-Mple would have haJ his brother, Mr. Giorge
Gkenvilll, for his Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and in that cafe wliat
coulJ have been done with Mr. Legge ? the public would not at that tin c
have approved of any other perfon in that iituation. Mr. Pitt alfo knew, that
there had been z private underftanding between the Duke of Newcastle and
Mr. Legge, for fome time paft.
• The rule, or cuftom is. The Secretary of State fends all the orders rcfpc£l-
ing the navy, which have been agreed to in the Cabniet, to the Admiralty, and
the Secretary to the Board writes thofe orders again, in the form of inflrudions^
from the Admiralty, to the Admiral, or Captain of the fleet, expedi ion, &c.
for whom they are defigncd : which inftruftions mujl be figned by thre of t'le
Board. But during Mr. Pitt's Adminillration, he wrote the hiflrudions him-
felf
[ 152 ]
Cha». xiv.j-epcated in the Houfe of Commons, in the year J 7841 Mr.
'757' Pitt faid, " Sire, give me your confidence, and I will deierve
jt." The King replied without hefitation, " Deferve my confi-
dence, and you (hall have it." Lord Nugent added, "that Mr.
Pitt at laft fo won upon the King, that he was able to turn his
very partialities in favour of Germany to the benefit of his
country." Lord Ans^n took the Admiralty, under Mr. Pitt's
limitation ; and Mr. Fox took the Pay-office. Mr. Legge had
the Exchequer. All the arrangements being fettled, the par-
ties all kifled hands in July iyS7'' ^^^ ^^^ nation was thereby
reftored to tranquility and fatisfaftion.
CHAP.
fclf, and fent them to their Lordfhips to be figned ; always ordering his Secretary
to put a (heet of white paper over the writing. Thus they were kept in perfeft
ignorance of what they had figned. And the Secretary and Clerks of the Board,
were all in the fame ftate of exdufion*
C ijs J
CHAP. XV.
r
Failure of the Duke of Camherland — Ei^peditlon agatnjl Rochefori
^—Dijlrejjes of the King of Prujfia — Hanover plundered— Mr.
Pitt's two propofitions ; one, to fend a fleet into the Baltic j the
other, to cede Gibraltar to Spain — Anecdote of the treaty of
peace ?nade in 1783 — Efe^s of Mr. Pitt's fr^ adminiflration —
Mi/carriage of the expedition againfl Louifl)Ourg-'VnioJt ofRuJJia,
Sweden and De?imark, for the neutrality of the Baltic — Taking
of the Dutch Jhips — Mr. Pitt oppofes the propofitim offending
the Britip fleet to the ajjistance ef the Duke of Cumberland^
THE Duke of Cumberland failed on the Continent, Chaj.xv,
His Royal Highnefs attributed his faikire to the want ' — pT"'
of Britifh troops and money. His army was not only inferior j.^.|^_.^^^^^^
to the enemy in number, but confifled entirely of Germans. ^^^^°l ^""*
The French purfued him almoft to the fea coaft. The King of
Denmark commiferated his fituationj and under that Mo-
narch's mediation, a convention was figned, in the month of
September 1757, between the Duke and Marfhal Richlieu, the
French General ; by which the allied army were to retire to
their refpective countries.
The King of Pruflia was driven out of Bohemia this fummer.
and an account arrived, of the fuffocation at Calcutta.
Jifdinll Kothe-
Under all thcfe difcouraging circumflances, Mr, Pitt had to i-xpej:<;o
commence his new Adminiflration. His firft meafure was, an 1 ri-
attempt to make a defcent upon the coaft of France. His view
Vol. I. X it
[ ^54 1
<Cha». XV. ill this, was to oblige the French to recall their troops from Ha-
^''"'^ ' nover to protect their own kingdom. A fleet and an army were
aflembled. The deftination was kept a profound fecret. Sir
Edw, Hawke was commander of the fleet, and Mr. Pitt cor-
refponded with him. It is not a Httle remarkable, that when Mr.
Pitt ordered the fleet to be equipped, and appointed the period
for its being at the place of rendezvous, Lord Anson faid, it was
impoflible to comply with the order ; the fliips could not be got
ready in the time limited ; and he wanted to know where they
were going, in order to vidual them accordingly. Mr. Pitt
replied, that if the fliips were not ready at the time required,
he would lay the matter before the King, and impeach his
Lordfliip in the Houfe of Commons. This fpirited menace,
produced the men of war and tranfports, all ready, in perfe6t
compliance with the order. They failed on the 8 th of Sept.
1757, from Spithead. The force was con fiderablej and had
it fucceeded, mufl: have made a deep impreflion. After lying
fome time before Rochefort, the fleet returned. The caufe of
the mifcarriage was not precifely afcertained. Mr. Pitt af,
cribed it to the inadivity of Sir John Mordaunt^ who had the
command of the troops. The friends of that officer afcribed it
to the plan ; which, in derifion, they called one of Mr, Pitt's
•vifmts.
^^ p.^^,^ The dift:refles of the Kijig of PruJJia daily encreafed. The
.twopropofitionsj^ylj-j^^g quickcncd their march againfl: him. His territories
were invaded on every fide ; and the French were plundering
Hanover. In this fituation of aftairs, the Minifl:er framed two
propofitions; The firfl: was, to fend a fleet into the Baltic, as
early in the fpring of 1758, as the feafon would permit; to
tothe Baltic, overawe the Swedes and Rufllans, particularly the latter > and
to
C ^55 i
to fupport the King of Pruflia. The moft formidable powers Chap xv.
againfl: the King of Pruflia, were Auftria and Ruflla. Againft 1757.
Auftria he was able to defend himfelf; but Ruflla being a
naval as well as military power, he could not oppofe her
with equal faciUty. Her veflels carried provifions, military
ftores, and reinforcements to her armies in Pomerania and Ducal
Pruflia ; and thereby fupportcd their operations with the mofl
cflTential afliftance. An alliance between the two Imperial
Courts of Vienna and Peterfburgh, is dangerous to the liberties
of Europe. The King of Pruflia is a barrier between them ;
but if either of them fliould be able to annex the Prufliaii
power to her own, the independence of the other fl:ates would
be in a critical fituation. Upon this ground the propofition
was made to the Court of Copenhagen, who at firft feemed to
approve of it.
The other propofition was to the Court of Madrid. The Sove-
reignty of the Mediterranean being loft to Great Britain with J° "s^^.f'''''
the ifland of Minorca, our Ihips having no port in that fea,
wherein they could lie, or refit, it was become almofl: impoflible
to keep any fleet there, and abfolutely impracticable, in time of
war with the Houfe of Bourbon, to carry on any comiderablc
trade in the Levant. For thefe reafons Gibraltar was become
of lefs importance to this country than formerly ; while the
expence to maintain and defend it, in cafe of war, muft: be en-
creafed ; therefore the propofition was, to cede Gibraltar to Spain,
if the Court of Madrid would undertake to detach France from
the war againfl: Pruflia and Hanover. The fadV is important!
and may furprife thofe who never heard it. But it is to be found
in a difpatch to Sir Ben. Keene, who at that time was the Bri-
tifli Ambaflador at Madrid : and to Gibraltar was added, the
X 2 Britifli
I 15^ ]
Chap. XV. Biitifli fettlemeivts on Honduras and the Mufquito fliore. Mr.
1757. Ti TT was not partial to Gibraltar. He would have ceded it ta
Spain in 176 1, if he could thereby have diflblved the Bourbon
family compact. In the negotiations for peace in 1783, the Spa-
,cacro7'7Sj.'nifli miniftcr at London, for fome time infifted on the ceflion of
Gibraltar; but having no equivalent to give, the Earl of
Shelburne (fmce Marquis of Lansdown) firmly refufed it;
and the whole negotiation for peace was on the point of break-
ing off entirely, when the Spaniih minifter received infl:ru6tions
from his Court, to give up the point. Every reader will make
his own comments on thefe fa<5l:s. The obje6ls intended to
have been gained by the propofed ceflion, were, in their day, of
the firft importance.
Mr Pill'. «rft ^^^^ effe£ls of Mr. Pi tt's fliort, or firfl Adminiftration, foon
^'^"""'^'""'"'' began to appear; and to confirm and encreafe that confidence
which the nation had repofed in his wifdom and integrity. Ad-
miral Cofes, whom he had difpatched to the Weft Indies, had re-
covered the honour of the Britifti flag; and the Eaft India Com-
jiany felt themfelves pcrfeftly eafy under the prote6lion of Ad-
rriiral Stevens, who at the fame time had been difpatched to the
Eaft Indies, Nor were the eff^eds of his being removed from Ad-
rainiftration lefs confpicuous ; for he had alfo, during the ftiort
time he was in ofiice, ordered, and to a confiderable degree pre-
pared, a third fleet, which he defigned for North America, the
.Aiifc3ri»fc of command of which he propofed for Admiral Hawke-, whicli
thr expcditioa
»3unft Louir- fleet was intended to co-operate witli the army affembled at New
York, under Lord Loudon, in an attack on Louift)ourg : but
his fucceflbrs had not his activity ; they changed the command
of the fleet to Admiral Holbourne ; nor did the fleet fail from
Eiigland until fome months after the proper time ; and inftead
of
C ^S7 3
of joining the army at New York, Lord Loudok was waiting f^' ''^'•
at Halifax, when Admiral Holbournc appeared on the American '^s;-
coafl. The confcqucnce of thii delay was, the expedition
was rendered abortive. The French at Louifbourg were pre-
pared to receive them. Upon which the army returned to
New York, and the fleet was difperfed in a florm. Had this
expedition proceeded upon the plan it was originally formed,
according to the time preicribed, and under the officers firft
named, there is the ftrongefl rcafon to believe, the war in North
America would have been of fliort duration ; at moft, it could
have lafted but one campaign more ; becaufe the French could
not have reinforced Quebec, and Canada would therefore have
fallen a much eafier conqueft, than it afterwards proved. An4
to this con fi deration, may be added, that great part of that
force, which was afterwards employed againft Canada, would,
in fuch cafe, have been employed dfeivhere. It is impoffible to
ftate the extent of the misfortunes, which this abortive expedi-
tion brought after it, or the extent of the advantages, which
might have flowed from it, had the plan been carried into exe-
jpution by the perfon who formed it.
Before the conclufion of i JSJ, the unfound and unwife politics
fef 1755 and 1756, appeared in a new and unexpeiled manner.
The convention withPruflla made in 1756, /or the keeping all fo-
reign troops out of the Empire, deflroyed the treaty with Ruflia,
made in 175^, for the defence of Hanover, becaufe the Rifjians
are foreign troops.. After this example the Court of Copenhagen
acted. The Danifla rainiflcr communicated the Britifti propo-
fuion of fending a fleet into the Baltic, to the Courts of Stock-
holm and Peterfburgh. The lalt Court refented it highly
ijccaufe her alliance with the Court of Vienna was concluded.
And
'757-
[ 158 ]
Chap. XV. And though fhe did not wifli to go to war with England j yet
fooner than break her faith with the Emprefs Queen, fhe would
liave done it. She therefore fuggefted an expedient ; which
was an imitation of the condu6l of the Britifh Court, who had
firil made a fubfidiary treaty with her for troops, and afterwards
rendered it ineffeclual, by a convention with Pruflia, to keep all
foreign troops tut of the Empire — She therefore propofed to
to Sweden and Denmark, a maritime treaty of alliance, to keep
nmono(Kca\i,aIl fcreig?2 fnps out oj the Baltic. Sweden being under the in-
Dcnm.rL flucnce of French Counfels, entered into it immediately -, and
Denmark not chufing to incur the enmity of two fuch powerful
neighbours, and being perhaps more under the influence of
Ruflia than Great Britain, became a party to tlie treaty hke-
wife.
y/ji/i the Britifli fleet was excluded the Baltic, whatever the
Prulhan treaties may pretend (which will be feen in the Appen-
dix^. The Minifter could not fend a fleet into that fea, unlefs
he made war upon thofe three powers; and he had too much
penetration, not to fee, that a war upon the Baltic, was fyno-
nimous to a war upon the Briti(h navy ; which was fupplied
with naval ftores fron thence. Unlefs he fent a very powerful
fleet, confifting of the largeft and beft fliips, no efFe6lual fervice
could be expeff cd ; and if he did, the force againft France muft
have been fo effentially weakened by it, as to give the French
a confiderable fuperi©rity at fea. One fadl only need be men-
tioned, that as foon as the feafon permitted the ports in the
Baltic to be open, a fleet of twenty Ruflian, and ten Swedifh
fhips of the line, appeared in the Baltic, to preferve the neutra-
lity of that fea.
The
C 159 ]
- /• 1 /• r Chap. XV,
The French Minlfter was equally lenlible of the iources or v— v—j
the Bakic, for the fupply of his navy ; and he bribed the Dutch, '^''*
to become the carriers of his Bakic naval ftorcs. But Mr.
Pi TT ordered the Dutch veflels, whenever laden with naval and
military ftores, to be conftantly taken ; which judicious and ^ ,^._^^^^^.^
fpirited refolution, contributed greatly to the fucceffes of his °"^^'' *'?'•
Adminiftration.*
Mr.
* When Mr. Pitt found the Dutch heartily inclined to aflift the French
with naval ftores, he refolved to make them as heartily tired of doing it ; for,
without any ceremony, he gave orders that all Dutch (hips with cargoes on
onboard, for the ufe of France, fhpuld bcconfidered as the Ihips of enemies, not
of neutrals. His orders were not without effeft ; and in confequence of the
captures that enfued, the loudeft clamours were raifed in Holland againft the
Endifli. The general cry there was for war. A memorial was prefented to the
States General in 1758, in the names of 269 of the principal Dutch merchants,
who fubfcribed it ; they complained that trade and navigation, the very finews
of the Republic, were in danger; that the Dutch flag was difregarded by the
Englidi, who had already t«ken 240 fliips. They called upon the States General
for'the proteaion of their property. Nay, they offered to contribute each his
contingent, and to arm at their own charge, for the fupport and proteaion of
their navigation. The memorial concluded with this remarkable paragraph:
'' The petitioners flatter themfelves, that the toils and the rifks, to which their
effeas are expofed on the feas, will have their proper influence on the general
body of the State; fince the traders of this country, finding themfelves left to
difcreiion of a part of that nation with whom the State is moit intimately con-
neaed, will be forced to abandon it, to their great regret, and feek Jhelter and pro-
tedion elfewhen \ which will give a mortal blow to the principal memb^s of the
State."
The Dutch, no doubt, rauft have been very feverely handled, when they fo far
trefpalTed upon their love of money, as to offer to difburfe and arm at their
own charge, for the fecurity of navigation ; but what muft we think of the provo-
cation given to them by the Britifh Minifter, when we find the Dutch merchants
ready to abandon their country, and become voluntary exiles in a foreign land !
The
[ i6o ]
C'iAP.xv. Mr. Pitt laboured under many difadvantages, at the fimc
1 75", of his reftoration to the office of Secretary of State ; his former
plans had either been defeated, or rendered ufelcfs ; and he was
obliged to make great facrifices, to correal the errors of others,
before he could carry his future plans into execution. Nothing
but the magnanimity of his fpirit prevented the fame interfe-
rence, which had chilled the execution of his former meafures,
from extending its blighting influence over his future defjgns.
When the fleet returned from Rochefort, a puerile ichemc was
propofed, by thofe whofe impolitic meafures had given birth to
the Baltic alhance againft us, to fend the fleet to the aflidance
of the Duke of Cumberland ; who was flying before the
ivTr. Pitt nppofes French in Hanover. Mr. Pitt alone refifted the propofal :
lendi"^, tMc licet i /•
t„ iht ..iruiancc upoa which, the Duke of Newcastle, and Lord Hard-
lo tlie Duke '■
wicKTE, who had prelTed it, gave it up. Mr. Pitt had not a
thorough confidence in his coadjutors j and therefore he did
ijot always aiilgn his reafons for his opinion. On this occa-
fion, he only faid, that the afliftance of a naval armament in
the North had been fruftrated ; and therefore the fccnc, as
well as the inftrument of war, mufl be changed, before any
hopes of fuccefs could be entertained y but if a contrary opi-
nion
The neutrality of the Dutch did nat procure refpefl for tlicir ports in
America, Js appears by a letter from St. Euftatia, publiflicd in the Amfterdanx
Gazette, April 9, 1758, wherein the wiiter declares, " that the depredations of
the Enghili arc carried to the utmoft height, and that the trade of St. Eulla-
tia is at an^ end ; the harbour being more clofely blocked up than that of any
j.,^gn,y — that every veflel is ftopped, carried ofF, and conjifcated — that je.iloufv is
the motive of the Englifh ; conveniency their right; and greedinefs their law j.
tliat the Enghlh had gone fo far as to confifcate Dutch fhips, merely for
having entered French harbours, alledging, that as they paid the ulual charget
and cuftoms in thofe harbour*, they thereby became French property, ftc."
[ i6i 3
nion prevailed, he would lay the Seals at his Majefty's feet, and [Chap, xv
retire from his fituation. The Cabinet Miniflers, from this 1757.
time, lefigned their judgment: in which they were influenced
by two motives — One was, a dread of his fuperior abilities,
which threw their minor talents into (hade j the other was, an
cxpedation, that, by permitting him freely to indulge in the
exercife of his own opinions, he would precipitate his own ex-
clufion from power, by drawing upon himfelf fome capital
difgrace ; which they were confident, would, at the fame time,
reftore to them the Adminiftration of Government.*
The Duke of Cumberland returned to England; and
finding that hii condu6l had met with the difapprobation of
the King, who difavowed the convention of Clofter-Seven, he
inftantly refigned ail his military employments, and retired t3
Windfor.
• At this period, and for feveral months paft, there had iflued from tli«
prefs, a torrent of papers and pamphlets againft Mr. PiTT ; condemning his
plans, his meafures, his principles, his politics, and even reviling his perfon ; in
which the King himfelf was not fpared, for having taken him into his fervicc,
and for not difmifling him— -all which were permitted to die unnoticed ; he felt
not the leaft fmart from any of them. One day, when Mr. Grenville men-
tioned fome of them to him, he froiled, and only faid, the prefs is like *^tht air,
a charter'drtberllne.'"*
• SliakcfpeArc— Henry Y.
Vol. L V CHAP.
( 162 )
CHAP. XVI.
ibe battle of Roshach, and its confequences'—lts influence upon the
Britijh Councils— ^Sudden prorogation of Parliament — Union of
the Kitjg and Mr. Pitt — T'he King ofPruffids recommendation — •
lianoverians re fume their arms under Duke Ferdinand-— Obfer-
vatiofjs on the German ivar^
Chap. X"!. a LTHOUGH the operations of the war are foreign to this
»757* x~\^ work ; yet thofe events, from which important circum-
Battle of Rrf. ftances 'have arifen, and which having either been mifreprc-
J'uieVencc" fented by other wfitei s, or been entirely omitted, it is necef-
fary to mention. Of this nature was the King of PruJ/ia's great
victory at Rofbach, over the French and Germans, on the fifth
of November 1757. No event during the war was attended
with fuch intcielfing confequences. This vidory may be faid
to have changed the fcene, the plan, and the principle of the
war. Befides the emancipation which it immediately gave to
the King of Pruflia, its efFedls were no lefs inftantaneous and
powerful on the Councils of Great Britain. The; Britifh Miniller
poffelfed an uaderflanding to diftinguifli, and a genius to feize,
a forti.naie circumftance, and to improve it to the utmoil ad-
vantage. Parliament had been appointed to meet on the 15th
of November. Intelligence of this viftory arrived at St. James's
on the ninth in the morning. The moment the difpatches were-
read, the Minifler rcfolved to prorogue the Parliament for afnt-
-" night; notwithifanding every preparation had been made for
opening the feflion on the fifteenth. The leafon of this fudden
prorogation was, to give time to concert a new plan of opera-
tions,
[ i63 ]
tlons, and to write another fpeech for the King — undoubtedly thecHAP. x\'i.
fpeech that had been defigned, would not apply to this great and "^^^
unexpe»5l:ed change of affairs. Whether there was any precedent
for this extraoidinary ftep, was not in the contemplation jaf the
Minifter. In taking a refolution, that involved concerns of the
gieateft magnitude, he was not to be influenced by precedents.
Forty thoufand Hanoverians, who had laid down their arms,
but not furrendeted them, compofcd fuch an engine of power
and flrength, as might, if employed against France, not for Ha-
nover ; or, to fpeak in more dire£l terms, if ordered to a6t
cjfenjivf/y, inflead of defenjively., might divide her power j and
thereby facilitate the conquell of her pofleflions, in America^
Africa and Afia.
George the Second, though not poireflTed of brilliant talents, K^rgand^ili"
yet, to a ftrong firmnefs of mind, he added a long experience of
men and pubUc affairs, with a fufficient fhare of penetration to
diftinguifh, even in his prefent fhort acquaintance with Mr*
Pitt, and particularly by his inftant refolution of proroguing
the Parliament, that he was a bold and intelligent Minifter;
qualities which were perfe6lly agreeable to the King — becaufe
perfonal courage was not amonglt his defecls. The King him-
felf firft fuggefled to his Minifter the refumption of his Hanoverian
troops. It was the verymcafore which Mr. Pitt had refolved to
propofe, when he advifed the prorogation of Parliament ; and it
was only by accident, or chance, that the propofition came firft
from the King. The King and his Minifler, therefore, were
in perfect unifon upon the firft mention of this important fub-
jedl. From this moment, the King gave his confidence to Mr.
PiTTi and the latter, upon difcovering the whole of th^
King's views, faw he could make them fecondary, and fubfer-
Y 2 vient
[ ,64 j
Chap XVI. s^Iq^i to the Intcrefls of Great Britain. During the remainder
175^. of the reign, they acled together, under the influence of the
fame congeniality of fentiment, and thereby naturally fell into
a perfect union and cordiality of opinion, upon all public
meafures.
The King of Immediately after the battle of Rofbach, the Khi^ ofFrufRd
Prullia'srecom- o J JJ
iiic„i;,i.on, vvrote a letter to the Ki?2g of E}igla?id, in which he ftrongly re-
commended the refuinption of the allied army, and Duke Fer-
dinand of Brunfwick to the command of it : and he accompa-
nied this letter with a plan of operations, in which he propofed
to a6t in concert with the Duke. Independent of the policy of
tlie meafure, there were not wanting very fair and honourable
reafons to fupport it. The French troops had repeatedly
broken feveral articles of the convention ; and had, in general,
from the time they entered the electorate, condu6ted themfelves
in a manner, more like a banditti of Barbarians, than an army
of difciplined foldiers.
Mr. Pjtt adopted the whole of the King of Prussia's recom-
Hanovcrlaus re-
^«medund.rD. mendation ; but fo modelled the German meafures, as to make
them co-operate with his own plans pf attacking France, in
every other quarter at the fame time. The King of Prussia
highly approved of Mr. Pitt's alterations of his plan. Mr.
Pitt's plan was bold and comprehenfive ; but it fliould be re-
membered, that timidity in war, is as criminal as treachery ; and
therefore it is proverbially faid, that the boldeft meafures are the
fafeft. The King of Prujsia faw it in this fenfe, and therefore
he gave it his warmeft approbation. In concert with the King
tf Prufsiay the plan of operations was formed. Emden was fe-
curcd.
f 165 ]
cured, and the coad of France was annoyed, at his requefl:.*— Chap xvi
Duke herdinaiid dYO\'Q the French out of Hanover ; and purfued "^ ^"—^
thena wit'i fiich rapidity, thai France was prefently under the
necelflry of prepai ing for ihe defence of her own frontiers. This
fudden chani^e of affairs, and the victories gained by the King of
Frufsia ir. Sdefia, (hewed, that a war upon the continent of
Earope, cunduCled upon Britifli principles, was highly fervice-
ablf to the intcrefts of this country. France, fo far from being
^ Ohre'vationson
able to invade Great Britain, could not fend troops to ifrengthen tii« oerni. war.
her garrilbns and fettlements abroad : and in a few months her
firft object was, to provide a frelh army to flop the progrefs of
Duke Ferdi?iand: while Mr. Pitt, on the other hand, prepared
expeditions againfl her coalt, to co-operate with the Duke. In
this fituation, the Councils of France were difl:ra6ted. Her
whole force was kept at home. A German war, conducted
upon this principle, again ft France, was the mofl advantageous
war that Great Britain could makes and, notwithftanding the
expcncc has been urged as the grcateft objedion to it, yet when
it is recolleclcd, that this war employed the armies of France,
and prevented fuccours being fent to her fettlements abroad,
it was the mod (economical war, that the Britifh Minifler
could carry on. Ihe expence of tranfporting troops, forage,
flores, &c. to a fhort didance, is infinitely lefs than to a great
one. Whoever will be at the trouble to look over the chaj ges
of the American war, which commenced in 1775, and c f the
German war, which commenced under Mr. Pitt's direction,
in
• The King of Pruflia faw, and fully comprehended, the wifdom of thg
attempt upon Rociiefort; and he adopted the idea of annoying the coaft of France
from thdt meafure. He conceived a very favourable opinion of Air. Pitt's
political talents, from that circumlUnce ; although it had not been fuccefsful.
[ i66 ]
CHAP.xvTT.'in ^758, will feethefa£V indisputably confirmed. It need only
1757. be added, that if the armies of France, had been to be conquered
in Canada, in the Weft Indies, in Africa, and in Afia, the ex-
pence to this country, of tranfporting, and maintaining an ade-
quate force to encounter them, in all thofe places, muft have
been immenle. Upon a fubfequent occafion, the Minifter em.
phatically faid, " That America had been conquered in Ger-
•' many." Experience hath fince ihewn, that the aflertion was
well founded.
CHAP.
[ 167 ]
CHAP. XVII.
Meetitig of TarUament — Mr. Alderman Beckford's explana'ion of
the new principle of the German -war — Mr. Pitt's fpeech en the
Roche fort expedition — Efftcls oj that fpeech — SucceJJes of 1758.
THE proceedings of Padiamcnt, to which we will nowcHAF.XVll.
return, were not diftinguilhed by any debates, during ^ ""^
the remainder of Mr. Pitt's adminiftraiion.
Both Houfes met on the firft of December 17C7, accordirig
to the Angular prorogation, already mentioned. Mr. Pirr ''■"^''^^'nt-
delivered a meflage from the King, acquainting the Houfe, that
he had put his army in motion in Hanover, to a6l in concert
with the King of Prufsia, and requeftmg their f.ijiport. An
adequate fum was immediately voted, without a diilentinc
voice.
la-
Mr. Alderman Beckford faid a few words upon this occa. AMtrm.B«fe-
fo'd's xpia:ia-
fion ; which, as they tend to explain the new principle of poli- '^i"/* ','' V""
ticj, they will not be improper to infert here, " If the Hano- *^"'"'"'*^'^-
rian and Hefllans, he faid, were to be entiiely under t le
diredion of Britifli Councils, the larger the fum t .:it was
granted, in order to render that army eixcdtua!, the m- r^ rkely
it would be to anfwer the end for which it was giv^nj rhan is
to try the ifTue of the war wuh France; than which, in !i;s
judgment, there never was io favourable a;) opportunit) as ;!ie
prefeut. But if the Regency of Hanover were to have the di;^ >-
fal of the money, and the difpofition of the army, he v*oulu liot
give a fhilling towards its fubfiftence.""
A licw
[ i68 ]
A new treaty was made with Pruflia, which was approved by
Parliament ; and which the reader will find in the Appendix to
this work.
Parliament was never known to be fo unanimous, as at this
time.
The fleet and army fent againfl: Rochefort, having returned,
without making the impreflion intended, Sir John Mordaunt,
the commander of the army, was put under an arrcft j and
being a Member of Parliament, the King fent a meflagc to
the Commons, at the beginning of the feflion, acquainting them
of the reftraint put upon one of their Members. They thanked
the King for his attention to their privileges,
Mr.Pkt'sfrMch Mr. Pitt reprehended, in terms of great warmth, the indolence, the
Mt^^'ticn"'^'"* caution, of thofe entrufted with the execution of the military operations,
^'•^- during the laft campaign. He declared folemnly, that his belief was,
that there was a determined refolution, both in the naval and mi
litary commanders, againfl: any vigorous exertion of the national power.
He affirmed, that though his Majefty appeared ready to embrace every
meafure propoled by his Minifters, for the honour and intereft of his
Britilh dominions, yet fcarce a man could be found, with whom the
execution of any one plan, in which there was the kaft appearance of
danger, could with confidence be trufted. He particularized, the inac-
tivity of Lord LoiTDON in America, from whofe force the nation had a
right to form great expectations j from whom there had been received
no intelligence, except one fmall fcrap of paper, containing a few lines
of no moment. He further faid, that with a force greater than ever
the nation had heretofore maintained, with a King and Miniftry ardently
defirous of redeeming her ^lory, and promoting her true intereil, a
Ihameful diflike to the fervice every where prevailed. Nor was it
amongfl: the officers alone, that indolence and negleft appeared ; thofe
who filled the other departments of military fervice, fcemed to be
affeded with the fame indifference : the viduallers, contraftors, purvey-
ors.
[ 1^9 ]
purveyors, were never to be found, but upon occafions of their own pcr-CHAp.xvil.
fonal advantage. In converfalion they appeared totally ignorant of tluir '..y^_''^v_->
own bufinefs. The extent of their knowledge, went only to the making
of falfc accounts : In that fcicnce the/ were adepts.
This dete6lion of the abufes in the feveral departments, cfleasofthe
^ . . jrec (ling
where they had long prevailed; and of the want of exertion ui fi,«ciK.
the Commanders in Chief, which had alfo been obviousj operated
in a manner highly advantageous to the pubUc fcrvice. Thofe
Gentlemen, as well as the nation, now faiv, that there was a
Minifter at the head of affairs, who not only knew the duties
of his own office, but the duties of others : and therefore they
-might expe6l him to examine their condud; to traverfe all
parts of it with a keen and penetrating eye. This apprehenfion
rouzcd them from their lethargy in an inftant. They awakened
as from a dream ; and feemed to be ele6trified by the fire of his
mind J they burned with frefli ardour in every fubfequent
enterprize. The Britifli honour was recovered. The events
of the war, placed the name of Great Britain upon the higheft
pinnacle of national honour.
The Seffion clofcd on the 20th of June, 175B,
175!.
The Btitifli arms this year, were fuccefsful in every quarter
of the globe. ^"'i* """ '"
o 1750.
In Afia, owing to the reinforcement Mr. Pitt fent by Com-
modore Stevens, when he was in office laft year, the French were
defeated at Maffulipatam, and in two naval engagements.
In America, Louilbourg was taken, alfo the Ifle of St. John,
and the forts Du Quefne and Fronteniac,
In Africa, Senegal furrendcrcd.
Vol. I. Z In
[ '7^ ]
CB-iP.XVil. jj^ Europe, Adaiiral Osborne clefeated, and took the French
1758. fleet from Toulon, deftlned for the relief of Louifbouig ; and
Sir Edward Hawke drove another fleet upon the fand banks on
the coafl: of France, that was equipped at Rochefort, for the
fame purpofe. Adefcent was made on the coaft of France, near
St. Malo, where all the fhips and veflels were defl:royed. Ano-
ther was made at Cherbourg; where the fliips, mole, pier, bafon^
and other works, were all defrroyed, and the cannon brought
away. A third dcfcent was made in St. Lunar Bay, which being
full of rocks, the fleet were obliged to goto St. Cas, and thus the
army and fleet became feparated. In the re-embarkation at St. Cas,
the rear guard, under General Drury, were cut off, by a large
body of French troops. However, thefe defcents kept the whole
coafl: of France in perpetual alarm ; and prevented the French
miniftry from fending any troops to reinforce their army in
Germany. Duke Ferdinand drove the French army entirely out
of Hanover, and acrofs the Rhine. The King of Prufsia en,
tirely fubducd Silefla, and entered Bohemia and Moravia.
All the terrors of invafion being now transferred, from Great
Britain to France, the Britifli troops were all fent to fcenes of
active and important fervice ; and the defence of the Ifland was
entrufted to a confl:itutioual and well regulated militia; which
had been raiied, difciplined, and officered, by the gentlemen of
the country.
CHAP.
[ '71 ]
CHAP. xvm.
Meeting of Parliamenf^SiicceJfes of I'ji^^Lord Eutcsfr/l in-
terfcrence—Ue goes to the Duke of Neniocafile, and demands Lord
Besborough'sfeat at the T:reafury Board, for Sir Gilbert Elliot-
He alfo demands the reprefentation oj the county of Southampton,
for Sir Simeon Stuart.
ON the 23d of November 1758, Parliament met. The c>.^2-_xvui.
fame unanimity prevailed. All the fupplies were voted, i753-
without the lead hefitatioii ; and the fcffion-clofed on the 2nd M„..n,ofP.r.
of June 1759, without any debates. ,^^j.
The moft ample preparations were made for another vigorous
campaign. The fucceffes of the laft campaign, had infpired
every individual, both in the army and navy, with a paffion fo^
frlorv that was nothing fliort of enthufiafm.
In America, Qviebec and Niagara were taken. And in the
Weft Indies, Guadaloupe, and other iilands.
In Europe, another fquadron fitted out at Toulon, was de-
feated in the Mediterranean, by Admiral Bofcaiven. Havre was
bombarded by Sir George Rodney ; and Breft was blocked up
by Sir Edward Hawke. Duke Ferdinand defeated the French at
Minden: And the King of Prujfia, though furrounded by his
numerous enemies, maintained hirafelf with aftonilhmg Ikill
and valour.
After the French had been defeated at Minden, they faw it was
in vaia to prefs forward their whole ftrength in Germany ; and
2 2 therefore
[ 172 ]
Chap, xviii. ti-^ju-cforc tlicy rcfolved upon making their next effort by fea. For
»7S9- this purpofe they equipped all the naval force they had at Bre{l>
and other poits in the Atlantic; and, with an army, which
were in readinefs to embark, tliey intended to make a defcent
upon Ireland, with a view of diverting the attention of the
Britifli Cabinet from Germany, and the Weft Indies, Sir
Edward Hawke lay off Breft, to intercept their faihng ; anj
his fquadron was reinforced from time to time. At length the
French came out, and Sir Edward Hawke gained a compleat
vidory over them, on the twentieth of November, 1759. —
This vidtory annihilated the naval power of France.
It was in this year of unanimity and viclory, that the feeds
were fown of thofe divifions, which appeared foon after the
f„tc'£^unce'"'acceffion of George the Third. The patronage of places, that
never-failing fource of difcord, was claimed by Lord Bute.
Upon Lord Besborough going to the Pofl-office, in the month
of May 1759, in the room of Lord Leicester, deceafed, there
was a vacancy at the Treafury Board, and the Duke of New-
castle purpofed to fill it, with Mr, James Oswald, from
the Board of Trade, who was recommended by Lord Hali-
fax j but Lord Bute interfered ; —he told the Duke of
Newcastle, " he came to him, in the name of all them on
** that fide of the Adminiftration, who thought they had as
" good a right to recommend as any other party whatever ;
" and it was their wifli, that Mr. (afterwards Sir) Gilbert
" Elliot, of the Admiralty, might be appointed." The Duke
of Newcastle finding himfelf impeded in his own wifbes, and
refolving net to comply with thofe of Lord Bute, ap-
pointed iord North to fill the vacancy.
This was the fnff caufe of difference.
The
I ^73 ]
The fecond related to Mr. Legge; and happened a few ?_"/"' '_^.^^'
months afterwards in the fame year. There being a vacancy in '^^9-
the reprefentation of the county of Southampton, by the Mar-
quis of Winchester becoming Cuke of Bolton, it was the ^^^^^ ^
dcfire of the Pr/«<:.^ of Wala, fignified by Lord Bute to Mr, T\', '',"''" r
~ v* ' <-^ •/ pre entation or
Legge; that though Mr. Legge had been invited by a great fortu-sTiXt.
majority of the gentlemen of the county, toreprefent them, yet
that he muft not accept of thofe invitations, but yield all preten-
tions in this matter to Sir Simeon Stuart, who had his (Lord
B's) recommendation. Mr. Legoe lamented, that he had not
known the Prince's inclinations fooner j that his engagements
were made, and he could not break them. Mr. Legge was
elc£led. But when the Prince became King, although Mr.
Legge had been made Chancellor of the Exchequer by the
voice of the nation, and his condudl: in office diftinguifhed by
the ftridleft mtegrity, yet he was turned out.
On the 13th of November 1759, Parliament met. The
Prince of Wales took his feat on the firft day. There were no
debates upon any public meafure this feflion ; which ended on
the 22d of May, 1760.
The war was carried on" with unabating vigour ; and the
fame uniformity of fuccefs attended the Britifli arms, wherever
they appeared. j.^,.
CHAP.
I 174 ]
C PI A p. XIX:
Death of Geocge H.-'—Acce^on of George 111. — Lord Bute made
a Privy Counsellor- — Made Ranger of Richmotid Park, in the
room of the Princefs Amelia — Views of the new King's party-
Methods taken to accomplifli thofe views — A number of ivriters
hired at an enormous expence, to ahife the late King, the Duke of
Cumberland, Mr. Pitt, and all the JVhigs ; to reprefent the war
as ruinous, uvjiijl, and impraSlicable — Parliament diffolved — *"
Mr. Legge turned out — Lord Holderneffe refigns upon a penfion
- — Lord Bute made Secretary of State in his room — '^he Kiiigs
marriage — General Grceme's merits on this occaf on— ^French
anecdotes — Obfervations on Royal tnarriages with Foreigners —
Negotiation with France — Breaks off- — Martinico taken — Mr:
Pitt prepares for a war with Spain— ^His defign oj attacking
the Havannah^
.r,.. T TNFORTUNATELY for the war, but more unfortunately
Chap. XIX. i I _ ' •'
• — . — ' %J for Great Britain, on the 25th of October 1760, the
1763. '*— ^ '
venerable Georg-e the Second died. The circumflances of his
Death of ^
c.orgeii. (Jeath are too well known to be repeated here. As to the Suc-
ccw^riiL ceffor, the efrecls of the wickednefs of his advifers have been, and
are fli.l, too deeply felt, to be defcribcd in any terms adequate to
the injaries committed. Pofterity, in a fubfequent. age, when
truth may be fpoken, and the motives of men laid open, will be
aftonifhed at the conduct of their anceftors at this period.
LorjBu-ema.ic Two days aftcr the King's accefllon, the Earl of Bute was
for J^'and '"' '' 'mtroduccd into the I'rivy Council ; and at the fame time, the
name
[ '7.5 ]
name of the Biike of Cumberland was flruck out of the C"''"- -^^'^'
Liturgy. Another circuniftance not lefs remarkable, immedi- 17T0.
ately fucceeded j this was, Lord Bute was made Ran2:er of ^^"E'r ofRich-
Richmond park, in the room of the Princefs AxMelia, who
was turned out.
It was the fixed defign of the party, which the new King
brought with him from Leicefter-houfe, to remove the Mini-
fters and conclude the war j* but the tide of popularity ran fo
'ftrong in favour of both, they were obhged to poftpone the
execution of their defign, until they had prepared the nation
to receive it. For this purpofe a great number of writers were
employed, to calumniate the late King, the Duke of Cumber- ,., •
'•' '~' vyiii.i.ix Writers en-
LAND, Mr. Pitt, and all the Whiars. gagcd.to c;.i«.-
■" O mat; the late
Kng, &c.
The late King was reviled for the affe6lion he had fhewn to
his native country, for his love of female fociety, f and for his
attachment to the Whigs;
The Duke v/as charged with inhumanity; he was ftiled " a
Prince that dehghteth in blood ;" becaufe the Princefs of
Wales had fometime ago conceived a jealoufy of his popula-
rity. Nothing could be more unjull than this fufpicion : there
was not a perfoii in the kingdom m'ore firmly attached to the
rights of her fon.
The
* The King is made to acknowledge in November 1763, in his fpeech to
Parliament, " The re-eftabiifhrnont of the public tranquility, was the first
great objeSi of 7ny reign."
t After the death of Qiieen Caroline, he was fond of a game at cards
in an evening, with the Counteflcs of Pembroke, Albemarle, and other
ladies.
[ 176 J
Chap. XIX. fhe Whlgs wcrc called Republicans, although many of them
had exhaufled their fortunes in fupport of the Monarchy.
But Mr. Pitt was the principal object of their ca-
lumny. He was affailed in pamphlets, in news-paper effays,
and in every other channel of conveyance to the public. The
war upon the continent, was called his German warj his for-
mer oppofition to German meafures, was contrafted with his
prefent condu6lj the expences of former wars, were com-
pared with the prefent war. The ruin of the country, the
annihilation of all public credit, were predided, and de-
plored, as the inevitable confequences of the prefent unjuft-,
impolitic, and impratSlicable war; for although it was fuccefs-
ful, yet they affirmed, that every victory, and eveiy conqueil,
was a frefh wound to the kingdom. Mr. Pitt's thiril for
war, they faid, was infatiable; his ambition knew no bounds.
He was madly ruining the kingdom with conquefts.
By the conqueft of Canada, they affirmed, that all had been
obtained, that juftice gave us a right to demand; every fubfe-
quent conqueft, they affirmed, was not only fuperfluous, but
unjuft ; that it was now perfe6t fuicide to go on conquering
what muft be furrendered ; they wept over our viflories. The
nation, they faid, was deftroying itfelf. At the fame time, they
held out flattering and falfe piftures, of the enemy's ftrength
and refources.
Smollett, Mallett, Francis, Home, Murphy, Maudiut, and many
others were the inftruments employed upon this occafion. It
has been faid, that the fum paid to thefc, and other hired writers,
during
[ ^77 I
during the firfl three years of the reign of Geopge the Third, tKkr. xiXi
exceeded thirty thoufand pounds. And the printing charges VyeoT
amounted to more than twice that fum. In facihtating the
views of the party, the money was well laid out; for the nation
was completely duped. And as to the few, who might attempt
to undeceive the public, there was a political Judge ready to
puniih their temerity.
A perfon at this time, (thirty years fubfequent) may very
rationally afk, if there were any Englilhmen weak enough to
give credit to thefe bafe affertions. The queflion indeed, is
natural. And if the anfwer correfponds with truth, it muft
be confcflcd, that fuch was the induftry ufed in writing and
circulating thefe dodrines, that the new Kings faction, in a
fhort time, had their defenders in every town and village in the
kin2:dom.
The wr.r indeed went on ; and though the conquefts and
vi6lories were not lefs brilliant than heretofore, the expence
was continually urged as a matter of more importance than ,
the advantage.
The unanimity of Parliame nwas not yet difturbcd. As
the enfuing fcflion was the laft fellioa of the prcfent Parlia-
ment, the King's party thought it moft prudent to poftpoire
any attacks, in either Houfe, until the new Parliament was
elefted. The feflion commenced on the iSth of November,,
J 760, and clofed on the 19th of March, 1761.
The Parliament v/as immediately diflblved.
And on the fame day, Mr. Leggi was difmifTcd.
Vol. I; A a Upon
[ ^78 ]
Upon the difmiflion of Mr. Legge, the whole Miniftry ought
immedlatdy to have refigned. A meafure of fuch union and
fpirit, muH: have had the happiell: efFe6ls. The new
King's Favourite would have been checked in his defign
of feizing upon the kingdom ; and the K himfelf would
have been convinced, that the Tory principles inculcated at
Leicefter-houfc, though amufmg in Theory, were mifchievous
in Practice.
LordButemade Two days aftcr the difmiflion of Mr. Legge, T-ord Holder-
"' and""' NESSE rcfigned, upon condition of having a large penfion fe-
Mr. Jenkinfon ^ ^ - .
fcis commis. curcd to him, and the revernon of the Cinque Ports. Lord
Bute, in whofe favour this refignation was purchafed, was in-
ftantly appointed Secretary of State in his room : and he made
Mr. Charles Je-nkinson his confidential commis.
It was now obvious to every underftanding, that there Vv-as aa
end of that unanimity which had for fome years fo happily and
io honourably prevailed in Council, and in Parliament. The
refolutlon of the new King's facVion, to change the Tvliniftry,
was now perceptible to every man, who had not loft his pene-
tration, in that torrent of popularity, which was artfully ma-
naged to abforb all confiderations, in the moil extravagant
eulogies on the found wifdom of the King, and the immacu-
late virtues of his mother.
V , The fa6lion further contrived to amufe the people, with two
King \ mar- ^ *
^'*^''' other circumftances this year. One was the King's marriage ;
the other, his coronation ; which gave them opportunity to
proceed in their meafures, unobferved by the nation.
The
♦
1761.
C 1/9 ]
The Court had not for many years been adorned with the ^' xf"*
prefence of a Queen. The novelty operated with the mofl
powerful attradlion. The whole nation caught the contagion.
The Fadlion could not have contrived any meafure more for-
tunate to engage the public attention ; while unobferved, they
purfued their own defigns, with the utmofl alacrity *.
However,
* Refpeding the choice of the Priiicefs, there was fome years afterwards, aft
extraordinary controverfy in the public prints, which merits more notice, than
many of thofe fugitive papers ufualiy deferve. We fhall felefl only two,
which contain the principal fads.
It fhouid be previoufly obferved, that in the firft arrangement of the Queen's
eftablifliment, General Graeme was made Secretary to the Queen; and in
1765, he was made Comptroller; but in February 1770, he was difraifletl
from her Majefty's fervice.
On the fourth day of O6lober 1777, the following paragraph appeared in the
public prints :
*' It were to be wiflied, that in introducing General G — ■ — e to the public
notice, a little more pains had been taken to explain the eafe and independence
that Gentleman was called from, as well as his appointment as Negociator
and Ambaffador. The world has hitherto had the misfortune of beholding
this oiEcer only in the light of a fimple individual ; bred in a foreign fer-
vice : employed once as a private Agent, to find out where a negotiation might
be fet on foot, and rewarded liberally for the difcovery. It remains alfo to
know the independent patrimony he was. Originally feifgd of, and how he may
have fpent it in her Majefty's fervice. Thcfe, and other circuftances being
cleared up, will have the efteifl of refcuing from oblivion, an illuftrious cha-
rai6lerj whofe merit has apparently not been enough confidered.
Aa 2 inis
176J.
[ i8o ) -
^"xiK^* However, there were fome perfoiu who imagined, that they
faw aa analogy, between the fending back the Princefs of'
Brunswick
IThis paragraph, at the hegimhig, fcemi to allude to fomt pier pubncatlon ; but
yir,tvj]thjlanding a diligent fearch, nothing can be found, except a Jhort paragraph,.
Jiating, thai Ginrral Grame had ref.gned his employment.'^
To the Printer, Id'c.
I TAKE the earlleft opportunity to comply with the wiffi of the Paragraph*
writer in your paper of to-day, refpefting General Grseme. At the time he
was firft fent to Mecklenburgh, he was poflefled of a family eftate of fix hun-
dred pounds a year, and twenty thoufand pound's in money. Your Corref-
pondent, though he takes up the ludicrous ftife, as raafter of his fubjedt, is
certainly very ill informed. General Graeme was fent three feveral times to
Germany ; once as a private agent, and twice as a public one : Firft, to find out
aPrincefs, then to bring her over ; and laftly, to carry the Garter to tlie Prince,
her brother. The expences of tliefe journies were confiderable : He gave in
no bill of them — the others employed did. His liberal' rewards were a regi-
ment, which coft him feven thoufand pounds in raifing ; the office of Secretary
to the Queen, for which he drew only one half of the falary, being rode for the
other half; and fome time after he was madi2 Comptroller of the Queen's
Houfhold. He retired from her Majefty's fervice with not one fhilling of
ready money, and his eftate fo much encumbered, that he has- little more than
his regiment to fupport him. Vice or extravagance he has never been accufed
of. Let common fenfe put all this togerficr, and I defy the moft obfequious
Courtier to fay, that he has been indemnified, much lefs rewarded. He went,
when a boy, into the Scotch Brigade, in the fervice of the States, of Holland,
&c. then reckoned famous for their military difcipline ; and> I believe, had
finiflied his firft campaign, before Major Sturgeon (whom, from the phra^
«« feifed of," I take to be the author of the paragraph) had finilhed, or broken,
!}»$ apprenticefhip to the attorney.
G. A. D..
Sfe
[ i8i J
Bronswick and the fending back the Infanta of Spain, Chaptir
in the early part of the reign of Lewis the Fifteenth. But .. ^[^'^
this 'z^-
To the Printtr-, isfc,
OHober 12, 1777.
TO refcue merit from obfcurity is highly laudable. This praife will dc-
fervedly belong to the Letter-writer, who celebrates the virtues and difappoint-
ments of General G -e, when he has thrown the neceflary light upon fome
few points. He grants, that this gentleman was bred in the Dutch fervice, and
that he was at firft a private agent—" xo find out a Princefs : — (It were to be
wifhed he had chofe another phrafe, for this will hardly be received as a com-
pliment by the family it is applied to) — But then the fecond commiflion was
public, " to bring her over." Here, either the Letter- writer, or the public, is in
a great error : For the unlverfal belief has been, that the late Lord Harcourt
was the Minifter commiffioned to bring her over*. Again, the paying of
feven thoufand pounds for a regiment, is a new fort of traffic, even in this
commefcial country, and merits a full illuftration ; yet, even admitting of its
full extent, as this happened fo many years ago, the General mull, upon a mo-
derate computation, be a very confiderable gainer upon that bargain, befides
the very unufual favour, of being adopted from a foreign fervice over the
heads of a multitude of brave and deferving officers in our own. Another
point to be cleared up Is, his having fpent in the public fervice, fo large a pa-
trimony as his eflate of fix hundred pounds a year, and twenty thoufand
pounds in money, befides the emoluments of a regiment, a half Secretary/hip^
and a whole Comptrollcijhip. The hungry Courtiers furely did not ride hint
[ * // is well known, that Lord Harcourt was the pcrfin who went to Afetklen-
burgh in « public charader ; but that circumjlancc docs not invalidaU the faff, of
General Grame being the confidential man , for, according to the maxims of Go- '
Vernment, which the Fadlion had laid down for the new reign, there were always an
oftenfible man, and a confidential man, in every Jituation : and this anecdote
Jhews, the very early period nt which (/?)« theory 0/^ duplicity, was hrowht into
pra^ioe,]
■in
[ l82 3
Chapter this fpcculation was founded in a great miftakej for the cafes
x^-sr^ differed materially, particularly in this point — the Princefs of
*' '* Brunswick returned voluntarily; whereas the Infanta was
fent back by force. And the French King was thereupon
married to the daughter of Stanislaus, King of Poland,
who at the time of this marriage, was only a private gentle-
man. It is true, that eight years fubfequent, he was, by the
intereft of France, raifed to the throne of Poland ; but in lefs
than a month afterwards he was difpoffefled of his kingdom,
by his rival, the Elector of Saxony.
There is a further, and, if pofiible, a more important diffe-
rence in this pretended analogy. — Several of the great families
in France, difapproved of this union of their Sovereign with
the daughter of a private gentleman} whereas, none of the
Families in England, ever difapproved of the choice made for,
or by the King of Great Britain : and although the Queen of
France, by her placid demeanor, qualified the acidity, which
her birth alone occafioned j yet her unexceptionable con-
du6l, was not fufiicient to prevent fome harfli remarks on
that policy, which, faid they, fends our King's in quefl of
foreigners for wives, in whom their private happinefs is as
jn all of thefe — eftate, and money and all : For, Germany (though it is" a
great gulph) could never have fwallowed any thing like this in three journies.
The bills, had they been given in, (which it is really pity they were not)
could fcarcely, we fhould think, have amounted to one-tenth part of the Ge-
n«ral'» patrimony alonc«
Your's, ice.
D.
little
( 183 )
little confulted, as the public welfare ; and In which alliances, Chap. xix.
we fometlmes import not the bell, but the worft blood on the i-eTT^
Continent.
There was likewife, a third circumflance this year, whi^h « ■ ■
commenced prior to cither the King's Marriage or Coronation, *"''^"'"'
and which claimed a confiderable fiiare of the public attention.
This was a negotiation for peace, denred by France ; and car-
ried on in Loiulon by M. Bussy, and in Paris by Mr. Hans
Stanle'i'. The reader will find in the Appendix, all the im-
portant documents of the negotiation. M. Bussy arrived in
London, in May 176 1, and Mr. Stanley at Paris in the fame
month. This negotiation continued until Augull j at which
time the Court of France had prevailed on the King of Spain to
join them in the war. Mr. Pitt had fufpefled for fome time,
that this jun6lion was in contemplation j and upon the the de-
livery of a memorial by M. Bussy, on the intereils of Spain,
(when there was a Spanifh Miniiler at our Court) he was con-
firmed in his fufplcions. He law, that a war with Spain was
inevitable ; and he immediately made preparation for it. He had
ordered an attack to be made on the French ifland of Martinico,
and the other iflands belonging to that power, in the Weft In-
And it was now his refolution to haften thofe meafures, and to
lend the fleet and army, as foon as thofc iilands were reduced,
againft the, Havannah, the key of the Spanifh Weft Indies 5
and alfo, to reinforce the army with the troops from North
America, where the conquefts were completed.
Martinico, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent, were taken Marcinc., &c.
by his orders. The French power *nthe Eaft Indies, was totally
deftroyed. And Beileille, on the coaft of France, was taken.
The
taken.
[ '^4 ]
CnAP. XIX. There was a very unaccountable negligence in equipping the
^~^ei. expedition againii the Ilavannah, under the fubfequent Adrnini-
M .pit.'s dcngnftration, who could not avoid attempting this conqueft ; becaufc
Havanu.h! ' "" the plan of it was left to them by Mr. Pit r. Altei taking the
laft of the French illands in the Weft Indies, the viftorious
troops remained idle a confiderable time. Had they been fent
immediately againft the Havannah, as Mi-, Pitt intended, the
Spaniards wouUl have been attacked before they were prepared,
and the place would have been taken, before die unhealthy feafon
commenced. The misfortune was, that though the Minifrryfent
only four fhips from England, to join the armament Mr. Pitt
had aflembled in the Weft Indies; yet, thefe fliips did not fail
from hngland until the month of March 1762 ; at which time
according to Mr. Pitt's plan, they would have been before
the Havannah; forMartinico furrenderedon the 12th of Febru-
ary. Our great lofs of men at the Havannah, was more owing
to the unhealthy feafon, than to the fire of the enemy.*
CHAP.
* There was a fufpicion, and the cooFeft impartiality muft allow, that it
fcems to have been founded on neither ordinary ncr weak probability, that the
Miniftry would have rejoiced at a defeat before the Havannah. The officers
were appointed upon the recommendation of the Duke of Cumberland, who
was not lefs obnoxious to the faflion, called the King's friends, than Mr. Pitt
himfelf. They were fent in the manner above-mentioned. The advices of this
important conquell arrived in England while the negociations for peace were
ou the tapis, vv'hich were in fome meafure impeded by it, becaufe Minilters were
obliged to encreafe in their demands refpefting the terms of peace ; a circum-
ftance that was quite oppoliie to their private wiAes, which were to obtain peace
upon any terms, rather than carry on the war.
[ ^85 J
CHAP. XX:
State of France-^ Mr. Pitt oppofed in his deftgn to fend fame fjips
to Newfoundland — That place taken — Re-taken Mr. Pitt
oppofed in his defign to attack the Spanifj Flota—Mr. Pitt and
Lord lemple oppofed in their advice to recall Lord Briflol from
Madrid— Three Councils upon it — Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple
refigji— Deftgn againfl Paiiama and Manilla — Jfjertions of Lord
Temple and Lord Bute — The Gazette account of Mr. Pitt's re-
fignation—His Letter to the City of London — All the Spanifi
treafure arrived in Spain — Explanatory fjofe — Mr. Pitt greatly
applauded in the City of Lotidon — War declared againfl Spain
Epitome of Mr. Pitt's Administration.
FRANCE at this time, was reduced to the loweft ebb of Chap. xx.
diflrefs and defpondency. AH her colonies were in the 1762."'
hands of Great Britain. Her arms had been difcomfitted in state of France,
every quarter. The payment of her pubHc bills was flopped j
and fhe might literally be called a bankrupt nation : She was
reduced to a more diftrefled and humbled condition, in the three
years Adminiftration of Mr. Pitt, than by the whole ten years
war of the Duke of Marlborough.* Her navy was ruined :
She
* France was never more prefled by England, than by Mr Pitt's Admini-
ftration. An Englifhman might at this period, with fome propriety afk
Where were now her 450,000 fighting men, which her Minifters boafted of in
the reign of Louis the Fourteenth? and where were her failors, who in the
fame reign, fought on board one hundred fhips of war ? It may be anfwered,
that we had thoufands of her failors in prifon ; and that their number of land
forces were fufEcient for her purpofe. But wc know, that fo reduced was her
navy before November 1759, ^^ ^^^ obliged to force the peafants into that
Vol. I. B b fervicc.
[ »86 ]
Chap. XX. gj^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^j^-g ^j^^^g j^,^ fl-jjpg of the line fit for fervice ;
176:. ygf^ ^yj^ij tl^efe, her Minifters refolved to make one more effort.
Their defigu was to obtain a fliare of the Fifliery in the North
American Seas, at a cheaper rate than they could hope to gain it
by treaty. From a circumftance that happened during the late
negociation, Mr. Pitt forefaw, that they would make this at-
tempt. His dilligence and penetration were conflant and uni-
form ; and they were not lefs apparent on this, than they had
been on every former occafion. Immediately on the departure
of M. BussY, he propofed to fend four fliips of the line to
M--.p'"°pp°'''"'' Newfoundland : But to his great furprife, he was oppofed in
in his aelign ve- -^ o i ■ 11
foSd!''"' this meafure. The Cabinet put a negative upon his propofi-
Newfoundiand tion. Thc confequeucc was, the French took Newfoundland.
As foon as Lord Amherst, who was at New York, heard it, he
fent his brother and Lord Colville to retake the ifland, which
they accomplifhed, before the arrival of any orders from England.
Mr. Pitt now faw, and felt, the flrength of the new King's
party. He did not, however, refign upon this cheeky becaufe
his grand objech was Spain. His defign was by an early and
vigorous exertion to cripple that power. He d'd not fufpe6l
the Houfe of Bourbon to have fo many friends in England, as
fervice. We know, that however diminifhed her armies migtt be, compared
with the flourifliing times of Louis the Fourteenth, ftill it viras with the greateft
difficulty the Government could pay, and provide for thofe armies ; and had
they refolved upon the augmentation of then), their revenues would have failed
to fuppoit them ; and what is more, the augmentation itfelf was impratStica-
ble. The dregs of the people, and the lower artificers, were already fwept
away by the recruiting ferjeant ; and the fields were in a manner abandoned.
Whoever travelled through France at that junifture, might fee the women not
only drive, but hold the plough. And in fome provinces, it was no uncommon
fpeitacle, to behold two women yoked with one cow, drawing the plough.
he
txiktn.
Re-taken.
he afterwards found. The King of Spaui had at this time, an ^"•'^''' ■^■^^
imnienfe treafure at fea, coming from America. He was fen- n^i-
fible the King of Spain would not declare himfelf until that
treafure had arrived. Mr. Pitt's defign was to intercept it,
and bring it to England. He was confident of the hoftile in-
tentions of Spain. The plan of union, which had been nego-
ciating betvv'een the Courts of France and Spain, all the fummer
at Paris, was now completed, and Mr. Pitt had been furnifhed
with a copy of this treaty of alliance, which included all the
branches of the Houfe of Bourbon, and is commonly called
the Family Compaft. He commuicated to the Cabinet his re-
folution of attacking Spain. Lord Bute was the firft perfon M,.PittsH;f.go
who oppofed it j he called it rafli and unadvifable. Lord spSm fLh *
. . . 1 /* • oppofed.
Granville thought it precipitate, and defired time to confider
of it. Lord Temple fupported Mr. Pitt, which he had done
uniformly from his coming into office. The Duke of New-
castle was neuter. The Chancellor was abfent. Lord
Temple and Mr. Pitt fubmitted to his Majefty, their advice Mr. pittand
in writing, figned by themfelves, to recall Lord Bristol, (the oppofe'd'i^''their
Britifli AmbafTador) from Madrid. This was on the i8th of Lold'Lifto "
September 1761.
A few days afterwards a fecond Cabinet was fummoned upon
the fame fubjeft. All the Cabinet Minifters were prefent.
Mr. Pitt aflerted, that he did not ground his refolution of at-
tacking Spain, upon what the Court of Spain had faid, or might
fay ; but upon what that Court had aSlually done. The ma-
jority faid they were not yet convinced of the neceffity or pro-
priety of his meafure. And the Cabinet broke up without
coming to any refolution. In a few days more, a third Cabi-
B b 2 net
[ i88 ]
Chap. XX. net was fummoned upon this fubjecl. Mr. Pitt and Lord
*" ,^5,;" Temple infifted upon the necefiity of recalhng Lord Bristol.
Every other member of the Cabinet now declared againft the
meafure j upon which Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple took their
leaves. Lord Granville (the Lord Prefident) regretted that
they were going to lofe Mr. Pitt and his noble relation. He
fpoke highly of Mr. Pitt's penetration and integrity; but on
this occafion he thought him miftaken ; for the beft accounts
from Spain, judified a contrary opinion. His Majefty having
reje6led the written advice of Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple,
Mr. put and they refigned on the fifth of October 1761.*
Lnrd Temi'lc
lelign. Bm-
* A few weeks previous to Mr. Pitt's refignaticn, the following converfa-
tlon, as nearly as it can be related from memory, happened between Mr. Pjtt
and a General Officer : —
" Sir, fays Mr. PiTT, I find the Spaniards are determined to break with us.
It may become a fortunate circumftance ; for although we have taken the
French Iflands and colonies, they do not afFord us ready money, which we
want. You muft take poffeffion of Panama : How many regiments fhall you
want for fuch an expedition? — the fhips can be provided for the purpofe
immediately — I have no doubt of making up 5,000 men, if neceflary, from
the Britifli colonies, who are now fecure. We have no reafon to apprehend a
difappolntment — they may not be ready in time, but mufl be fent you as they
are railed ; rather as recruits than part of your command ?"
General Officer — " Sir I fliall not want a great number of difciplined
troops — I know the exadt force in that part of America — give me three or
four regiments, with inftruflions to the middle and fouthern provinces to fup-
ply me with a few men accuftomed to bufli-fighting, and about two thoufand
negroes to work in the heat of the day. Give me powers to form an alliance,
and a promife of protedlion in religion and commerce. — I'll anlwer for the
the fuccefs, not only againft Panama, but for a refignation of all Spanilh Ame-
rica, in all matters which may be deemed beneficial to Great Britain."
Mr. Pitt. — " Sir, get yourfelf in readinefs — your commifllon fhall be, made
out immediately."
Kor was this all - He meditated an attack upon the Phillipine Iflands :
and
[ '89 ]
But the moH: abandoned part of this bufinefs was in the Chap. xx.
Houfe of Lords, on the commencement of the firft feflion of 176J.
the new Parliament, on the 6th of November 1761, when
Lord Temple faid in the debate, " That their advice (meaning
" Mr. Pitt and himfelf) was not founded upon fufpicion only, Affertions of
" although they had for federal months ftifpeSled the views of ^totd Bute.
" Spain, and would have been amply juftified from the jujl
" grounds of their fufpicions, but upon pofitive and authentic
" information of a treaty of alliance being figned between France
" and Spain." Upon which Lord Bute with aftonifhing and
incredible effrontery got up, and pronounced thefe words ;
" My Lords,
" I affirm, iipoji my honour, that there was no intelligence of
" fuch a facl fo conflituted, at that time."
This brought Lord Temple up again^ who affirmed alfo
upon his honour, " That there was iiitelligence of the highefl
*' moment; that he was not at liberty to publifli that intelli-
" in the Houfe, but would refrefii his Lordfnip's memory in
"private." He beckoned Lord Bute out of the Houfe, and
and he confulted Lord Anson upon the fubjeft, on account of his knowledge
of thofe feas. Mr. Pitt's defign was to have reduced Panama firfl ; and next,
to have made a detatchment from thence againll Manilla. The reader has
been already informed of his defign againfl: the Havannah ; which, though it ■
was afterwards executed by his fucccffors, yet had he continued to direft the
war, that conquefl would have been accomplifhed much fooner ; and confe-
quently great part of the force employed there, would have been at leifure,
perhaps to have co-opperated at Porto Bello, or fome other place, with the ex-
pedition againfl Panama ; or have been ready for any other fervice. His defign
againfl the Philhpine Iflands was adopted by his fuccefTors ; but materially
altered, by joining the Eafl India Company in the meafure. Nor
would this expedition have been undertaken, had not Lord Anson, in the
firongefl tenns, repeatedly recommended, and prefTed it to Lord Egremont.
repeated
[ 19° I
Chap. XX. repeated to him the uitelligence which had been laid before the
1761. Cabinet. In this conference Lord Bute found himfvlf under
the neceffity of acknowledging that he rccclledied it. 7 he dates
will ftiew the fatr indifputably. The Family Compacl was
iigned on the 15th of Augufl: 17&1; it was ratified on the
eighth day of September, and the written advice to recall Lord
Bristol was given, and dated on the 18th of the fame month.
Mr. Pitt's refigriation was not publiflied in the London
Gazette xxwX^A free days after it had taken place. The Miniftry
waited for fome of their favourable advices from Spain to con-
traft with it.
In the Gazette of Oclober lo, 1761, thefe articles appeared
together :
" Madrid, September 4. A report having been lately fpread here,
S-"h"rcfigna."' '* "pon the amval of our late letters from France, as if there was rea-
""'*• <' fon to apprehend an immediate rupture between our Court, and
' ' that of Great Britain ; ijoe \who were meant by this pronoun?'] underftand,
" that the Spanifh Minifters, in a converfationwhich they had lately with
*' the Earl of Bristol, Ambaffador Extraordinary from his Britannic
*' Majefty, exnreffed their concern thereat, and declared very explicitly
" to his Excellency, that on the part of their Court, there was not the
*' leaft ground for any fuch apprenfions, as the Catholic King had, at no
*' time been more intent upon cultivating a good correfpondencewith
*' England, than in the prefent conjunfture ; and at the fame time,
" informed the Earl of Briftol, that orders had been fent to Monfieur
*' Manso, Governor of San Roque, to reprimand fuch of the inha-
" bitants under his jurifdiftion, as had encouraged the illegal protec-
" tion given to the French privateer row-boats, under the cannon
*' of a Spanifli Fort."
" St. James's,
[ »9i ]
*' St. yames^SfOBober Q). Th-e Right Honourable William Pitt, Chap. XX.
" having refigncd the Seals into the King's hands, his Majefty was this ' "Tr"'*
" day pleafed to appoint the Earl of Egremont, to be one of hisMa-
" jefty's Principal Secretaries of State. And in confideration of the
*' great and important fervices of the faid Mr. Pitt, his Majefty has
" been gracioufly pleafed to diredl, that a warrant be prepared for
" granting to the Lady Hester Pitt, his wife, a Barony of Great
*' Britain, by the name, ftile, and title, of Baronefs of Chatham, to
" herfelf, and of Bai'on of Chatham to her heirs male ; and alfo to
** confer upon the faid William Pitt, Efq. an annuity of three
" thoufand pounds (lerling, during his own life, and that of Lady
'* Hester Pitt, and their fon John Piti, Efq."
" St. James's, OEloher g. This day Earl Temple, Keeper of the
" King's Privy Seal, refigned the faid Seal into his Majey's hands."
The moment the preceding intelligence was publifhed, Mr.
Pitt's chara6ler was aiiailed with the moft ardent malignity,
and favage phrenzy, that ever difgraced any age or country-
by all the hired writers in the fervice of the King's party. They
branded him with the names of Penfioner, Apoflate, Deferter,
and with every term of reproach, that Malice could apply, or
Depravity fuggeft. Every news-paper was filled with their in-
veflives. Pamphlets were written, and induftrioufly circulated,,
for the fame purpofe ; and every art, and every method, were
praclifed, in order to effect a change of the public opinion, re-
fpc6ting the glory of his meafures, and the purity of his con-
tiua.
The King's Fa6lion were perfe6lly fenfible, that the confi-
dence of the Nation had been repofed in Mr. Pitt ; and they
deprecated, by this criminal induflry, his return to power^
They dreaded nothing fo much, as a difpofition in the people^
fimilar to that (hewn in the year 1757, when the public voice
obliged
[ 192 ]
Chap. XX. obliged the late King to receive him. And it is certain, that
1761. they fucceeded Co far, as to occafion a temporary diminution of
his chara6ler, in the public efteem. Mr. Pitt himfelf was fo
thoroughly convinced of this truth, that he thought it necef-
fary to ftate the caufe of his refignation, in the following letter
to the Town Clerk of the City of London.
Mr. Pitt's letter " Dear Sir,
London.' ^ " " FiNDiNG, to my grcat furprife, that the cavife and manner of my
refigning the feals, is grofsly mifreprefented in the City, as well as that
the moll gracious and fpontaneous marks of hisMajefty's approbation of
my fcrvices, which marks followed my refignation, have been infamouf-
ly traduced, as a bargain for my forfaking the public, I am under a
neceffity of declaring the truth of both thefe fafts in a manner which I
am fure no gentleman will contradid: ; a difference of opinion with
regard to meafures to be taken againft Spain, of the higheft impor-
tance to the honour of the crown, and to the moft effential national
interefts, and this founded on what Spain had already done, * not on
what
* fVhat Spain had already done."] At this diftance of time, thefe words may
require a little explanation. — Befides the Family Compaft, which was Mr.
Pitt's principal objeft, there were the following fails :
A memorial of Mr. Pitt's, in the name of the King of Great Britain, had
been returned by the Spanifh Minifler at Madrid, as wholly inadmijjible, — This
memorial Mr. Pitt wiflied to have had laid before Parliament ; becaufe hav-
ing made, he faid, the conduft of Spain, in this inftance, the precedent for his
refufal of the Spanifh memorial, offered by M. Bussy ; he thought both the
matter and the exprejjion of the Britifti memorial, ought to be made known.
Mr. Pitt's fucceflbrs in office, however, put a negative upon his wiflies.
And befides the points* in difpute, between the two Courts, there were the
following reprehenfible proceedings, on the part of Spain : —
At St. Lucar, about feven leagues from Cadiz, there were, in 1757, eleven
fail of Englifh fhips in that harbour, which failed with Spaniih pilots, and at
• Thefe points were three in number. They are given in the private memorial of France, dated
July 15, 1761 ; which fee in the Appendix.
the
[ ^93 ]
what that Court may farther intend to do, was the caufe of my Chat. XX.
refigning the feals. Lord Temple and I fubmittcd in writing, and ' ■ '
figned by us, our moft humble fcntiments to his Majefly, which being '
over-ruled by the united opinion of all the reft of the King's fcrvantr^,
I refigned the feals on Monday the 5th of this month, in order not to
remain refponfible for meafures, which I was no longer allowed to
guide. Moft gracious public marks of his Majefty's approbation of
my fervices followed my refignation : They are unmerited and tinfo-
Ucited, and I fliall ever be proud to have received them from the beft
of Sovereigns.
" I will now only add, my dear Sir, that I have explained thefe
matters only for the honour of truth, not in any view to court return of
confidence from any man, who with a credulity, as weak as it is inju-
rious, has thought fit haflily to withdraw his good opinion, from one
who has ferved his country with fidelity and fuccefs ; and who juilly
reveres the upright and candid judgment of it ; little folicitous about
the cenfures of the capricious and the ungenerous. Accept my fin-
cereft acknowledgments for all your kind friendlliip, and believe me
ever with truth and efteem,
My dear Sir,
Hayes y Your faithful friend,
0£l. 15, 1761. W. PITT."
A little
the mouth of the river, between the two necks of b.nd, and in flioal water,
they were followed by a French privateer ; tliey were all taken, and brouglit
back that into port. Sir Benjamin Keene, our Ambaffador at that time at
Madrid, remonftrated very flrongly upon this fubjeft ; but to no purpoie ; they
were deemed good prizes, though taken clofe to the land, in fhoal water.
The affair ot the Antigallican and her prize, the Due de Penthievrc, is
well known.
In the beginning of the year 1759, the Experiment, (a King'sfliip) was chafed
off the coaft of Spain, by the Telemachus, a large French privateer, double the
force of the Experiment : but the Britifli Captain not chufing to fufFer the dif-
grace, engaged the Frenchman and at length took him. The vicf^or then llooJ
for the Spanifh coafl, when he fent his boat with his mafier and four men afhore,
toJand fome of the prifoneis, and bring off fome neceflaries. The boat was im-
Vol. I. C c mediately
1701
[ ^94 J
Chap. XX. A little time after Mr. Pitt's refignatlon the Mlnlflry re-
ceived a diipatch from Lord Bristol at Madrid, contair.ing the
following intcrtfting information :
Efcurial,
mediately JetaineJ, and the officer and crew thrown into prifon; the Governor
allcdghig, that the French fhip was an illegal capture ; though Ihe came ofF
from the land where flie lay at anchor, and purfued the Experiment. And or-
ders were fent to all the Spanifli ports, to detain the Experiment, if flie put
into any of them.
About June, 1760, the Saltafli floop of war chafed on fhore a French row-
boat, a few leagues to tiie eaftward of Almeria Eay, and lonie time afier fhe
rook a French row-boat off Mahon, and put a midlhipman and fourteen men
on board, and fome time in the following month came to anchor in that bay.
The Spaniards detained her, and made the men prifoners : upon which, the
Captain of the Saltafh, finding his prize not come out, fent his boat, with the
Maimer and five men to know the reafon ; who, on coming aflrore, were
threatened by the Spanifli foldiers to be fired at unlefs they hauled their boat
afliore to a port a quarter of a mile from thence, which they refufed to do, in-
filling, as Britiih fubjefts, they had a right to Spanifli proteftion ; whereupon
they feized the boat's crew, as well as the prize, and put them in the common
prifon, where the raafler was ftruck and abufed by the loldiers, and all the refl
iifed with great cruelty, and refufed the ufe of pen, ink and paper. The Saltafli
was never a'ole to get her men, to the number of 19. The Spaniards fent the
raafter of a Catalan bark to prifon, for carrying a meflage from one of the pri-
foners to Gibraltar.
In 1761, the Speedwell cutter, commanded by Lieutenant Allen, was chafed
into the harbour of Vigo, by the Achilles, a French man of war, and there
made a prize of by her. Mr. Allen was tried at Spithead, forlofinghis Ma-
iefty's cutter, and was honourably acquitted ; but the Court declared their opi-
nion, that file was an illegal prize, and taken contrary to the law of nations.
In Cadiz there were many French privateers manned and fitted out by Spa-
niards, built under the windows of the Governor's houfe, where they lay, and in
hisfight; when any Englifh veffel failed out of the harbour, would follow inflant-
ly, and bring her in ; though on the contrary, if any French fliip fhould fail out,
no Englilli fliip of war dared to follow her, or fail out of the harbour in lefs
than 24 hours ; and the garrifon guns were always ready to prote6l a French
iliip.
In
[ 195 ].
E/curial, November 2,1761. ^Z!^^'
" Two (hips have lately arrived at Cadiz, with very extraor- 'z^'-
'' dinary rich cargoes, fi'om the Weft Indies. So that all the f,;„^;',^,Tv'c'^
" wealth that was expeSled from Spanip America, is now fafe in '"^''""*
" Old Spain." "^
The triumphs of the Courts of London and Madrid, over
Mr. Pitt, were now complete. The firft, in having compelled
him to relinquifli the diretlion of a war, by which he had nearly
cruflied one branch of the Houfe of Bourbon, and was ready
to pour its thunders upon another : The latter, in having
fupported the defigns of his enemies, until that immenfe wealth
was arrived, which they knew he meant to have intercepted ;
and which had he been permitted to accomplifli, he muft, by a
In the harbour of Vigo, in May 1761, there were upwards of thirty French
row-boats ; in which thirty boats, there were not above thirty Frenchmen, one
in each boat, and the reft of the crews all Spaniards, and thefe fitted out by the
Spaniards there, and at St. John de Luz.
At Cabaretta, a fmall town on the Spanifli coaft, in the Gut of Gibraltar,
where there is a caftle and fome few guns, there was always a fleet of French
row-boats at anchor under thofe guns, with not one Frenchman on board,
moftly Spaniards and Genoefe, but fitted out by Spaniards, who, in a piratical
manner, watched and feized all Englifh vefTels which paffed without a convoy,
or happened to be becalmed. This was very detrimental to the garrifon of Gi-
braltar, as many of thofe veffels were bound from Ireland, &c. with provifions^
About two months before Mr. Pitt rejtgned, Mr. R , an eminent Jhip-builder
in the King of Spaing fervice, quitted Spain, and returned to England. He knew
authentically and exadly, the force and condition of every fhip and veffcl belonging to
the King of Spain. Mr. Pittfaw himfevcral times immediately after his arrival,
and placed a proper value upon his information.
* See other extrads from the Spanifh papers, with fome explanatory notes,
in the Appendix.
C c 2 fuccefs
[ »96 ]
Chap. x^. fiiccefs cf fuch immcnfe importance, at the beginning of the
7761. war, have fpeedily reduced Spain.to the necciiity of deprecating
the rage of fo potent and aftive an enemy. But to thofe few
perfons who were not duped by the artifices of the King's con-
fidential feivants, nor deceived by the hired writers of foreign
and domellic enemies, thefe triumphs over a great Minifter»
were matters cf the moft fmcere concern, regret, and an-
guifli.
^himic^'In'L ^'^ ^ ^*^^'^* weeks, however, the pubHc prejudice began to difii-
*^"'" pate. When he went into the City on the enfuing Lord Mayor's
day, he was honoured in all the ftreets through which he pafTed,
with unbounded marks of applaufe. The King and Queen ho-
noured the city feaft with their prefence, (according to cuftom,
on the firft Lord Mayor's day after their coronation); and the
Courtiers faid his Majefty betrayed fome figns of difapprobation,
that the applaufe given to Mr. Pitt, was greater t^an that
Ihewn to himfelf.
This applaufe was, indeed, confined to the metropolis. But
whatever doubts might have remained on the minds of men,
whofe refidencies were remote from the fource of information,
refpe6ling the propriety of Mr. Pitt's condudl, relative to
Spain, they were all difpelled by the declaration of war againft
tliat power; which Mr. Pitt's fucceffor's found themfelves
under the necclTity of ifluing on the fecond day of January,
1762, although they poftponed that important meafure, until
the infults of the Spanifli Court had become fo notorious, that
even Lord Bute ODnfefled they could be no longer concealed.
Thus
C 197 ]
Thus came by coiiftraint, and without dignity, and what is Qua.?, xx.
woife than both, above three months after the opportunity had 1761.
elapfed, that declaration of war, fneaking, and as it were by
Health ; which Mr. Pitt would have iffued with eclat, in the
month of Augufl lafl", and illumined with the fplendour of
his viftories before the end of the year.
EPJI'OMM
[ 198 ]
EPITOME
OF
MR. PITT'S ADMINISTRATION.
MDCCLVII.
Epitome of Mr. THE Hanovcrians and Heffians were fent home, and a well-regu-
ftration. """'' latcd Militia eftabliilied ; by which the enemy favv, that we were fo
far from wanting foreign troops, to proteft us, that we could afford
to fend the national troops abroad.
The foundations were laid of the fubfequent conquefts.
Fleets and armies were fent to Afia, Africa, and America.
MDCCLVIII.
Shipping deftroyed at St. Malo.
Bafon and fliipping deftroyed at Cherburg.
Emden recovered from the French.
Senegal taken.
Louifbourg, and the Ifles of Cape Breton and St. John's taken.
Fort Frontenac taken.
Fort Du Quefne taken.
Fort and ifland of Goree taken.
Muffulipatam taken.
D'Ache's fleet defeated.
French army defeated at Crevelt.
French fleet under Du Quefne, taken by Admiral Osborne.
French fleet drove alhore at Rochefort, by Sir Edward Hawke.
MDCCLIX.
Guadaloupe, Marie Galante, Defirade, he. taken.
Siege of Madras railed.
Surat taken.
IrNiagarajaken.
Shipping deftroyed at Havre.
French
I 199 ] •
t^rench fleet under De la Clue, taken by Admiral BoscxYwen.
Ticonderoga taken.
Crown Point taken.
Qiiebec taken.
Complete defeat of the French fleet in Quiberon Bay.
French army defeated at Mmden.
MDCCLX.
Thurot killed and his three frigates taken.
French army defeated at Warburgh.
Montreal taken, and all Canada.
Frigates, ftages and flores deftroyed in Chaleur Bay.
Dumet taken.
Dominique taken.
MDCCLXL
Pondicherry taken, and all the French power in India deftroyect.
Belleifle laken.
French army defeated at Fellinghaufen.
MDCCLXII.
Marti ;ico taken, and with it, the iflands of Grenada, St. Lucia
and St. Vincent. And
The Havannah taken; though after Mr. Pitt's refignation, yet in
confequence of his plans.
To thefe conquefts muft be added, the annihilation of the French
Marine, Commerce and Credit. The lofs to France of th,e following
fhips of war, which compofed nine-tenths of her Royal Navy.
French King's Ships taken or destroyed.
Forty-four of the line, viz. — Four of 84; eleven of 74: two of
70 ; feventeen of 64 ; two of 60 ; two of 56 ; one of 54 ; and five of
50.
Sixty one frigates, viz.— Four of 44; two of 40 ; eighteen of 36 ;
two of 34; fifteen of 32; one of 30; one of 28; two of 26; eight
of 24; two of 22 ; fix of 20.
Twenty
[ 200 ]
Twenty-fix floops of war, viz. — One of i8; nine of i6; fix of
14; two of 12; one of 10 ; feven of S.
Befides the advantages derived from all thefe conquefts and captures,
Mr. Pitt left the late Thirteen Britifh Colonies in North America,
in perfedt fecurity and happinefs ; every inhabitant there glowing with
the warmefl: affeftion to the Parent Country. At home, all was ani-
mation and induftry. Riches and glory flowed in from every quarter.
" Gods ! what a golden fcene was this,
" Of public fame, of private blifs ! j "
J Ode by H. Seymour, Efq. late M. P. for Eve/ham.
CHAP.
[ 201 j
CHAP. XXL
Situation of Great Britain — Farther particulars concerning Mr.
Pitfs rejignation — and the Princejfes of Brunfwick — Union of
Lord Bute with Lord Bath and Mr. Fox — Mr. Grenville wi flies
to be made Speaker — Mr. Pitt defires all the papers relative to
Spain to be laid before Parliament — He fupports the motion of a
fupplyfor Portugal.
THE fituation of Great Britain at the end of Mr. Pitt's Chap. xxf.
Adminiftration, might not be improperly compared to 1761.
that of Rome at the end of the Common-wealth. The Roman situation of
• T\ 1 • • • n • ^fsat Britain.
Empn"e extended from Bntam to Media j and the Britilh domi-
nions included North America, and a great part of the Mogul
Empire ; with many iflands and colonies in Europe, America,
Africa and Afia. Both Empires at thefe periods, were in their
zenith ; and from thefe periods, both Empires declined in vir-
tue, and diminifhed in extent. The principal differences
hitherto have been, that the fervility of the Britifh fenate has
exceeded that of the Roman ; and the diminution of the Bri-
tifh empire has been more rapid.
We have feen the end of this great man's brilliancy, as a Mini-
fler. We are now to view him in the chara6lcr of a fingle mem-
ber of the Legiflature ; dignified, indeed, by reputation, but ac-
companied by no influence, norfollowed by one individual of that
obfequious crowd of reprefentatives,who had lately given him un-
limited confidence, and unbounded praife. This fudden, but not
Vol, I. D d furprifing
[ 202 ]
Chap. XX!. furprlfing change of opinion, in the reprefcatatives of the na-
,,6i. tion, was occafioned by no alteration in his fentiments or prin-
p!es, no relaxation of his promptitude or vigour, no impeach-
ment of his condutl, his judgment or his virtue; nor was it
to be afcribed to the ufual verfatihty of mankind, particularly
the natives of Great Britain, whofe ruling pallion is novelty ;
but it is to be attributed entirely, and exclufively, to the in-
fluence of Corruption, to the avarice and vanity of fuch men as
are always eager to pay homage to the Diftributorof rewards;
whoever he may be, of whatever nation, or of whatever
complexion.
The management of the Houfe of Commons is become fo
perfectly mechanical, that it requires only a fmall knowledge of
the principles of the machine, to be able to transfer the majo-
rity at almoft any time, from the mod able Statefman, to the
Favourite of the Crown, or the Confident of the enemy ; who
may have no other recommendation, than the fmiles of the
nrft, or the money of the lafl: ; with the fame facility, that an
India bond, or any other negotiable property is transferred every
day.
Thefe obfervations may fecm illiberal to the inexperienced,
becaufe they are unfavourable to the admirers of national
glory. It is the misfortune of truths to be often difagrceable —
the ancients very wifely painted her naked, to fignify that thofe
who were her enemies, were the enemies of nature. Notwith-
ilanding the ftate of modern depravity, T^riith will continue to
have her worfliippers ; and it may be prefumed, that they will
in the prefent age, as they have in former ages, furvive the advo-
cates of Falfliood. It is to them only, that Impartial Hiftory can
addrels
[ 203 J
addrefs herfelf — from them only, fhe can expe£l protection. Chap x.Tfc
The Betrayer of his country, and the Deftroyer of Public Li- 1761.
berty, whether fupported by a Comraodus, or protefted by a
Fauftina, may endeavour by the afliftance of the corrupt inflru-
raents of law, to intimidate and to ftrangle her voice : But con-t
fcious that fhe has Iruth for her fhield, fhe ventures upon a
^aflc that willgive a new complexion to the public events, of one
of the mofl interelting periods, in the annals of Great Britain.
Mr. Pitt's firfl care after his refignation, was the diminu- ^'uT!"
tion of his houfhold. Amongft his other retrenchments were
his coach horfes, which were fold by public advertifement in
his own name. His enemies fligmatized this circumflance
with the appellations of parade and oftentation ; — his friends
denominated the whole meafure prudence and osconomy. Cer-
tain it is, that he had not, like many of his predecefTors,
amalTed a fortune in his late fituation. He retired from office
an indigent man, with little more than his annuity for his fup-
port. From all his places he acquired no pofl'efBons. The
legacy of ten thoufand pounds, left him by the Duchefs of
Marlborough, already mentioned in Chapter V, had amply
fupplied his pecuniary wants ; releafed him from all dependence
on his family and friends, and while it emancipated him from
the terrors of obligation, it infpired him with that fpirit of in-
dependence, which may be faid to have firft kindled that blaze,
which adorned the remainder of his life. During his flay in
office he had no levees — he dedicated his whole time to the du-
ties of his flation. When he refigned, many of the principal cities
and corporations in the kingdom, prefented him with addreffes
D d 2 of
[ 204 ]
Chap. XXI. of thaiiks for his great and important fervices ; and at the fame
,761. time lamented the caufe of his departure from Government.
His fuccefibr was the Earl of Egremont, who was recom-
mended to Lord Bute by the Earl of Bath. Upon the accef-
fion of George III. Lord Bath made a tender of his fervices,
which although not accepted publicly, his advice was received
privately, by Lord Bute.
But Lord Bute's principal advifer, and manager of the
Bruniwick. Houfe of Commons, was Mr. Fox. The circuniftance which
caufed the firft advances to an union between them, was the ai'-
rival of the tv.'o PrincefTes of Brwifwick, already mentioned in
Chapters XIII. and XIX. That affair had been originally fug-
gefted by the Duchefs, their mother, filler to the then King of
Priijfm, whom fhe had folicited to recommend it to George the
Second, when at Hanover in the month of July 1755. — The
projeft had certainly the approbation of Mr. Pitt at that time^
but he warmly difapproved of the rcjohition to accomplifh it
againft the prefFrng entreaties of the Princefs of Wales*} who
fecretly
* Lord Melcombe in his Diary, mentions this aiFair in thefe words :
** She \_meaning the Princefs of ff'ales'\ told me that the King had fent to invite
the two Princeffes of Brunfwick; they came, but their mother, theKing ofPruf-
fia'sfifterjwho was not|invited came with them ; We talked of tlie match — Surely
he would not marry her fon without acquainting her with ut, fo much as by letter
I faid certainly not, as he had always behaved very politely to her. It may be fo,
fhc replied, but how can this be reconciled? In this manner faid I: nothing
will be fettled atHanover; but when thelKing comes back, he rhay fay in conver-'
fation, and commending the Pri^xce's figure, that he wifhes. ,?o fee him fettled
before he dies ; aud that he has feen fuch and fuch Princelles ; and thougli he
would fettle nothing, without her participation, "yet he could wifii to fee the
Prince fettled before his death, and therefore, if fhe had no objeifHon, he' ihould
think one of thofc Princeffes a very fuitable party.
" She
[ 205 ]
Jecretly wiOied for an alUattce with one of her own family. Mr.
Pitt's oppofition to th^v'terolution of force, was one principal
caufe of the defign being relinquifhed. Lord Bute fupportcd
the Princefs in all points ; and Mr. Fox was ready to put his
negative on all continental alliances — againfl: the PrinccfTes o^
Brunswick, therefore, they were perfectly united. The refir-
nation of the Duke of Cumberland, which happened in a
little more than a year afterwards, the afcendency of Mr. Pitt
in the clofct, and other circumftances, drew Mr. Fox every year
into a clofer connexion with [,ord Bute. He doubtlefs faw,
that his future rife in the State, mull: be obtained by his interefl:
" She paufed, and faid, No ; he was not that fort of man : — but If he fliould
fettle the match without acquainting her with it, fhe fhould let him know how
ill file took it; and if he did it in the manner I mentioned, fhe Ihould not fail
to tell him fairly and plainly, that it was full early She was determined
to behave fo whenever the King fpoke to her about it. She thouo-ht the
match premature : the Prince ought to mix with the world — the marriage
would prevent it — he was fhy and backward — the marriage would flmt him up
for ever, with two or three friends of his and as many of hers. That he was
much averfe to it himfelf, and that fhe difliked the alliance extremely : that the
young woman was faid to be handfome, and had all good qualities and abundance
of wit, &c. but if ihe took after her mother, flie would never do here — the Duke
of Brun-swick indeed, her father, is a very worthy man. — Pray Madam, faid
I, what is her mother ? as I know nothing at all about her. — Why, faid fhe,
her mother is the moil intriguing, meddling, and alfo the mofl: fatyrical farcaf-
tical j^crfon in the world, and will always make mii'chicf wherever Ihe comes.
Such a charaiSler would not do with George ; it would not onlv hurt him in
his public, but make him uneafy in his private fituation ; that he was not a
wild, diffipated boy, but good-natured and cheerful, witli a (erious cafi: upon,
the whole — that thofe about him knew him no more than if they had never
feen him. That he was not quick ; but, with thofe he was acquainted, appli-
cable and intelligent. His education had given her much p?.in ; his book-
learning file was no judge of, though fhe fuppofed it fmall or ufelefs." — Edit..
[ 206 ]
Chap. XXI.
^^- in the Prince's Court. Upon theacceiE^n of Georgj Ill.wcac-
1761- corciingly find, that Lord Bute, whoi^vas totally inexperienced in
the wide field of politics, takes Mr. Fox for his principal advifer,
not upon the principles of Government, for upon them they often
differed, but in the gratifications of refentment, and in the ar-
rangements of men. Lord Bute's other chief advifer was
Lord Bath, whofe enmity was principally dire6led to the Duke
of Newcastle, and his friends, as Mr. Fox's was to Mr.
PiTT, and his friends. By thefe advifers. Lord Bute was in-
flru6led to break all great connexions, and to annihilate all
popular influence. The Court adopted thefe meafures, with a
view to increafe the power of the crown ; and give to the King
an uncontrouled exercife of his influence, under the direflion of
his private favour.
Mr. Grenville
wiihes to be
When it was known, that Mr. Legge was to be turned out,
madespcaker. Mr. Grenville cxpreflcd to hls brothcrs, his defire to fucceed
Mr. Legge ; but Mr. Pitt took no notice of his wiflies ; upon
which a coolnefs commenced between them. This difappoint-
ment occafioned Mr. Grenville to dire6t his attention to ano-
ther fituation, and probably to another intereft. Mr. Onslow
having refigned the chair of the Houfe of Commons, Mr. Gren-
ville folicited to fucceed to that vacancy. He was at this time
Treafurer of the Navy, and had been in that pofl about {even
years, and in other places. He waited upon the Duke of New-
castle } who being ftill Firfl: Lord of the Treafury, was no-
minally Minifl:er. The Duke alkcd him if he had mentioned
the matter to Lord Bute. Mr. Grenville owned he had :
and added, that he had not only the King's approbation, with
his Majefliy's gracious affurance of the Cabinet, but the appro-
bation
[ 207 }
batlon likewife of all his own family. The lall pait was un- Cr. xxl
doubtedly a miftake ; for the Duke of Newcastle was the fiift ''^^^
perfon who informed Lord Temple of Mr. Grenville's over-
tures. Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt were exceedingly offended
with their brother, for having made an application to Lord Bute,
without communicating his intention to either of them. From
this moment Mr. Grenville feparated himfelf from all his fa-
mily ; and there fubfifted the moll bitter animofity between
them, until the month of May. 1765. During that periocT,
Mr. Grenville attached himfelf firfl to Lord But;.', and
afterwards to the Doke of Bedford.
On the 6th of November, 1761, the new Parliament met.
Mr. Fox had. at this time, obtained the fituation he was fo de-
firous of pofleffing in the late reign, viz. the management of
the Houfe of Commons. No man was better qualified for this
important truft. He was liberal in his promifes, and honour-
able in the performance of them. We may judge of his means,
by the facls refpeding the Civil Lift only. When Mr. Pitt
refigned (Oaober. 1761), the King's revenue not only ftood
clear of all incumbrances, but there was a balance in the Ex-
chequer, due to the Crown, of between one hundred and thirty
and one hundred and forty thoufand pounds. When Lord
Bute and Mr. Fox refigned*, which was in April, 1763, the
balance in the Exchequer was not only expended, but the out-
goings upon the eftabliOiment of the Civil Lift, exceeded the
income, to the amount of upwards of ninety thoufand pounds
per annum^
* Mr. Fox did not rengn the Pay Office, but only the management of the
Houfe of Commons. Mr. Grenville fucceeded him in that department.
ATotion for the
[ 20S ]
On the I ithof December, 1761, a motion was made in the Houfe
of Commons, " That an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty,
that he will be graciouily pleafed to give direclions that there
-Spjnifli papers, be laid before the Houfe copies of all the memorials delivered by
Count FuENTEs, to his Majefty's Minifters, relating to the demand of
liberty to the Spanidi nation to fifh on the banks of Newfotmdland ;
and alfo copies of all memorials delivered by the faid Ambaffador of
Spain, to his Majefty's Minifters, relating to the deftruftion and evacu-
tion of any eftabliihments made by Britilh fubjefts on the coafts of
Honduras, and relating to the right of cutting logwood there ; and
alfo Copies of all memorials delivered by the faid Ambaffador to his
Majefty's Minifters, demanding reftitution of the prizes taken during
this war on the fubjefts of Spain ; together with copies of the anfwers
given by the Court of Great Britain to the Court of Spain on the three
above demands."
Mr. pitt. Mr. Pitt fupported this motion. He did not widi, he faid, that
any part of his conduft Ihould be covered or concealed from the pub-
lic. On the CQntrary, he declared it to be his ardent defire to fee laid
open and revealed, both the motives and adlions of every part of
his adminiftration. He, therefore, preffed with zeal, the laying be-
fore the Houfe every paper relative to the fix years negociation with
Spain, that the juftice and candour of the Crown of England on the
one hand, and the chicanery, infolence and perfidy of Spain, on the
other, might be apparent to the whole Houfe. [This appeal to fo
much written evidence, fpoke the ftrongeft language of confcious in-
tegrity.] Much ftrefs, he added, had been laid without doors, on his
refufing the memorial offered by M. Bussy, relative to the concerns of
Spain. In refufing that memorial, he faid he had followed iht precedent
of the Court of Spain, which had returned, as inadmiffible, a memorial
of the King of Great Britain. He thought it was of confequence to
the Houfe to know both the matte}- and the exprejfwn of that memorial,
as it related to one of the three points in negociation.
But upon calling for the queftion, a negative was put upon the mo-
tion.
The debate being over, Mr. Fox ftood up and faid, That if any
particular
I 209 J
particular paper neceflliry to the vindication of certain perfons^ was c^^p, xxi.
fpecifically moved for, it would be given. "^ i^'sz. '
Mr. Pitt treated this as a captious offer : he faw through its falla- '
cy, and refufed to accept it. What he earneftly willied for, was all
the papers relative to the fix years negotiation, which having been re-
fufed, he faid the gentleman who made the offer, very well knew, that
he (Mr. Pitt) could not mark out, nor call in a parliamentary way,
for a fpecific paper, with the contents of which he had been entnifted
before, by the King, under the feal of fecrecy.
Mr. Pitt took no further part in the debates of this feffion, until
the month of May, 1762 ; when the King fcnt a meffageto the Houfe
of Commons, informing them of the defign of Spain to attack Portu-
o-al, foliciting their fupport of his moll faithful Majefty. On the 13th
the Houfe in a Committee of Supply, voted one million for that fervice.
Mr. Pitt, though not in the King's fervice, fupported the refolu- p^.t^^,-.
tion of the committee of fupply. He began with pointing out the
neceffity of continuing the war in Germany, and of fupporting the
King of Portugal. He obferved, that in times of war, connexions
with the continent had always been found political, except in the
four unhappy reigns of the Stuarts. Then, turning about to feveral
perfons, he very jocularly faid, * You who are for continental mea-
' fures, I am with you ; and you who are for afllfting the King of Por-
' tugal, I am with you; and you who are for putting an end to the
' war, I am with you alfo ; in fliort, 1 am the only man to be found that
* am with you all.' He then enumerated the fucceffes that attended
the Britilh arms in all parts of the world, and the immenfe advantages
gained in our trade, which would more than compenfate the great ex-
pcncc we had been at; and which he obferved was a confidcration
that had been overlooked by thofe who were complaining of the heavy
burthen of the war; and in regard to contruding the expences, he
entirely agreed with thofe who were for it, and urged, that whoever
would effea this lalutary work, would deferve the higheft encomiums ;
but he hoped a diftinftion would be made between contrading the ex-
pence, and contracting the operations of tlie war, and defiredanyone
prefent to Ihew how the latter could have been, or might flill be done
with fafety : he then remarked, that he did not find any lefs expencc
Vol.. I, ^^ e attended
[ 2IO ]
atteiukd the nation now, than when he unworthily held the (eals, or
that more was done ; and turning to the Marquis of Graney, he ob-
ferved, that he knew his zeal for the fervice of his country was fuch^
that if he had received his orders, he was fure he would not then be
where he was. And as to what the noble Lord* had faid, no one
doubted his capacity, if his heart was but as good; that as for his
own part, he could not tell the reafon of the continental expences being
o-reater now than in Queen Anne's time, unlefs it was becaufe pro-
vender and every thing elfe in Germany was dearer now than then,
and wifhed the noble Lord had explained that part of his fpecch, for
he did not properly know what to make of it; it carried a fomething!
a fufpicion he did not underftand ! but if he meant that there had not
been fair play with the money, he knew nothing of it ; and then
flretching out his hand, and moving his fingers, faid they were clean,
there was none of it ftuck to them ! and that he would fecond any
perfon, who fnould move for an enquiry into tlie money matters ; he
was anxious to know how it was appopriated, that the whole truth
might come out. He obfcrvcd, that the noble Lord had faid, he bled
for his country, and he did not wonder at it ; that it was his opinion,
heought to throv/ his body at his Majefty's feet, and there bleed at
every pore. He then reprefented, that in confequence of our with-
drawing our troops from Germany, Portugal and the Low Countries,
would become a prey to the French and Spaniards ; that in point of
policy we ought not to fuifer it ; but that he did not mean to bear
Portugal on our fhoulders, but only to fet him on his legs, and put a
fword in his hand. He affirm.ed, that France was almoft a ruined na-
tion, having expended in the laft year upwards of eight millions, and
had been ftill lofing : that he knew the finances of France, as well as
any man in England ; and that we, by our fucceffes, were repaid for
our expence ; that it was wrong and unjuft to reprefent Great Britain
in fo deplorable a ftate, as unable to carry on the war, (for there were
always ftrangers in the gallery, who wrote to their friends in Holland,
an account of what pafled in that place, and the Dutch forwarded it
to the French) that it was well known England never was better able
' Lord George Sackville.
to
[ 2 1 I ] . 51
to fupport a war than at prefcnt ; that the money for this year was Chap. XXT.
raifed, and he would anfwerfor it, if we wanted fifteen or twenty mil- ' "C"^
. . 1762.
lions for next year, we might have it ; he therefore ftrongly recom-
mended the million as defired ; that he knew the cry which had been
propagated for thefe three years ; You won't be able to raife money
to continue the war another year ; and yet we all faw the contrary. —
He affirmed, that one campaign might have finiihed the war ; (allud-
ing to his own propofal of demanding a categorical anfwer from Spain).
And in anfwer to the Gentleman * who had faid, that the complaints
of the Portuguefe merchants had not been attended to, he infifted,
that fo far from it, he had fpent many nights in confidering tliem ; and
referred that Gentleman to what hadpafled between him and the Am-
baflador of the Court of Portugal ; but they had been abandoned
fince. He then recommended union and harmony to the Minifhry,
and declared againfh altercation, which, he faid was no way to carry
on the public bufmefs, and urged the ncceffity of profecuting the war
with vigour, as the only way to obtain an honourable, folid, and laft-
ing peace ; and proved from the readinefs with which fupplies had
been granted, there would be little danger of a ftop on that account,
fo long as the money was properly applied, and attended with fuccefs.
He faid, he wifhed to fave Portugal, not by an ill-timed and penu-
rious, but by a moft efficacious and adequate affiftance.
The feflion clofed on the fecond of June 1762.
The defence of Portugal was undertaken, without making
any ftipulations in behalf of our merchants, which the oppor_
tunity fo amply afforded, and who had prefented feverally me-
morials to the Courts of London and Lifbon complaining the
injufticc of the laft. So far from taking the leaft notice of
thefe complaints, Lord Tyrawley was fent to Lifbon, in the
character of Ambaflador. He was, perhaps, the only gentle- {emJuib^
* Mr. Glover.
E € 2 man
[ 212 ]
Chap. XXI. man in the Britifh dominions, to whom that Court, at another
J 762. time, would have made an exception. At this moment, the
Court of Lifbon was under the neceility of being filent. Upon
a former occafion. Lord Tyrawley had rendered himfelf par-
ticularly ofFenfive at Lifl:)on : and he fecms to have been fele6led
on this occafion, certainly not from motives of friendfliip to
that Court, although it was the moft favourable period for efta-
bliihing every neccllary commercial ftipulation, with clearnefsr
and precifion.
CHAP.
213
CHAP. xxir.
Refolution of the BritiJJj Cabinet to make peace—^ Sulfuiy to Pru[fia
refiifed — Negotiation ivith the Court of Peterjburgb, and ivitb
the Court of Vieivia — Both made known to the King of Prufjia —
Negotiation with the Court of Turin — Anecdote of the peace of-
Aix la Chapellc — Penfion gratited to the Sardinian Minijler —
Privy Purfe and Secret Service — Alterations in the Britifl}
Minifry — Lord Bute Minijler — His Brother at Court — Inte-
re fling particulars of the jiegotiation between Great Britain and
Francc'^^Lord Bute's wealth — Examination of Dr. Mufgrave
-—Union of the Duke of Bedford and Mr. Grenville — Dif miff ion
of the Duke of Devonflnre. — Anecdote of the Duke of Newcastle
and Lord Gra?iville.
NOTWITHSTANDING the Brltifii arms continued {^c^ CnAP.xxir,
cefsful in every quarter of the world, yet it was the ''TjelT'
'firm and unalterable refolution of the Britifh Cabinet, to make Refdution of
peace, with the utniofl expedition. By the partial ufe which binet to
had been made of the prefs, already mentioned in Chap. XIX.
the people of England became divided in opinion, on the fub-
je6l of continuing the war. The Scottifli nation were nearly
unanimous in fupport of Lord Bute. The Britilh Cabinet
were influenced by the fame principles, and probably by the
fame means, which governed the Tory Cabinet of Queen Anne,
at the time of making the peace of Utrecht.
The firft confideration of the noble Lord, who now guided
the King's Councils, was to reduce the King of PrufTia to the
neceffity of concurring in his pacific difpofition. For this
purpofe.
the Britilh C.i^
maiie
peace.
[ 214 1
Cha?.^ii. p(j,.pQf.^ ^j^g fubfidy, which, accordhig to treaty, had been an-
''^*" nually paid to Pruffia, was this year refafed, contrary to the
sf.^^i^d. '" ' mofl foiemn engagements, and in direft breach of the national
faith — not, indeed, by an open and manly negative in the firft
inftance ; but after an infinite number of promifes of the mo-
ney, and evafive anfwers, to the PrufTian refident in London,
from the month of January to the month of May, 1762.
The cruelty of this fport in the Britifh Minifler, was embittered
by the perilous fituation of the King, furrounded by hoils of
enemies, and difappointed of the only afliflance he had a right
to eflimate, in his preparations for the fucceeding campaign.
However, his good fortune did not abandon him ; for in the
fame moment that Great Britain became his enemy, Ruffia be-
came his friend. The Emprefs Elizabeth died, and the Em-
peror, Peter III. immediately withdrew from the alliance
againft him : So that the defign of the Britifh Cabinet, in the
refufal of the fubfidy, was not accomplifhed. But though not
accompli filed, it was not abandoned : As foon as it was known
in London, that the Emperor, Peter HL was preparing to
withdraw himfelf from the alUance againft the King of Pruffia,
the Britifh Cabinet immediately opened a negociation. with the
the^court"of Pe Court of Pctcrfburgh, to prevent, if pofFible, a feparate peace
terlburgh. ,
being made, between the new Emperor and the Kmg of PrufTia.
In this negociation, it was inlinuated to the Court of Peterf-
burgh, in very ftrong terms, that the Britifli Court would
behold with great concern, his Imperial Majefty withdrawing
from his alliance with the Emprefs-Queen, and recalling his
armies from their co-operation with the troops of the Houfe
of Auftria— that it was not the wifh of the Britifh Court to
fee
C 215 3
fee the Houfe of Brandenburgh aggrandized at the expence of CiiAr.xxii.
the Houfe of Auflria. 1762.
And fiom an apprelienfion, that this negociation might not
be fufiicient to anfwei" tlie purpofe, the plan of another nego-
ciation was formed : and the execution attempted, by the mofc
humiliating introduftion. This was with the Court of Vienna. And with the
rr-i n 1 1- CcuitofVicnni.
To that haughty Court, orrerSjin the utmoft degree degradmg,
on the part of Great Britain, were made. A renewal of the
connexion between that Court and Great Britain, was folicited
in terms of fupplication. The mofl earneft affurances were
made, that the Britilli Cabinet never defired to fee the power of
Pruflia encreafed, by a diminution of the Houfe of Auflria-—
that on the contrary, the Britida Cabinet would rather fee
the power of PrufTia revert to its primitive elefloral Hate.
And to prevent any fufpicion of diffimulation, this propofed
alliance between Great Britain and Auflria, was further offered
to be purchafed, by feme conceffiom to be made in Italy, or
elfe'u;here. The Britifla Court, at this time, had no autho_
rity to flipulate for any conceflions to be made in Italy,
in behalf of the Houfe of Auftria — confequently the word
elfewhere, a word of unlimited latitude, mull have been meant
to include any country, or territory, to which the Britifli influ-
ence either did, or could extend. And if we reflect but an
infl:ant, on the difpofition of the Britifh Cabinet at this time,
towards the King of Pruflia, there can be no doubt, that this
word was intended to apply to fome part of the dominions of
that Prince. .
,.1: II
Thefe a£ls of preferred treachery, were treated with con-
tempt. The Court of Vienna communicated them to the
Court
Both made
known to the K
0/ PrulTia.
[ 216 ]
CHAP.xxir. of Peterfburgh; and by the lafl: Court, all the documents of
1762. both negociations, were communicated to the King of Pruffia :
which explains the caufe of that coolnefs, which fubfifted be-
tween that Monarch and the Court of Great Britain, until
within a fhort time of his death.
Ne ocufion ^ Third negociation, which was opened with the Court of
r/T^'m!""" Turin, was more fuccefsful; foliciting the intereft of that
Court with the Houfe of Bourbon, to repofe the mofl: firm
confidence in the pacific difpofition of the Britifli Cabinet ; at
the fame time imploring his Sardinian Majefty, to become the
mediator and umpire in all points of difpute. This was the
fecend time, that the Houfe of Savoy had been authorized to
difpofe of the interefts of Great Britain to the Houfe of Bour-
bon. The firft time was at the peace of Aix la Chapelle ; which,
not being mentioned by the writers of the time, the reader v\ill
find it ftated in the note*. And of the prefent negociation.
Lord
* At the battle of LafFelt, Lord Ligonier being made prifoner, was intro-
duced to the French King as foon as the aftion was over. The King faid to
him — He bicn, Monjicur de Ligonier, quand ejl ce que le Rcy votrc maitre nous don-
ficra la paix ? And at the fame time commanded Marflial Saxe, and the Duke
de NoAiLLEs, to confer with him next day upon the fubjedl: ; wliich they did,
and aflured him, that his Majefty's orders were, that he fliould be fent back to
the Duke of Cumberland, upon his parole, with the following propofal of
peace. That the King was ready to make peace upon thefe terms : that
France would acknowledge the Emperor, and reRore all Flanders, exce])t
Furnes, in cafe England infilled on the demolition of Dunkirk ; but if Eng-
land permitted Dunkirk to continue in its prefent Hate, France would' reftore
Furnes alfo : That England fliould reflore the fort and illand of LouiiLouro- ;
and the Emprcfs Queen and King of 'Sardinia fhould make an eflablijliment
for Don Phillip; which his Majefly did not require to be very fplehdid.
The propofal was debated in the Britifh Cabinet fevcral times, and the Cabi-
[ 217 ]
Lord Chatham faid in the Houfe of Lords, on the fecond of ChapA'XII.
March, 1770, "That the Court of Turin fold this country to ""7^6^
" France in the lafl: peace." If we admit this affertion to
have been well founded, and there is no reafon to doubt it, the
Court of Turin received favours from htb fides. The Bi-itifli
Court v\'ere very liberal in the rewards they gave : amongfi:
others, the Sardinian Ambaffador, in particular, was gratified
with a penfion of one thoufand pounds per annum upon Ire-
net were divided upon it. Dr. Maty gives fome hints of this matter, in fec-
tionV. of his memoirs of Lord Chesterfield ; but he does not feem to
have been fully informed. At length the Sardinian Minifler in London, pre-
vailed upon the Duke of Newtcastle and Mr. Pelham to reje6l the propo-
fal, under a pretence that it was incompatible with the treaty of Worms. Who-
ever will be at the trouble of comparing thefe terms with the treaty of Aix la
Chapelle, will inftantly perceive, that they were infinitely more advantageous
to Great Britain, than the articles of that treaty.
But there was another circumflance, which marked this influence of the
Court of Turin more ftrongly : — This was the negotiation for peace that was
attempted to be opened on the part of the Court of Madrid, by M. Wall,
who came through the Pays Bas to London, with Marfhal Saxe's pafTport, for
that purpofe. He had feveral conferences with the Britifh Miniflrry on the
fubjeft ; but when he began to enter upon that part which related to an efla-
blifhment for Don Philip, he was told, that it was expedled that Spain fhould
confent to the King of Sardinia's keeping Final, Vigevanafco, part of Pavia
and Anghiefa, with the free navigation of the Thefui. To this prspofal M.
Wall refufed to give his promife ; upon which the negotiation broke ofF,
and M. Wall returned to Madrid. And though thefe very terms were ob-
tained for the King of Sardinia, by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, yet as the
the conditions of that treaty were not fo favourable to Great Britain, as the
terms which had been offered to Lord Ligonier, there can be little doubt of
the Britilh interefts having been facrificed, to fecure thefe points for his Sar-
dinian Majefty ; who had moreover a fubfidy from England, of 200,oool. per
annum, by the treaty of Worms.
Vol. I, F f 17G3,
[ 2l8 ]
Chat. XXII. ignd foi* thirty one years, commencing tlie 25th of March,
i;^.3- i7^l-> in t^ie name of George Charles, Efq.*
The reduced condition of France, required no entreaty on
the part of Turin, to induce her to accept the pacific affurances
of
* This fact was tirft mentioned in the Hoiife of Commons of Ireland, by-
Mr. Edmund' Sexton Pery, now Lord Pery, on the 24th of November,
1763, in thefe words :
" I fhall communicate a fail to this Houfe, from which it will appear that
the grant of penfions to aliens, is fuppofed to be contrary to the fenfe of the
nation, even by the advlfers of fuch grant, and therefore not avowed, though
made. — There is a penfion. Sir, granted nominally, to one George Charles, but
really to Count Vin, the Sardinian Miniller, for negotiating the peace that has
jufl been concluded with the Minifter of France. I raufl confefs, Sir, that in
my opinion, this fervice deferved no fuch recorapence, at leafi: on our part ; fo
that, in this cafe our money is not only granted to an alien, but to an alien,
who has no merit to plca^d. If it is thought a defenflble meafure, I fhould be
glad to know why it was not avowed ; and why, if it is proper we Ihould pay
3 thoufand pounds a year to Count Flii, we fliould be made to believe, that we
pay it to George Charles?"
The reader will draw his own conclufion from the following account of mo-
nies iflued for the King's Privy Purfe and Secret Service, during the two lait
years of the reign of the late King, and the three firft years of his prefent Ma-
jefty ; taken from tlie 32d vol. of the Journals of the Houfe of Commons,
page 514, he.
Late Reign.
From Oftober, 7758, to To Edward Finch, Efq. for his Majefty's privy
OvSVober 1759. purfe, 36,000!.
For Secret Service, during the fame period,
67,0001.
From October 1759, *° To Edward Finch, Efq. for his Majefty's privy
O^lober J 760. purfe, 36,0001.
For Secret Service, during the fame period,
66,6ooI.
Prefent.
I 219 ]
of the new Britifla MInlfter. But before this negoclatlon was Chap-XXIi,
publicly opened. Lord Bute had avowedly afTumed the charadler 1763.
of Prime Miniftcr. He had difmifled the Duke of Newcas- wd nutc
TLE, and all his fiicnds; and had eftabliflied his omnipotence
through every department of the State. He took the Treafury
himfelf, and appointed Mr. Grenville his fucceflbr in the
Secretary of State's office. Lord Anson dying at this time, he
offered the Admiralty to Lord Halifax, who at firft refufed it,
becaufe he wanted to be Secretary of State; upon which Lord
Bute told him, he did not know what he refufed ; that in pa-
tronage, it was next to the Treafury. Lord Halifax then
took it. He had recalled his brother from Turin, and had
appointed Lord Rivers to that ftation. When his brother
appeared at the levee, his Ma jelly honoured him with this
'^^ ' > J His brother at
compliment — " 1 have mio a Second Friend here." From the *^'""'
moment that he became Minifter, it was the pubhc language at
the Court of Verfailles, that he miijl make peace, if he wiflied
Prefcnt Rc'ign.
From O(5lolier 1760, to To John Earl of Bute, for his Majefty's privy
OiSlober 1761. purfe, 40,000!.
For Secret Service, during the fame period,
66,oool.
\_HiTC Mr, Pitt's Admimjlration ends.j
From Oftober 1761 to To John Earl of Bute, for his Majefty's privy
Odtober 1762, purfe, 48,000!.
For Secret Service, during the fame period,
95,000!.
From O^lohcr 1762, to To John Earl of Bute for his Majefty's privy
Odlober 1 763. purle, 48,000!.
For Secret Service, during the fame period,
72,0001.
Ff 2 to
It.
[ 220 ]
Chap.xxii. to preferve his power ; and therefore the affurances of his paci-
'"7^6^ fie difpofition, and the offers to commence a negotiation, that.
Court was prepared to expe6t.
The correfpondence of this negotiation, not having been
laid before ParUament, it may not be improper, in this
place, to Hate a few particulars of the negotiation, with
fome extraordinary circumflances relative to it ; which, al-
though they are known to feveral perfons, who have been in
certain fituations, yet they are not known to the public in ge-
neral.
{kuTa^ot- ir The Duke of Bedford fet out for Paris on the fifth of
twlen GrTat B. September 1762, with full powers to treat; and on the 12th
of the fame month, the Due de Nivernois arrived in
England. A few hours after the Duke of Bedford arrived at
Calais, he received difpatches from London, by a meflenger who
was fent after him, containing fome limitations in his full
powers. He immediately fent the meflenger back with a letter,
infifting upon his former inftru6fions being reftored, and in
cafe of a refufal, declaring his refolution to return to England.
The Cabinet acceded to his Grace's demand. But the moft
effential articles of the treaty, were agreed upon between M.
de Choiseul and the Sardinian Minifter at Paris, and Lord
Bute and the Sardinian Minifter at London, without any other
trouble to the Duke of Bedford than giving his formal afTent.
The manoeuvre in making the King of Sardinia umpire, gave to
his Ambafladors the power of decifion ; confequently the Duke
of Bedford had very little room for the exercife of his powers ;
until a circumftance happened, which occafioned a divi-
fion in the Britifli Cabinet. This was the Capture of the Ha-
vannah.
[ 221 ]
vannah. The news of this event arrived in England on the Cha^.xxii.
29th of September. The negotiation v^^as nearly concluded^ 1762.
In a few days the preliminaries would have been figned.
Lord Bute expreffed his fears, that this acquifition would
embarrafs and poftpone the accomplifliment of peace, if the
negotiation, which was on the point of being finiHied, fhould
on'that account be opened again ; and therefore he declared his
wifli to be, to conclude the peace in the fame manner, and oa
the fame terms, which had been agreed upon before the news
of this event arrived ; without any other mention of it, than
the name of it among the places to be reftored.
Mr. Grenville oppofed this idea. He declared his opinion
to be, that if the Havannah was reftored, there ought to be an
equivalent given for it. And in their deliberations upon this
fubjeft, it is certain, that he infiftcd upon this alternative —
either the entire property of Jucatan and Florida, or the iflands
of St. Lucia and Porto Rico.
Lord Bute adhered to his firft opinion. Upon which Mr.
Grenville refigned his place of Secretary of State on the 12th
day of Oflober. Lord Halifax immediately fucceeded to his
office; and Mr. Grenville went to the Admiralty, by which
he was removed from the Cabinet. ^
Lord Egremont, however, reprefented to Lord Bute, in
very ftrong terms, the neceffity of an equivalent for the Ha-
vannah. Either his Lordfliip's arguments, or Lord Bute's
fears, fo far prevailed, as to occafion an inftrudtion to be fent to
the Duke of Bedford, to alk for Florida. The Duke had
been
f 222 3
CnAP.xxiI. been informed of the whole dlfpute in the Britlfli Cabinet, by
1762. Mr. Grenville, and being entirely of Mr. Grenville's opi-
nion, he added, Porto Rico to his demand. But Lord Bute
and the Sardinian Minifter in London, fettled it for Florida
0}ily. At Paris fome difficulties arofe. The ceffion of Florida
was made without the leaft hefitation ; the French Minifter in-
flantly agreed to it ; which fhews the fuperior influence of the
French Cabinet in this negotiation. But with refpe6l to Porto
Rico, the French Minifter reforted to chicane and delay. It
was at length agreed, to f^nd a meflenger to Madrid, with this
demand. Fourteen days were allowed for the meflenger to go
and return. During this period, the Duke of Bedford re-
ceived pofltive orders to fign the preliminaries. Two days
after the preliminaries were figned, the mefl'enger returned .
and it was faid, that Spain purchafed the retenfion of the
ifland. Whether the Sardinian Minifter at London, or at
Paris, or both, were entruflied on this occafion ; or whether
any other perfons were admitted to the fame confidence, are
quefl:ions for the invefl:igation of pofl:erity. Difcoveries of this
kind are feldom made, either at, or near the time of the tranf-
a^lion. The offers of Louis the Fourteenth to the Duke of
Marlborough, were not known until the publication of De
Torcy's memoirs*. Whatever were the confidential meafuresj
it
••■ " I ,-iin willing you fhould offer the Duke of Marlborough four m'll-
lions, fliould he enable nie to keep Naples and Sicily for my Grandfon, and
to prefcivc Dunkirk with its fortifications and harbour, and Strafburg and
Landau, in the manner above explained, or even the fame fum, were Sicijy to
be exempted out of this lafl article."— J^^tz. de Torcy. T. II. p. 237
" It is not neceffary to have recourfe to foreign examples. We have a
Sejanus of our own. Have we not feeu him for a time difplaying his exorbi-
tant
[ 223 1
it is certain, the Duke of Bedford was not entrufted with Chap xxa
them. However, as his Grace kept a iliaiy of all public tranf- ^^
tant treafures, in every kind of princely profufioa ? Has he not purchafed ef-
tates, built and adorned villas, erefled palaces, and furniilied them with fump-
tuous magnificence ? I am fure I fpeak within compafs, when I affert, that
within thefe laft three years, [Tbu was wrhtcn in the Jutmnn, 1765] he ha's ex-
pended between two and three hundred thotifand pounds. Kw enormous fum
equal almoll to the wliole revenues of the kingdom, from which he draws hil
original ! I could wilh to be informed by fome of thofe, who are in the fecret
how he has acquired fuch prodigious wealth. I will not fuppofe he emhe%%led
the public money, when he ofEcioufly thruft himfelf into office ; becaufe there
were fo many checks upon him in that department, that he could noteafily have
done it without alTociates, or pojleff.ng more courage or cunning than I take
him to be mafter of. But how then, has he acquired fuch amazing riches ?—
Tell me, ye ' flatterers of his, was it hj State-jobbing, or Stock-jobbing, that
he is become from a needy northern Thane, a potent Eritilh nobler
What finiller method has he taken to plunder the nation ^nd efcape
the iron hand of Juftice ?— I am aware of the anfwer, that he has been
able to make a purchafe, to the amount of ninety-feven thoufand pounds, to
lay out a large park, and adorn and build two magnificent licufes,^ out of the •
eilate which was left him by a relation three years ago. But fuch a reply is fo
falfe and foolifli, that it fcarce deferves a moment's confideration ; for I will
venture to maintain, that tlie whole fum of his vljlhle income, for the laft tM
years put together, will not amount to above 50,0001. As to the eftate, it is
not his ; he is entitled only to part of the annual produce ; for two thoufand
pounds a year were left to his injured brother, on whom he affealonatdy turned
his hack, as foon as he had poflefted himfelf of his natural inheritance. When
this 2000I. per annum is dcduded, there will not remain clear to the Favounu
above 5000I. a year : And whether this is fufficient to account for all thofe
immenfe fums, which, to our amazement and indignation, \t has lately ex-
pended, I leave every impartial perfon to judge. — Jntl SejanusJ'''
It is, no doubt, yet in the public recolleflicn, tliat a feries of political effays,
diftinguiflied by the fignature of Jntl Scjanus, appeared in the public prints, in
the Autumn of the year 1765, They were fuppofed to be written by Mr.
Scott, of Trmity College, Cambridge, under the patronage of Lord Sand-
wich. The above extrad is made from the paper of the third of Auguft.
aftions,.
[ 224 ]
CHAr.XXll. a6llons, in which he had any fliare ; and as Mr. Grenville
,-62. kept copies of all his letters on public bufinefs, if ever thefe
are laid before the public, and it is hoped they will, many fufpi-
cions, Which can now only be hinted, will be confirmed, or
exploded.
The examination of Dr. Musgrave at the bar of the Houfs
of Commons, although it was voted Jrivolou^, perhaps will not
appear fo in the eye of Impartial pofterity. As this examination
is not in every body's hands, the reader will find an cxtradl
from it the note- *
The
* Dr. Musgrave read the following paper at the bar, being the information
he laid before Lord Halifax for the purpofc of inftituting an Enquiry.
Narrative of intelligence received at Paris.
1. The firft hint I had of the Miniftry having been bribed to make the
peace, was at the latter end of the year 1763, from Monfieur
in a private converfation I had with that gentleman. The peace happening to
be talked of, he made ufe of this exprefllon. On croit d Paris, que tnilerd Bute a
en de V argent pour cela. Though the words on croit were pretty ftrong, and
though Monfieur . . . .'s connexions gave great weight to them, I confidered
the thing as an idle rumour, and neither pufhed the converfation further at that
time, nor made any enquiry about it afterwards.
2. It was not till the latter end of November, 1764, that I began to think
the flory more worthy attention. Being at that time in company with three
gentlemen, an Irifhman, a Scotchman, and a Frenchman, a difpute arofe about
the peace. The Irifhman and myfelf condemning it, the Frenchman remaining
filent, the Scotchman alone approving it. The difpute did not laft long before
the Irifhman and the Scotchman had occafion to go away, fo that there re-
mained only the Frenchman and myfelf together. Our converfation falling
upon the fame topic, he told me that he remembered to have heard, a little be-
fore the Duke of Bedford's negociation, that a fum of money, amounting to
about eight millions of livres, had been fent into England to buy a peace ; that
the remittance had been made by Monfieur de la Bordz, and another banker,
whofe
[ 225 ]
The colncklence of opinion, whicli arofe between the Duke CtiAr.xxir,
of Bedford and Mr, Grenvilxe, during the preceding ne- 1762. .
. • . ■ L'n:,in of the D.
gOtiatlOn, „ti5,,itordanJ
Mr. (J)cnviilc«
whofe name he did not know ; and that t!ie way this came to be known, was by
the clerks talking of it among themfelves after dinner. He added, that being
hiinfelf in company with fsveral gentlemen, who were giving their conjeiS^ures,
whether peace would hold or no, one of the company decided the qiicflion, by
fuying, Nous auront la paix ccrtalncmcnt, car ncus Pavoyit achetc, Thiswas all I
heard the firfl interview.
3. I communicated this account the next morning, to a Mr, Stuart, my pa-
tient, who lived in the Rue de I'Echelle, with a Mr. Maclean, Mr, Maclean
was then gone out ; but upon his coming in, I repeated it to him. It occurred
to me, during my converfation vi\xh Mr. Stuart, as it did afterwards to Mr.
Maclean, that the fa£l of money being fent over might be true, but that the
deftination of it might be a miAake : that in fliort, it miglit be intended for no
other purpofe than to buy up Englifli flocks, for the fake of felling them foon
after at an advanced price. This account appeared fo natural, that I went home
in (almoll) a full perfuafion of its being really the cale.
4. The fame day, or the day after, I faw the fame Frenchman, my informant,
again. I put this objedlion to him. He anfwered readily no, that was not the
cafe. He knew very well, continued he, that Monf. de la Borde fent over a very
large order for flocks, by the Sardinian AmbafTador's courier : but the money
J fpeak of was before that time, and at leaft; a mOnth or two before the Duke of
Bedford's arrived. Befides, I can tell you the people to whom itwas diftributed.
It was divided among three perfons : Lord Bute — here he hefitated for a minute
or two. I mentioned to him the name of Lord Holland. He anfwered no ; it
was not Lord Holland, that was not the name ; it was Mr, Fox. The
third, added he, was a Lady, whofe name I do not recoiled!:.
This I am pretty fure, was all that paffed upon the fubjcft at our fecond in-
4:erview.
5. The tlilrd interview was, I believe, on Monday, the 3d of December. —
I then afked him, whether the third perfon, whofe name he could not recol-
ItSi, was not ? He anfwered no, it was not. I'hat he had heard the
■name ; that it being a name no way familiar to him, he could not at fuch a
diftance of time, recolleft it of himfelf ; but if it was mentioned, he believed
hz fliould know it. At prefent, added he, I only remember, that it was a
Lady, and the raiftrefs of a man of great quality.
Vol. L G g 6. I had
[ 226 ]
CHAP.xxir. iTociation, laki the foundation of that union, which fubfifted
176^. between them, until the death of Mr, Grenvjlle. They per-
feclly
6. 1 Inil hitlisrto made no eiiqulL-ics about his authormes. But reflecting,
tliat a perlbn who could knov/ all thefe particulars, muft have been very near
the fource, I thought proper to aflc hiin, the next time I law him, from whom
he had his information. He anfwered, from an officer, who, at that time fur-
nifiicd plans to the Duke de Choiful's office, was of courfe, greatly connccled.
with it, and moreover dined every day witli the principal people of the office :
and there, added he, at table, did thefe gentlemen talk over the affair, not with-
out fomc fitisfa^lion at its b3ing concluded. Further, fays he, this officer, who
is now at Cayenne, reafoned thus with me about it : Is it not better to buy a-
peace at the expence of ten millions, than Ipend three hundred millions
(if we could raife them) to fit our army for the field, which army, fo fitted,
out, could not poffibly do us any material fcrvice.
7. I had curiofity, continued he, to hear what the Sardinian AmbafTador's
fecretary, who was a great acquaintr.nc3 of mine, would fay to this. Happen-
ing to meet him foon after, I told him it was reported, the Englifh had given
a great fum to Madame Pompadour, to buy a peace, and afked him if it was
true. The anfwer he made me was in thefe words ; ah, que vous etes bete '.
les Anglo'is donne de Pargcnt ? ct pottrqitol fulrc ? out, ou'i, on a donnie de faygent.
8. He further faid, that upon Monfieur Buffy's return from England, one of
his fccretaries having dropped fome hints in company, a unfouper, of what was
going on in England, was taken up and put into the Baflile, that he m.ight not,
by any further inflifcretion, difcover the whole afiair.
o. Upon my mentioning an intention of going to England with the news,
he added, that the whole detail of the traniaftion might be known, either
from Monfieur D'Eon if he chufes to difcover it, or from a Monfieur L'Efcal-
lier, a wine merchant in London, whom the Duke de Nivernois inade ufe of as
a fecretary,
10. I prefTed him about the authenticity of his account ; his anfwer was, as
to myfelf, "Je le croit uiitant que jc iroit ma propre exijicnce. He afTured me like-
wife, that the affair was fliamefully notorious in fome houfes at Paris : C\Ji
affaire faifoit mime beaucoup de fcundale dans certalnes maifom a Paris,
11. I think it necefTary to take notice of one variation, and the only one that
T obferved in his account. In the firft interview here mentioned, the fum of
eight
t 227 ]
fectly agreed, T'b.-ii better terms of peace might have been had — C:iai-.xxii.
that all IV as not obtained, lohich might have been obtained. But ^7^--
although
eight millions of livres*. In a fubfequent one (I forgot which) he faid, be-
tween five and eight millions : poffibly this might be owing to his having heard
the fum named in Englifh money, and never having given himfelf the trouble
of reducing it to French ; beaufe the lafl: time I talked with him upon the fub-
jeft, vrhich I defired to know, as near as poffible, the exadl fum, he took a little
time to recolleit himfelf, and then fald, bet\veca eight and ten millions of
livres; that is, continued he, in Englifh, four hundred thoiiland guineas.
Extrafl from the Examination.
What was Lord Halifax's anfwer to this information ?
I would firft mention fome previous flcps. Lord Hertford having alked me,
if I thought it matter of Kirther enquiry, I went to Lord Mansfield ; he faid
he chofe not to hear it. I then went to Dr. Blackflone, who read my paper of
information, and told me, that I fliould carry it to the Secretary of State ; that
no Englifliman would be averfe to enquire into it. I went to Lord Halifax on
the loth of May j he defired me to come again that evening ; I then faw liim :
Tie took the paper and read it, looked up and flopped ; then faid, I was recol-
Icfting, that that perfon bought flock at that time, but it might be with his
own money. He read my letter to Lord Hertford, faid it was a proper one —
He faid, if I had been in Lord Hertford's place, I would have fent it to
and heard what he had to fay. On reading the fecond letter, he faid, this might
be very deep ; I would readily enquire, but it is an affair of fuch magnitude ;
and then put a cafe of a man's being robbed on Hounflow-heath, and going to
Juftice Fielding, and faying he w^as robbed by a tall, thin man, and apprehend
it was the Duke of Ancafter: there is no difference, only in the fize of the
purfe. He faid, if you had any proof, I would make no difficulty of telling it
to my royal mailer. In my letter to Lord Hertford, I mentioned the defetlive-
nefs of mv information as a proof of the truth of it. Lord Halifax faid, I
think with you, it is more likely to be true, from his knowing only a few cir-
cumfiances. The fecond meeting was a few days afterwards. He did not
fiick to one objecStion. I fct down a few arguments to ufe to him, which I left
with him ; I have in my pocket the fame arguments, which I fet down a fliort
time after, from my recollcdlion. This is not a copy [read a paper, in fub-
flance as follows.]
* Compare this with the firft paragraph.
Gg 2 Nairative
[ 228 ]
Ckap.xxii. although they were convh^ced, and the fact lay within their
1762. own knowledge, that the intereds of the nation had been. l^\cri-
ficed
Narrative of intelligence is fu-fficient for enquiry, though not for accufation,.
confirmed by Dr. Blackflone. The firft of all crimes is hearfay ; rare, at firft,
to ftuuible upon certainty. All offenders would efcape if there was no en-
quiry. The high quality of olTenders is no reafon tor flopping the enquiry ;
it muft be- done fpeedily ; if the common people hear it, and believe it, tliey
might do juil:ice after their own nvanner. I recommend it to Lord Halifax, as
one of the French minifters is here, whether he can be excufed for not exa-
mining Into it, &c.
What faid Lord Halifax ?
Lord Halifax made no anfwcr to the paper ; nor did he controvert one of the
arguments.
The next morning I faw Mr. Fitzherbert, Sir George Yonge was there. Mr.
Fitzherbert exprcffed his aftoniiliment at my boldnefs in going to Lord Hali-
fax. He faid he would not liavc any thing of his writing appear. Mr. Fitz-
herbert faid he had intelHgence the French were offering money to get D'Eon's
papers back. I went the fame day to Lord Halifax, or the next day. Lord
Halifax faid, I will have nothing to do with the matter. I difbelieve the
charge: if I did believe it, as ftrongly as I now difbelieve it, I Ihould not think
this fufEcicnt ground to go upon. I told him it was his duty ; he feemed fur-
prized. He faid his duty was to take care of the ftate. I told him that Mr.
Fitzherbert had faid the French were in treaty for D'Eon's papers. I made my
apology for troubling him, and that clofed my CDnverfation with Lord Halifax.
(Mr. Fitzherbert) Did you colleiSl from my couverfation, that I had the
fmallefi: knowledge of D'Eon ?
J don't know I did ; but Mr. Fitzherbert admitted the reality of the over-
tures. 7\fter the names of the two Lords were mentioned, Mr. Fitzherbert
faid, did you hear nothing of the Princefs of Wales, I faid no. Mr. Fitz-.
Herbert anfwered, D'Eon fays, the Princefs of Wales had fome of the money.
From whom had you the information of D'Eon's overtures I
The firft was from General Conway. He firft gave me a hint of it.
What was that hint ?
When I told the ftory, Mr. Conway afked me if I had feen D'Eon ; he faid
I hear he has dropped hints. I told him I never would fee him. I faid, I vv ill
avoid all poffibility of concert with any one. After this, I went to Mr.
Hartly,
[ 229 ]
ficcd by the leader of the Cabinet, to his exceflive rage for peacci ^'.'j^!'-.^^^"
yet when the preliminary articles of the treaty were rubaiitte<l ''^^"
to
Kartlvj and d;;fired him to enquire. He dc-fired firft to confult Sir Gcortre
Saville. Sir George Savile came to us, I could not tell him the particulars,
but only that there was fucha charge. Sir Geoigc SavlUc tliouglit it was right
to confult the Duke of Newcaflle. He went to him. 1 was not prcfent ; but
I heard, that tlie Duke of Nevvcallle faid. Fox was rogue enough to do anv
thing, but thought he was not fool enough to do this. The Duke faid he could
not advife them to meddle in it ; for D'Eon will be bribed, aiul then you will
be left in the lurch. I heard this converfation from Sir George Savile, or Mr.
Hartlv ; from one of them, in the prefence of the other. They both went to
the Duke of Newcaflle.
(Mr. Conway). What was the nature of his firft application to me ?
The nature of my firft application to Mr. Conway was, I wanted to know
how to convey a letter to Lord Hertford, not to be opened, to enquire whether
the informarit was apprehended. I had defigned pfcfenting a pmer to the
Houfe of Commons, fctting forth the information. He afked me the particu-
Jars, and faid he would not encourage fuch application to the Houfe of Com-
mons vv'ithout a fhadow of probability ; and then afked if I had heard, that
D'Eon had dropped hints, and whether I would go to hiin. I faid no, I would
not. Mr. Conway added, at the fame time, I think it the duty of every man-
to come at truth in every llation.
Had you any intimacy with your informant at Paris ?
It would be improper to aafwer that queftion — but they were men of creda-
bility.
Had you any other information of D'Eon's overtures, but from General
Conway ?
The firft intimation was from General Conway ; then I applied to Mr.
Hartly. Mr. Hartly told me, that D'Eon's letter was fent to Mr. Fitzherbert.
Afterwards he informed me more fully, and named the two Privy Counfellors
and the lady. He faid, the lady is the Princefs of Wales. I faid, it can't be,
becaufe my informant would not have forgot the name ; and named another
lady, the miftrefs of a man of quality.
Do you underftand this overture of D'Eon's was contained in a letter to
Mr. Fitzherbert ?
Mr.
[ 230 3
Ckap.xxil to the conuderation of Parliament, Mr. Grenville gave them
*"776r^ his approbation by his vote, and the Duke of Bedford by his
proxy;
Mr. Hartly told me fo. I met him in a chair, and he fa id, all I have heard
is, that J3'Eon's letter was fent to Fitzherbert ; that Mr. Pitt had been confulted,
and Tiad written a letter, diffuading them from proceeding. Mr. Hartly never
told it me from his own knowledge.
(Dr. Blackftone.) Are you fure I dire£ted you to go to Lord Halifax?
Not dircclly to Lord Halifax. Doftor Bhckftone faid, you muft by all
means go to the Miniftry. It is an afrair of an alarming nature. He fent
three davs after to know if I had been ; for he faid, if you had not, I fhould
think myfelf obliged, as a fervant of the Crown, to go and give it myfi-'lf.
I took a minute of what pafied between us ; which 1 will mention to Dr.
M. I took it immediately, and communicated it the fame day to an intimate
fiiend, and it has never fince been out of my cuftody.
Produces a minute taken immediately after Dr. Mufgrave had been with
him, the lOth of May, 1765, at half part eleven o'clock in the morning.
" Dr. Muff^ravc came and fliewed me a written converfation between him
and Mr. Le Beau, in the latter end of 1763; where he declared, that it was
believed at Paris that Lord Bute had received money for the peace ; and many
other converfations with another French Ambaflador. The fum of the account
was this That eight or ten millions of livres had been remitted by a French
banker, iuft before the D. of Bedford went to France. That this was divided
between Lord B. Mr. F. and a Lady, name not mentioned ; and, that Mr.
D'Eon or Mr. Defcalier, could inform him of particulars. He alfo fhewed me
Lord Holland's letters and anfwers. He told me he had communicated it to
General Conway, and that he had learnt from Mr. Fitzherbert that D'Eon tells
the fame ftory, except that he mentions the Princefs of Wales, which Dr. M.
obferved might be no inconfiftency, if a Maid of Honour's name only was
made ufe of, and the money paid over by the Princefs Dowager of Wales.
Dr. Mufgrave feemcd to be attached to D'Eon's caufe, and believed the ftory
of his aflaffination being attempted by Count de Gucrchy, and his coffers being
fearched. He allied me if this was fufficicnt to juftify bringing it before the
Secretary of State. As our acquaintance was fmall, I was furprifed. I told
him that the affair was delicate, both as to the things and perfons ; and that he
fhould well confider the confequences if his friends fhould deny it. He faid
his friend was a man of honour, and knew he left Paris for that purpofe. I
begged
I 231 ]
proxy ; nor was it until the open breach with Lord Bute in CuAP.xxir.
1765, that the facl concerning ths Havannah, was known be-' '^67"'
yond
begged to be exciifcJ advifing hhn, but he would do right to confidcr, that it
would depend on conv'uftion of his own mind, and his f'riends's veracity. It
was equally a duty to difclofe fuch a tranfadion on good foundation, and to
(lifle it in the birth, if founded on malice or ignorance. We parted, and he
feemed inclined to proceed. I don't recolJedl the converfation he mentions
three days after. It might be. I thought him fuch an enthufiaft as might
have difordered his imagination."
(Mr. Speaker.) The Honourable Gentleman delivered to me a copy of the
paper he has now read ; v.-hich has been in my cullody ever fmce.
(Dr.Mufgrave.) As to the fecond converfation, Dr. Blackftone will recoi-
led it if I fliew him his note, defiring me to come to him. I have not tliat
note about me, but I am lure it is ftill in my poffeffion. I don't know what he
thinks of my enthufiafm, but I remember he trembled, feemed much alFeifled,
and let the paper drop, as In great agitation.
(Sir Geo. Yonge.) After I had expreffed my furprize at his coming to me,
he told me he had laid the matter before Lord Halifax, who was willing to re-
ceive information from any gentleman whatever. He prelfed it fo ftrongly /
that I thought he came with a meflage, but he did not fay that. I faid, if Lord
Halifax will fend for me I will wait on him, but I know nothing of the matter,
with regard to the fecond meeting at Mr. Fitzhcrbcrt's, nor did I know he had j
told the llory to Mr. Fitzherbert till I law it in the papers. 6
(Mr. Fitzherbert.) I never remember being in the fame room with Sir G. %
Yonge and Dr. Mufgrave. Dr. Mufgrave came and talked in the fame flile,
and told me the flory he fays I told him. I don't remember I faid any thing at
that time, the Dr. came and told me this ftory. I will do myfelf the juftice to tell
allIknewatthRttime,thoughIdon't recoiled I told it him. We were thenagood
many in a fociety in Albermarle-flrcet. I had an office in thatfociety. When he
had told me all he had to fay, I wifhed to change the fubjed ; he would not ;
fo I told all I knewof it. Captain Cole, a gentleman of general admiffion,
had come to me, and faid D'Eon defires me to tell you he is apprehenfive of
being taken away by force, on account of a quarrel with Count Guerchy, in
which Minlftry would affift him. He defired me to communicate it to the fo-
ciety, which I did. He recommended D'Eon as an agreeable man. I commu-
nicated it to Sir George Yonge, and defired him to go with me becaufe he
could fpeak French, which I could not cafjly. No day was appointed. We
never
[ 232 J
Ch.^p XXII. yond the fmall circle of their indifpenfible confidents. This
1762. circamftance indifputably fhews, that the Public Interefl was
not the firil confideration with his Majefty's fervants at this
time. And it is believed, although it is a matter, that perhaps
will not be afcertained until Ibme future period, that Lord
Bute's refignation in the month of April 1763, was occafioned
by the junclion of Mr. Grenville and the Duke of Bed-
ford, and the menaces they held out againft him, refpefting
the negotiation for peace That he compounded for his
impunity, by au abandonment of office to the Duke and his
Friends. It was, however, the popular opinion, that tlie po-
.lical paper, called the North Britoji, written principally by Mr.
Wilkes, had raifed fuch a fpirlt of animofity in the nation
againft Lord Bute, that he refigned from an apprehenfion of
popular indignation ; and it anfwered the purpofe of more
parties than one, at that time, to fay ^o. But Mr. Wilkes had
no more influence in the refignation of Lord Bute, than he had
in that of Sir Robert Walpole, or any other Minifter. How-
ever, until Lord Bute abfconded from his public fituation of
Minifter, no Favourite exercifed the power of the Crown, with
never did meet. I never knew Mr. D'Eon : I never received a letter from
him. As to going on with the converfation, and naming the Princefs of
Wales, I have nothing to fay to that, I have no trace of it in my memory ; it
muft depend on our veracity : nor had I any diredl meflage, but from Captain
'Cole, as to his apprehenfions of being taken away.
(Mr. Speaker.) Dr. Mufgrave, would you afk thefe gentlemen, or eitherof
them, any queftions ?
(Dr. Mufgrave.) I was not prepared for thefe anfwcrs ; and I have no quef-
tions to afk them.
Motion by Sir George Ofborne — That the accufations brought by Dr.
Mufgrave, are in the higheft degree frivolous. Agreed to, January 29, 1770.
more
Dcvonfliire.
[ 233 ]
more pride and Infolence. This charge might be proved in in- ChapJOTI
numerable inilances. But it is not the defign of this work, to 1762.
relate any occurrence, not immediately conneded with Mr.
Pitt, unlefs the fame has been either omitted, or materially
miftated, in the public accounts of the times. Of this latter
kind, is the difmiffion of the Duke of Devonshire.
During the preceding negotiation of peace, his Grace held J'^l'^::^
the office of Lord Chamberlain, and although in the difcharge "-""^■"
of his official duties, he was very frequently attending on the
King, yet differing from his Majefty's other fervants on political
fubjeds, he did not attend any Council held after the commence-
ment of the negotiation. Early in the month of Oftober 1762,
he obtained his Majefty's permiffion to go to Bath. While he was
at Bath, he received a fummons to attend Council, and the fum-
mons, as ufual, mentioned the bufinefs -, which was, the f?2al
confideration on the preliminary articles of peace. The Duke
wrote an anfwer. That as he had not attended any of the former
Councils on the fubjed of the negotiation, he apprehended,
that his prefence at the laji Council would be improper. At
the end of the month his Grace returned to London ; and the
day after his arrival, being levee day, he went to Court. The
King was in the clofet. He fent in his name. The King took
no notice. In this particular the Duke was wrong — he was
too delicate he fliould have demanded an audience. He
next defired to know, to whom (hould he deliver his key?
The King returned an anfwer, That he fhould fend next morn-
ing- ; which he did, and with his own hand, ftruck his Grace's
name out of the lift of his Privy Council.
V0I.L Hh The
[ 234 ]
Chap.xxii. The reader will make his own obfervations on this extrordi-
J762. nary conduct. No one need be told, that the Cavendishes
were amongft the moft warm, and mod determined fupporters
of the Revolution in 1688, and of the Houfe of Brunfwick ;
nor have their virtue and zeal diminifhed, in an oppofition to
the moft fubtle attempts to accomplilh the moft defpotic defigns.
p-.fcimonof j^Tqj. j^^g ^j^g immediate caufe c,^ the Duke of Newcastle's
the Duke oi
Newcaiiie. rcfignation been lefs miftated. When his Grace found, that
the annual convention with Pruffia was not to be renewed, as
ufual, hefuggefted another mode, to fave the national honour;
and which would, at the fame time, fupport the national digni-
ty, and eflentiaily contribute towards commanding the terms of
peace. This was, when the application was made to Parlia-
ment, in the month of May 1762, for a vote of credit of one
million, his Grace wiflied to extend the fum to two millions.
A vote of credit of one million, had been ufual every year of
the war. His Grace's intention was to have fupplied the King
of Pruffia, with the amount of his annual fubfidy out of the
fecond million. But this defign being made known to Lord
Bute, by one of the Secretaries of the Treafury*, almoft
asfoon as it was fuggefted, that Lord oppofed it with the
greateft warmth. The Duke finding this oppofition from
Lord Bute, and expe6ting no better fuccefs in the clofet, he
faw his influence at an end — and immediately refigned.
Lord Granvillei
Mr. Wood, who had been Mr. Pitt's Secretary during the
war, fays in the preface to his Eflay on Homer, that having
* The political paper, called the North Briton, accufed Mr. S. Martin of
having betrayed the Duke of Newcastle to Lord Bute. Martin was alfo
Treafurer to the Princefs of Wales,
waited
[ 235 3
v/aited upon Lord Granville, Prefident of the Council, when Chap.xxii.
he was dying, with the preliminary articles of the treaty, and ^~^'f
read them to him, his Lordfliip declared, " it was the moft ho-
nourable peace he ever faw." This anecdote only proves Lord
Granville's attachment to Lord Bath to the laft moment of
his Hfc. Dr. Franklin frequently entertained his friends
with another anecdote of this Nobleman, which deferves to be
remembered. Upon the Embargo being laid on all American
veffels laden with corn, flour, Sec. in the year 1757, the Ameri-
can agents petitioned againft it, and were heard before the Privy
Council. Lord Granville, who was Lord Prefident, told
them, That America muft not do any thing to interfere with
Great JBritain in the European markets; that if America grew
corn, fo did England ; that if America fliipped corn, fo did
England. Upon which. Dr. Franklin told his Lordfhip, that
America could not do any thing that would not interfere with
Great Britain In fome rcfpe6t or other. — If they planted,
reaped, and muft not fliip, the beft thing he could advife his
Lordlhip to do, would be, to apply to Parliament for tranfports
fufficient to bring them all back again.
Has It not been the misfortune of England, that moft of her
great men have frequently fhewn, that they were influenced by
very narrow ideas, when exercifing their political talents on na-
tional fubjecls ? If the policy of that part of the Treaty was
juft, which extended the Britifti Colonies in America, what be-
nefit could be derived from thofe Colonies, if thefe ideas of
reftraint were maintained ?
Hh 2 , CHAP.
[ 236 j
CHAP. XXIII.
Extraordinary preparations for the meeting oj Parliamene—— Pre-
liminary articles of Peace laid before Parliament^-^Mr, Pitt's
Speech againji them.
Chapter "|^ARLIAMENT met on the 25th of November 1762 f.
V — ^ — ' 1^ The mofl: extraordhiai y provifion was made for this event.
^'' "* The Royal Houfliold had been encreafed beyond all former ex-
i.rt^^°J:>ons7 ample. The Lords and Grooms of the Bedchamber were
doubled. Penfions were thrown about indifcrimjnatcly. Five
and twenty thoufand pounds were iflucd in one day, in bank
notes of one hundred pounds each. The only ftipulation was.
Give us your vote. A corruption of fuch notoriety and extent,
had never been feen before. There is no example, in any age
or country, that in any degree approaches to it. The dole was
lavifti beyond the probability of account, or poflibility of credit.
Mr. Fox had the management of the Houfe of Corrimons,
with unlimited powers.
«i- In the evening of the day preceding the meeting of Parliament, the Mem-
bers of the Houfe of Commons met, as ufual, at the Cockpit. Mr. Fox took
the chair, and produced to the company a paper, which he only called a Speech,
and which he faid he would, as ufual, read to them. He afterwards produced
an ^^fl'ri?/}, which he read ; and then faid, that Lord Carysfort and Lord
Charles Spencer had been fo kind to undertake to move and fecond that
addrefs. The fame ceremony is obferved with refpefl to the Houfe of Lords.
The fpeech is read by fome Peer, who is fuppofed to condudl the buiinefs of
that Houfe. The Manager of the Houfe of Commons takes the chair at the
Cockpit.
On
immaries
iaui before Par-
iiameat*
[ 237 ]
On the 29th of November, the preHminary articles of peace Chapter
with France and Spam, were laid before both Houfes. *- — v— '
1763.
On the ninth of December they were taken into confidera- ,Pf,
tion; and a motion was made, to return his Majefty thanks,
for his gracious condefcenfion in ordering the prehminary ar-
ticles of peace concluded between his Majefty and their moll
Chriftian and Catholic Majefties, to be laid before them. To
aflure his Majefty, his faithful Commons were impatient to ex-
prefs to his Majefty, their approbation of the advantageous
terms, upon which his Majefty hath concluded preliminary ar-
ticles of peace. And to lay before his Majefty, the hearty
applaufe of a faithful, affedionate and thankful people, &;c.
&c. &c. »
On this memorable day, Mr. Pitt attended in Parliament,
iiotwithftanding he was at that moment afflicled with a fevere
fit of the gout. He fpoke in reply to Mr, Fox, who made the
motion.
He beo;an with lameptinp; his ill ftate of health, which had confined ,r „. ,, . u
him to hi;, chamber; l?ut al'jhough he was at this inftant fufferins: under f.g'^'"'! .'i^^ p'^-
'-' _ ^ nminaries.
the moll excruciating torture, yet he determined, at the hazard of his ^.s.
life, to attend this day, to raife up his voice, his hand, and his arm,
againfl the preliminary articles of a treaty, that obfcured all the glories
of the war, furrendered the deareft interefts of the nation, and facrificed
the public faith by an abandonment of cur allies. He owned, that the
•terms upon which he had confented to conclude a peace, had not been
fatisfadtoi y to all pei fons ; it was impoffible to reconcile every intereft ;
but he had not, he faid, for the mere attainment of peace, made a facri-
fice of any conqueft ; he had neither broken the national faith, nor be-
trayed the allies of the Crown. That he was ready to ent';r into a dif-
cufiion of the merits of the peace he had offered, comparatively with
the prefent preliminaries. He called for the moft able cafuifl amongft
the
[ 238 ]
Chapter
XXlil.
1762.
the Minifter's friends, who, he faw, were all muftered and mar-
flialled for duty, to oppofe him ; they made a moft gallant appearance,
and there was no doubt of the viftory on the main queftion. If the
Rt. Hon. Gentleman, (Mr. Fox) who took the lead in this debate, would
rifk the argument of comparifon, he would join iffue with him, even under
all the difad vantages of his prefent fituation. His motive was to flop that
torrent of mifirepretation, which was poifoning the virtue of the country.
(No anjiioer being made, he proceeded.)*
He
* The following paper will. In fome
Mr. Pitt's negotiation.
Mr. Pitt, and all the King's fer-
vants infifted, " That the French fhall
abftaln from that particular fifliery, on
all the coafts appertaining to Great
Britain, whether on the continent, or
on the iflands fituated in the faid
Gulph of St. Lawrence ; which fifliery
the proprietors only of the faid coafts
have conftantly enjoyed, and always
exercifed, faving always the privilege
granted by the 13th article of the
treaty of Utrecht."
degree fupply this chafni :
Lord Bute's peace.
Gives the French " The liberty to
fifli in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, on
condition, that the fubjcfls of France
do not exercife the faid fi,fliery, but at
the diftance of three leagues from all
the coafts belonging to Great Britain,
and fifteen leagues from the coaft ot
the ifland of Cape Breton, together
with the liberty of fiftiing and diying
on a part of the coafts of the ifland of
Newfoundland,." — If the French are
as attentive to their interefts as we
have ever found them to be, they will
doubtlefs call this a grant of the whole
FISHERY.
The iflands of St. Peter and Mique-
lon are both ceded to the French, in
full right, without any one of the four
indlfpcnjible conditions. No Englifli
commiflary is allowed to refide there ;
our fecurity is on the prefent French
King's royal word ; but not a fyllable
is mentioned of any engagement for
his fucceflbrs.
Lord
Mr. Pitt abfolutely refufed to cede
the ifland of Miquelon to the French;
and the French Mlnlfter told Mr.
Stanley, " He would not inlift on
it." To the cefllon of the ifland of
St. Peter O'N'LY , four mdifpenfihle con-
ditions were annexed*. The ceflSon
of the Ifland of St. Peter, as well as
fome others, was not agreeable to Mr.
Pitt's own inchnation; for it is a fail,
that
* See in the Appendix, tHe anfwer of Mr. PiTT to the Ultimatum of France, delivered to M. Bussy,
on the fixteenth of Augull ]76i.
[ 239 ]
He perceived, that the Right Honourable Gentleman, and his friends, Chaptsr
were prepared for orly the prefent queftion. He would, therefore, take XXIIl.
a view of the articles, as they appeared upon the paper, on the table. ,7(^2.
[Afr. Piti was Jo excejjively illy and his pain Jo exceedingly acute, that the
Houje unanimoujly dejired, -he might be indulged to deliver his Jentiments Jitting —
a circumjtance that was unfrecedented. Hitherto he had been Jupported by two
oj his Jriends .'\
The firft important article was the fiiliery. The terms in which this
article was written, appeared to him, to give to France a grant of the
whole fifhery. There was an abfolute, unconditional furrender of the
iflands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, which if France continued to be
as attentive to her own intereft, as we have hitherto found her, would
enable her to recover her marine. He confidered this to be a moft dan-
gerous article, to the maritime ftrength and future power of Great Bri-
tain. In the negotiation he had with M. Bussv, he had acquiefced in
the ceffion of St. Pierre only \ after having, he faid, feveral times, in
vain,
that both HE and Lord Temple, ear-
neftly contefted for the whole ex-
clusive FISHERY, ^vhich they faid,
ought to be infifted upon. But in this,
as MANY other things, they were
over-ruled.
Mr. Pitt infilled on keeping both Lord Bute gave away the ifland of
Senegal and Goree, on the coaft of Goree, which was of the greateft im-
Africa, " For that Senegal could not portance to France, as it ferves her as a
be fecurely maintained withoutGorce;" fecurity in the fupply of negroes for
and M. BussY " was authorized to the French Weft Indies,
confent to the ceffion."
Mr. Pitt pofitively refufed to cede
the ifland of St. Lucia to France. His
negotiation declares " the ceffion by
no means admiffible."
Mr. Pitt treated the King of Pruf-
fia with efficacy and good faith. The
Lord Bute ceded St. Lucia in full
right to France.
Lord Bute both deceived and betrayed
the Kins: of Pruffia. He firft broke the
anfwer to the French ultimatum, faith of the nation, by refufing the
fays, " As to what regards the rcjlltu- fubfidy to that monarch. Then in the
tmi and evacuation of the conquefts preliminary articles of peace, he ftipu_
made lated
[ 240 ]
Chapter vain, contended for the whole exclufive fifliery ; but he was over-ruled j
^^^^^- he repeated he was over-ruled, not by the foreign enemy, but by another
enemy. After many ftruggles, he obtained four limitations to the ifland
of St. Pierre — they were indifpenfible conditions ; but they were omitted
in the prefent treaty. If they were neceflary in the furrender of one
ijfland, they were doubly neceflary in the furrender of two. In the vo-
kmies of abufe which had been fo plentifully bellowed upon him, by
made by France on the King's allies in lated evacuation and rcjloratlon, with
Germany, and particularly of Wefel, regard to the conquefts made on our
and other territories of the King of allies, except the King of Pruffia, far
Pruffia, his Majefty perfifts in his de- whom he ftipulated evacuation aw/y.
mand relative to that fubjedl, in the AW the conquefts which the French
ultimatum of England, viz. that they were in poffeflion of, belonging to Ha
be r£/?orf rt' and evacuated." The French nover, Heffe, Brunfwick, &c. amounted
having propofed the keeping poffefllon to only a few villages, not exceeding
of the countries belonging: to the one hundred acres of land in the whole.
belonging
King of Pruffia, Mr. Pitt returned
this anfwer in writing, which was ap-
plauded by all the King's Miniflers :
*' I likewife return you as totally in-
admiffible, the memorial relative to the
But the places belonging to the King
of Pruffia, of which the French were
in poffeffion, were Cleves, Gueldres,
Wefel, &c. Thus Lord Bute, in-
ftead of behaving to the King of Pruf-
King of Pruffia, as implying an at- fia with good faith becoming an ally.
tempt on the honour of Great Britain,
and the fidelity with which his Majef-
ty will always fulfil his engagements
with his allies."
afted like an open enemy to him ; and
left the French at full liberty to eva-
cuate thofe places, and all others which
they held belonging to that monarch,
to whom ihcy pleafed. And laftly, he
faid, the dominions of the King of Pruffia " were to be fcr ambled for ^^ That
was his phrafe in the Houfe of Lords. And it was very near being the cafe ;
*or as foon as the treaty was figned, the Court of Vienna ordered a large body
of troops to begin their march for the Netherlands, with a view to enter thofe
places, the moment the French Ihould evacuate them. The King of Pruffia
did the fame. The Netherlands were thus threatened with becoming the thea-
tre of war ; and the French Minifter forefeeing, that France mufl: take part in
it, he propofed to the King of Pruffia, to deliver up all thofe places to him,
provided his Majefty would fign a neutrality for the Netherlands. The King
agreed to the propofal, and purchafed his territories on that conditioiu
the
[ 24t ]
the writers, who were paid, and patronized by thofe, v/ho held great em- CHArreK.
ployments in tlie State, tliis ccdion of Pierre orJy, had been cendemncd, , _^_ _^
in terms of acrimony. He had been reminded, that the Earl of Ox- 1762.
FORD was impeached, for allowing the French liberty to fifh and dry fifli
on Newfoundland. He admitted the fa£t. But that impeachment was
a fcandalous meafure, was dilapproved by every impartial perfon. In
one article, (the fcventecnth) the Minifter is accufed of having advifed
the deftriicfive expedition againft Canada Why was that expedition
called deflr,uSiive i* — becaufe it was not fuccefsful. Thus have events
been confidered by Parliament as fi:andards of political judgment. Had
tlie expedition to Canada, under General Wolfe, been unfuccefsful, there
is no doubt it would alfo have been called deftruEllve ; and fome of the
Gentlemen, now in office, would this day have been calling for ven-
geance upon the IMinifter's head.
Of Dunkirk he faid but little. The French were more favoured in
this article of the prefent preliminaries, than they had been by any for-
mer treaty. He had made the treaty of Aix la Chapelle his guide on
this point ; but in the prefent treaty, even that requifition was difre-
garded. *
Of the derellcftion of North America by the French, he entirely ap-
proved. But the negotiators had no trouble in obtaining this acquifition.
It had been the uti pofsidetis in his own negotiation, to which the French
had readily confenled. But Florida, he faid, was no compenfation for
the Havannah : the Havannah was an important conqueft. He had de-
figned to make it, and would have done it fome months earlier, had he
been permitted to execute his own plans. From the moment the Ha-
vannah v/as taken, all the Spanifli treafures and riches in America, lay at
our mercy. Spain had purchafcd the fecurity of all thefe, and the refto-
ration of Cuba alfo, with the ceffion of Florida only. It was no equiva-
lent. There had been a bargain, but the terms were inadequate. They
were inadequate in every point, where the principle of reciprocity was
afFefted to be introduced.
* The neceflary ftipulations concerning Dunkirk have been greatly mif-
taken. If the reader will take the trouble to turn to the events of 1765, during
the Adminiftration of the Marquis of Rockingham, he will find this matter
explained more clearly, than U has hitherto been.
Vol., I. li He
[ 242 ]
Chapter He had been blamed for confenting to give up Guadaloiipe. Thaj-
^ _ _ ^ ceffion had been a queflion in another place. He wiflied to have kept
1762. the ifland— — he had been over-ruled in that point alio — he could not
help it he had been over ruled many times — on many occafions —
He had acquiefced — he had fubmitted But at length he faw that all
his meafures— all his fentiments — were inimical to the new Syftem — to
thofe perfons, — to whom his Majefty had given his confidence. But to
Gradaloupe thefe perfons had added the ceffion of IMartinique. Why
did they permit the forces to conquer Martinique, if they were refolved
to reftore it ? Was it becaufe the preparations for that conqueft were fb
far advanced, they were afraid to countermand them ? And to the cef-
fion of the ifland of Cuba, Guadaloupe, and Martinique, there is added
the ifland of St. Lucia -, the only valuable one of the neutral iflands. —
It is impofllble, faid he, to form any judgment of the motives, which can
have influenced his Majefty's Servants to make thefe important facrifices.
They feem to have loft fight of the great fundamental principle. That
France is chiefly, if not folely, to be dreaded by us in the light of a ma-
ritime and commercial power. And therefore, by reftoring to her all
the valuable Weft India iflands, and by our concefllons in the Newfound-
land fiftiery, we had given to her the means of recovering her prodigious.
loflTes, and of becoming once more formidable to us at fea. That the
fifliery trained up an innumerable multitude of young feamenj and that
the Weft India trade employed them when they were trained. After the
peace of Aix la Chapelle gained France a decided fuperiotyoverus in this
lucrative branch of commerce, and fupplied almoft all Europe'with the
rich commodities, which are produced only in that part of the world. By
this commerce, flie enriched her merhants, and augmented her finances.
The ftate of the exifting trade in the conquefts in North America, is
extremely low ; the fpeculations of their future are precarious, and the
|)rofpeft at the very beft, very remote. We ftand in need of fupphes,
which will have an efi"edt, certain, fpeedy, and confiderable. The re-
taining both, or even one oT the confiderable French Iflands, Martinico or
Guadaloupe, will, and nothing elfe can elFeftually anfwer this triple pur-
pofe. The advantage is imrtiediate. It is a matter not of conjedture,
but of account. The trade with thefe conqtieftsj h of the utmoft lucra-
tir©
- [ 243 ]
tiven'>.ture,andof the moft confulcrable e>ctcnt; the number of (hips Cha^pte*
cmp'oyed by it are a great lefcurce to our maritime power. And ,_
wliat is of equal weight, all that we gain on this fyftem, is made
fourfold to us by the lofs which enfues to France. Bur our conqueiis in
North America are of very little detriment to the commerce of France.
On the Weft Indian fcheme of acquifition, our gi^in and her lofs go hand
5n hand. He infifted upon the obvious connedion of this trade, with
that of the colonies in North America, and with our commerce to the
coaft of Africa. The African trade would be augmented, which, wich
that of North America, would all center in Great Britain. But if the
inands are all reftored, a great part of the benefit of the colony trade
muft redound, to thofe who were lately our enemies, and will always be
our rivals. Though we had retained either Martinico or Guadaloupe,
or even both thefe iHands, our conquefts were fuch, that there was ftiU
abundant matter left to difplay our moderation.
Goree, he faid, is alfo furrendered, without the leaft apparent ne-
ceijjty ; notwitftandlng it had been agreed in the nego iation withM-
BussY, that it mould remain witli tlie Britifh Crown, becaufe it W3#
eflential to the fecurity of Senegal.
In the Eaft Indies there was an eng 'gement for mutual reftitutio\i
of conquefts. He afked, what were the conquefts which France ha^
to reftore ? He declared that Ihe had none. All the conquefts which
France had made, had been retaken, and were in our own pofieffion;
as were likewife, all the French fettlements and faftories. Therefore
the reftitution was all from one fide. We retained nothing although
we had conquered every thing.
The reftitution of Minorca he approved. And that, he faid, was
the only conqueft France which had to reftore ; and for this illand we
had given the Eaft In:lies, the Weft Indies, and Africa. The pur-
chife was made at a price that was fifty times more than it was worth.
BelleiHe alone, he affirmed, was a fufficient equivalent for Minorca.
As to Germany, he faid, it was a wide field ; a tedious and length-
ened confideration, including the interefts of many hoftile powers :
fome of them immediately, and others evc.tually, conneded with
Great Britain. There might, fometimes, be policy in the conftrudion
li 2 o^
[ 244 ]
Chapter our meafures, to confiilt ourinfular fituation only. But while we had
A^ V [ T ]
^ "^ _ j France for our enemy, it was a fcene to employ, and to baffle her
i7(>i- arms. Had the armies of France not been employed in Germany,
they would have been tranfported to America ; where we fnould have
found it more difficult to have conquered them. And if we had fuc-
ceeded, the expence would have been greater. Let any one, he faid,
make a fair eftimate of the expence of trunfports and provifions to
that diftant climate, and he will find, that in the article of expence,
the war in Germany to be infinitely lefs than in the wilds of Ame-
rica. Upon this principle, he affirmed, that the conquefts made in
America, had been owing to the employment of the French army in
Germany. He faid, with an emphafis, that America had been con-i
quered in Germany.
He owned, that feveral objedions had been made to the German
war. He thought them frivolous and puerile, fadlious and malicious.
It had been faid, that during twelve months after the Marathon of
Minden, not a fquadron of fhips had been fent to make any Britifh
conquefts : If this be true, will any man fay, that France would, the
day before the battle of Minden, have made thofe humiliating con-
ceffions file afterwards did make ? To what, but her ill fuccefs in
the German war, was it owing, that fhe fubmitted to the moft morti-
fying terms, in the late negotiation with M. Bussy ? Thefe fads
fpeak far themfelves ; and from them it appears, that the ceffions of-
fered by France, during the late negotiation, which will always be
remembered with glory to Great Britain, were owing to our perfeve-
rance in the German war, and to our obferving good faith towards
©ur proteftant allies on the continent.
. Other objeftions had been made, and while he was upon the fub-
je6t he would take notice of them. It had been faid, that the French
fubfidies do not amount to half what we pay. The fubfidies which
the French aftually pay, may not ; but what they promife amount to
double. They fubfidize Sweden, Ruffia, and the Swifles, feveral Ita-
lian States — and if we are to believe their own v/riters, even the
Danes ; thofe fubfidies, are moft, or all of them, for negative fervices.
They have got nothing by the Swedes ; they have got nothing by the
Emprels
[ 245 ]
Emprefs of Rufiia, though flie has got a great deal for herfelf ; they Chapter
have-got far lefs by the Emprefs Queen if we except the honour of hav- .^^^^\
ing buried above 150,000 of their beft troops in Germany. The Wir- 1762.
ttmberghers, it is well known have refufed to ferve them, theSwifs and
Italian ftates cannot ferve them, and the Danes give them — a neutrality.
The fubfidy to Hefle had been arraigned, and fallhood had been
added to malignity. But it ought to be remembered, that the treaty
■with Hefle was made before he came into office; an imputation of
crime to him, for not breaking that alliance, came with a very ill
grace from them, who made it : they blamed him for confenting to
pay the Prince of Hessk a fum of money, for the damage done by
the French in his dominions. He was aftoniflied that any fet of menj
who rrogatcd to themfelves the diltinftion of friends to his prefent
Majefty, Ihould reprefenc this circumftance, as a crime. Can a peo-
I^ilc, heafked, who impeached the Tory Miniftry of Queen Anne
for not fupporting the Catalans at an expence that would have coft
fome millions, againft their King, merely becaufe they were our allies.
Can a people, who unanimously gave ioo,oool. as a relief to the Por-
tuguefe, when under the afflicting hand of heaven, merely becaufe
they were our allies. — Can a people who indemnify their American
fubjefts, whom at the fame time they proted in their pofleflions ; and
even give damages to their own publicans when they ftiffgr, though
in purfuance ot our own adts of Parliament. — Can fuch a people, cry
aloud againft the moderate relief to a Prince, the ally and fon-in-law
of Great Britain, who is embarked in the fame caufe with Great Bri-
tain, who is fuffering for her, who, for her fake is driven from his
dominions, where he is unable toraifeone fliilling of his revenue, and
with his wife, the daughter of our late venerable monarch, is reduced
to a ftate of exile and indigence ? Surely they cannot. Let our muni-
ficence, therefore, to fuch a Prince, be never again repeated.
It had been exultingly faid, that the prefent German war, had over-
turned that balance of power, which We had fought for, in the reigns
of King William and Queen Anne. This affertion was fo fav
from having the fmalleft foundation in truth, that he believed the
moft fuperficial obfervers of public affairs, fcarcely flood in need of
being told, that that balance was overturned long before this war had
exiftence,
[ 246 ]
Chapter exiflencc. It was dverturned by the Dutch before the end of the late
n_ i^-^l^ war. When the French fixw, that they had nothing to apprehend
1762. from the Dutch, they blew up that barr er, for which our Nassau's
And Marlborough's had fought. The Louveftein faftion again got
the afcendancy in Holland ; the French monarchy again took, the
Dutch republic under its wings, and tht brood it has hatched has —
but let us forbear ferpentine expreffions. Since the time that the
grand confederacy againft France took place, the military power of the
Dutch by fea and land, has been in a manner extinguiflied, while ano-
ther power, then fcarcely thought of in Europe, has ftarted up — that of
Ruffia, and moves in its own orbit extrincically of all other fyf-
tems ; but gravitating to each, according to the mafs of attrading in-
tereft it contains. Another power, againft all human expeftation,
was raifed in Europe in the Houfe of Brandenburgh, and the rapid
fucceffes of his Pruffian Majefty, prove hm to bfe born to be the na-
tural aflcrter of Germanic liberties againft the Houfe of Auftria. We
have been accuftomed to look up with reverence to that Houfe, and
the phenomenon of another great powerin Germany was fovery new to
us that Tor fome time he was obliged to attach himfelf to France. France
and Auftria united, and Great Britain and Pruflia coalefced. Such are
the great events by which the balance of power in Europe has been en-
tirely altered fince the time of the grand alliance againft France. His
late Majefty fo paffionately endeavoured to maintain or revive the an-
tient balance, that he encountered at home, on that account, oppofi-
tion to his government, and abroad, danger to his perfon ; but he
could not re-animate the Dutch with the love of liberty, nor infpire
the Emprefs Queen with fentiments of moderation ; they talk at ran-
dom, therefore, who impute the prefent fituation of Germany, to the
conduft of Great Britain. Great Britain was out of the queftion ;
nor could flie have interpofed in it, without taking a much greater
fliare than flie did. To reprefent France as an objed of terror, not
only to Great Britain, but Europe, and that we had miftaken our in-
tereft in not reviving the grand alliance againft her, was mere decla-
mation. Her ruined armies now returning from Germany, without
beino-able, through the oppofition of a handful of Britilh troops, to
^ cffea
[ 247 ]
effect any material objecl, is the ilrongeft proof of the expediency of Chapter
_ XXllI.
the German war. ■_ -^-...^
The German war prevented the French from fuccouring their co- T^z-
lonies and iflands in America, in Afia and in Africa. Our fuccefles
were uniform, becaufe our meafures were vigorous.
He had been blamed for continuing the expence of a great marine,
after the defeat of M. Conflans. This was a charge that did not
furprife him, after the many others, which had been made ; and which
were equally unfounded and malignant. It was faid, that the French
marine, after that defeat was in fo ruinous a conditions, there was not
the leaft occafion for our keeping fo formidable a force to watch its mo-
tions. It was true, he faid, that the French marine was ruined— No
man doubted it---they had not ten lliips of the line fit for fervice ;
but could we imagine, that Spain, who in a very fliort time gave him
but too much reafon to be convinced, that his fufpicions were well
founded, was not in a common intereft with France ; and that the
Swedes, the Genoefc, and f ven the Dutch, -would not have lent their
fliips for hire ?
He begged pardon of the Houfe for detaining them fo long ; he
would detain them but a few minutes longer.
The defertion of the King of Pruffia, whom he ftiled the moft mag-
nanimous ally this country ever had, in the preliminary articles on the
table, he reprobated in the ftrongeft terms. He called it infidious, trick-
ing, bafe, and treacherous. After amufmg that great and wonderful
Prince, during four months, with promifes of the fubfidy, he had been
deceived and difappointed. But to mark the inveteracy, and trea-
chery of the Cabinet ftill ftronger, he is fele<5led from our other allies,
by a malicious and fcandalous diftindion in the prefent articles. In
behalf of the other allies of Great Britain, we had ftipulated, that all
the places belonging to them, which had been conquered, fliould be
evacuated and rejlored: but with refpeft to the places, which the French
had conquered, belonging to the King of Pruffia, there was ftipu-
lated evacuation only. Thus the French might keep thofe places, until
the
[ 248 J
(Ihapter
XXIil.
the Auftrian troops were ready to take pofTeffion of them. All
the places which the French poffefled belonging to the Eleftor of
'702. Hanover, the Duke of Brunswick, the Landegrave of Hesse, &c.
did not amount to more than ten villages, or about an hundred acres
of land ; but the places belonging to the King of Prussia, they were
in polTeffion of, were Cleves, Weffel, Gueldres, &c.
Upon the whole, the terms of the propofed treaty, met with his
moft hearty difapprobation. He faw in them the feeds of a future
war. The peace was infecure, becaufe it reftored the enemy to her
former greatnefs. The peace was inadequate, becaufe the places
gained were no equivalent for the places furrendered.
He was fo ill and faint, towards the end of his fpeech, he could
fcarcely be heard. He intended to have fpoken to fome points rela-
tive to Spain, but he was unable.
He fpoke near three hours ; and when he left the Houfe, which was
before the divifion, he was in the greateft agony of pain.
The motion was agreed to by a very large majority.
CHAP.
[ 249 ]
CHAP. XXIV.
Addrejfes on the Peace— Mr. Pitt againjl the Excife on Cyder-
Lord Bute tampers with the City of London— Denies it in the
Houfe of Lords— Proved at Guildhall— A Portrait-- -Lord
Bute refgns.
THE Addieffes to the King, which followed the Par- Chapter
XXIV
liamentary approbation of the preHminary articles ,_ - - ^
of peace, were obtained by means equally corrupt and diflio- '^^''
nourable. There was one inftance where the feal of a corpora- ^fpeace.""
tion was forged, and more than one where it was felonioufly
obtained. The City of London refufed to addrcfs, although
the fum of fourteen thoufand pounds was offered to complete
the bridge. No means were left untried every where to ob-
tain addreffes. The Lord Lieutenants had begging letters fent
them, to ufe their influence ; and five hundred pounds, fecret
fervice, were added to each letter. The fum of five hundred
pounds was the notorious price of an addrefs. Some addrelles
coft a much larger fum. The fum was regulated according to
the importance and magnitude of the place, from which the.
addrefs was obtained. The corruption without doors, was as
lavifh as it had been within. Of Bath, in particular, being the
city Mr. Pitt reprefented, the reader v/ill fee the correfpon.
dence in the Appendix. This conduft of Adminiilration ex-
hibited to the world two difgraceful things ; one, that the.
Vol. L K k people
[ 250 ]
^xxiv'^ people were capable of being corrupted j the other, that the
^ — - — ' King was eafily deceived. The former, until this period, might
have feemed improbable ; the latter might be pofTible.
Mr. Pitt againft Mr. PiTT took HO Other part in the proceeding;s of this fefiion.
tlic Excife on . . _ '■ ^ * ° " '
Cyder. UHtil a bill was brought in, laying a duty upon Cyder and Perry, and
fubjecling the makers of thofe liquors to the laws of Excife. He op-
pofed this bill very iiro'gly ; upon the dan3;erous precedent of ad-
mitting the officers of excife into private houfes. Every man's houfe
was his caftle he faid. If this tax is endured, he faid, it will neceffa-
rily lead-to introducin, the laws of excife into the domeftic concerns
of every private family, and to every fpecies of the produce of land.
The laws ot excife are odious and grievous to the dealer, but intole-
rable to the private perfon. The precedent, he contended, was
particularly dangerous, when men by their birth, education, and pro-
feflion, very diftinct from the trader, become fubjedted to thofe laws.*
Mr. Pitt's l-o:i mot in this debate, is remembered for the mirth it
occafioned.
Mr. Grenville fpoke in anfwer to Mr. PiTt ; and although he
admitted, that the excife was odious, yet he contended that the tax was
unavoidable ; Government did not know where they could lay another
tax of equal efficiency. The Right Honourable Gentleman, fays he,
complains of the hardfliip of this tax---why does he not tell us where
we can lay another tax inftead of it. And he repeated, with a ftrong
emphafis, two or three times. Tell me where you can lay another tax !
Mr. Pitt replied, in a mufical tone. Gentle JJjepherd, tell me where.
The whole Houfe burft out in a fit of laughter, which continued
for fome minutes.
Lord Bute tarn- Whilc thc bill was pending, the City being alarmed by the
pers with the
cityof London, extcnlion of the Excife Laws to private houfes, prefented a pe-
* The principal arguments againft this bill, may be feen in two Protefts of
the Lords, — one on the 29th, the other on the 30th of March, 1763.
titioir
APT3R
XXIV.
[ 251 ]
tition againft the bill ; at the fame time Sir Richard Glynn * Ch
told Sir John Philllips -f-, that the City had refolved to peti-
tion every branch of the Legiflature againft the bill. Lord '''^^
Bute was alarmed at the threat to prefent a petition to the
King: and Sir John Phillips, in Lord Bute's name alfured
the gentlemen of the City Committee, while they were v/aiting
in the lobby of the Houfe of Commons, when the petition was
prefentcd to that Houfe, That if they would with-hold their
petition to the King, Lord Bute would promife and engage,
upon his honour, that the acl fliould be repealed next year.
One of the Committee anfwered|, " Who can undertake for
*' Lord Bute being Minifter next year ? or for his influence.
*' over Parliament ?"
This application not proving fuccefsful, a card from Mr.
Jenkinson, Lord Bute's confidential Secretary, and now Lord
Hawkefi)ury, was brought in the evening to Sir James Hodges-,.
Town Clerk of the City ; defiring to fee him next morning
at Lord Bute's, in South Audley-ftreet, upon particular bufi-
nefs. Sir James went, and was introduced to Lord Bute, by
the Secretary. The Minifter requefted the Town Clerk, in the
moft anxious and preffing manner, to acquaint the gentlemen
of the City Committee, that if they would not prefent their/
intended petition to the King, he would engage, and did then
engage, to obtain a repeal of the a6t next fefTion. Sir James re-
turned into the City, and collefted the Committee at his ofRce
m Guildhall, and laid before them, a ftate of the conference he
had had with the Minifter. The Committee treated the pro-
* One of the Members for the €ity of London. •\- One of Lord;
Bute's con£deats. % Mr. Samuel Freeman.
K k 2 mife.
[ 252 ]
^xxiv'"^ mlfe with contempt, faying it was no more than a repetition of
' — ^ — ' the fame affurance, which had been made to them the preceding
day by Sir John Phillips. The petition to the Lords, and
the petition to the King, were prefented j but without efFe6t.
Lord Temple prefented the City's petition to the Houfe of
Lords, (March 28) on the fecond reading of the bill, and
in the courfe of his fpeech upon that occafion, mentioned the
circumftance of Lord Bute's tampering with the City Com-
mittee.
Houf"of Lords Upott which, Lord Bute got up, and afTured the Houfe,
" that the whole was a factious lie."
This affertion was not only too coarfe, but too ftrong, to
pafs unnoticed.
LT"'^"^"'''^ The Corporation of the City of London immediately aflem-
bled, to enquire into the condu6l of the Town Clerk. At this
enquiry Sir James Hodges acquitted himfelf to the fatisfac-
tion of the whole Court, by a candid and fair narration of all
the preceding fa6ls ; and at the conclufion, he voluntarily offered
to verify the fame upon oath. From this enquiry, it was indif-
putably clear who was the liar. *
Lord
*APORTRAIT.
^' TO draw a character fo much beneath the honours of portraiture, would
need apology, if the caprice of fortune, in a fit of ill-humour againft this na-
tion, had not by giving to the original a fituation for which Nature had never
defigned him, raifed him into notice, and made him in the confequences, an ob-
jedt of the public concern. It is only then for the moll: candid motive of a
public utility, to atone for the ignoblenefs of the perfonage whofe portrait is
here exhibited ; faithfully taken, feature by feature, without any the leaft ca-
ricature, and too fatally fulfilling the idea of a favourite without merit.
" Conftitutionally
[ 253 ] •
Lord Bute finding his Cabinet divided upon almod every c^^-
queftion that came before them; and fearing, the Duke of v--v--^
Bedford's indignation, who was on the point of returnmg
Lird Bute rr-
from lis"'-
« Conftltutionally falfe, without fyftem, and in the moft capital points, greatly,
to his own difadvantage, fo ; being, in faa, neither true to others nor to h.m-
felf: Involved by the neceffity of his nature, in that vicious circle ot beaig
falfe becaufe weak, and weak becaufe falfe,
" Referved, inward, and darkfome ; fequeftered infome meafure from focietv>
taking covert in the fhades of embower.;d life, as the refuge of van.ty from the
woundsofcontempt. Clandeftine without concealment-fad without forrow-do^
meflicwithout famillarlty-haughtywithout elevation, nothinggreat,nothmgno-
ble having ever marked his charafter, or illuflrated his condud, pubhc or private-
Reducing every thing to his own ideas, that ftandard of littlenefs that mint of
falfity. Stubborn without firmnefs, and ambitious without ipint. A frigid fnend.
a mean enemy. Naufeoufly bloated with a ftupid, rank, quality pride, without the
air, the eafe, the manners, thedignity of a gentleman. Ungenerous without any
very extaordinary note of avarice ; but rather fo, through that poverty of head
and heart, from which fo many people of fortune hug themlelves on what they
imagine faveJ by the omiffion of fome link circumftance that honour, juft.cr,
or tafte required of them ; though by that lUtk fo faved, they not only lofe the
^uch they will have facrificed to their various objefts of vanity, but where they
befpoke admiration, find no returns for their expence butjuft cenfure and deri-
non. And furely in this point of vulgar error, among the low underflandmgs
in high life, this poor man was not born to break herd.
" Bookifh without learning ; in his library of parade, as infenfible and uncon^
verfable on the great objefts of literature, as one deaf and dumbqueftionedon a
concert of mufic ; as little of a judge as a blind man in a gallery of piftures. A
dabbler in the fine arts, without grace,without tafle. A traveller through coun-
tries without feeing them, and totally unacquainted with his own.
" In a dull ungenial folitude, muddling away what leifurehe may have from
falfe politics, and ruinous counfels, in fluffing his port-folios with penny prints
and pretty piftures of coloured fimples, thofe gazing-traps of fimpletons, and
earnifhing his knicknackatory with mechanical toys, baubles, and guncracks,
or varying his nonfenfe with little tricks of chemiftry; while all thefe futile pue-
rilities have been rendered flill more futile by the gloom of a lolemn vifage, ndi-
thefc,
[ 254 ]
Chapter {^.q^ Pafls, lic fettled an arrangement in favour of the Duke's
»-— U—J friends, and retired from his public ftation on the eighth day of
^^^^' April 1763. He made Mr. Grenville his fucceflbrf, hoping
he
cviloufly exhibiting the preternatural chara£ter of a grave child. Bagatelles
thefe, which it would doubtlefs be impertinent, illiberal, and even uncharitable
to mention, were it not for the apprehenfiou of his having infpired this moft
unroyal tafte for trifles where it could not exiil, but at the expence of a time
and attention, of which the nation could not be robbed without capital detri-
ment to it : A circumftance this, that muft draw down a ridicule upon his maf-
t«r, not to be eafily fhaken off, and as much more hurtful to a Prince than a
calumny of a graver nature, as contempt is ever more fatal to Government,
than even fear or hatred.
" Too unhappily, alas ! for this nation, chance had thrown this egregious
trifler into a family whom his domeflic flrcights had favourably difpofed to-
wards him. How he maintained and improved his footing into a pernicious
sfcendant, is furely beneath curiofity. So much, however, it \V-ould be unfair
to fupprefs, that the attack on the fame of his political maker, was not
only treated by him with fuch an apathy as had nothing in it of a jufl
and noble contempt ; but to confummate the ingratitude, one of notori-
oufly the firfl; inftigators of the fcandal was inrolled among his intimate confi-
tlents and fupporters, without even this being the only appearance afforded by
him of his not being infinitely difpleafed at the currency of the calumny.
" As to the Royal Pupil, who, by a much mifplaced confidence, fell under his
management at the tender age of fufceptibility of all impreffions, it was not
well poffible for him to prevent a deep-rooted partiality for a choice manifeftly
not made by him, but for him. In raw, unexperienced, unguarded youth, prac-
ticed upon bv an infidious ftudy of his inclinations not to re6tify, but to govern
him by them : captivated by anuuremitting attention to humour and perpetuate
the natural bent of that age to the lighter objedts of amufement ; inftituted to
•^ When Mr. Grenville was appointed Secretary of State^ he was under
the neceffity of foliciting his brother. Lord Temple, to permit him to be re-
eiedled for the town of Buckingham ; and upon his promotion to the Treafury,
he repeated the fame aft of fupplication. His generous brother fald, it would
have been a difgrace to Government, to have feen the King's firft Minifter, a.
mendicant for a feat In Parliament.
an.
[ 255 ]
he fiiould, by that promotion, appeafe the Duke's choler. C».'
It was immediately fignified to all the foieign Miuiilers, that
f his
an implicit faith ifi the man who littered his head with trifles, and aiiable to
corrupt his heart, only hardened it like his own againft the remonllrances of
true greatnefs, while warping his underftanding with the falfeft notions of men
and things, and efpecially of maxims of ftate, of which himfelf never had lb
much as an elementary idea ; thus delivered up to fuch a tutor, how could the
Difciple poflibly efcape fuch a combination ? — What of effentiallv wife or
magnanimous could he learn from fuch a pedlar in politics and manners ? Ni>
one can impart what himfelf never had. Honour, gtatitude, dignity of fentl-
ment, energy of fincerity, comprehenfivenefs of views, were not in hir7i to in-
culcate. Obflinacy under the ftale difguife of firmnefs ; the royalty of re-
pairing a wrong by perfifting in it, the plaufible decencies of private life, the petty
moralities, the minuteneffes of public arrangements, the preference of dark
juggle, myftery, and low artifice to the frank, open fpirit of government ; the
abundant fufficiency of the abfence of great vices, to atone for tlie want of
great virtues, a contempt of reputation, and efpecially that execrable abfurdity
ill the fovereign of a free people, the negleft of popularity, were all that the
haplefs pupil could poflibly learn from fuch a preceptor. Moulded by fuch an
eternal tutorage, imperceptibly formed not to govern, but to be governed ; and
from being the lawful poffelTor of a great empire, converted into the being himfelf
the property of a little filly fubjeit ; ftolen thus away from himfelf, what remains
for us but ardently to pray that, before it is too late, he may be reftored to him-
felf; that he may at length, enter into the genuine fpirit of Royalty, aflume the
part he was born to, and have a charadter of his own ? — May he quit a borrowed
tlarknefs for native light, never more to exhibit, in any the leaft degree, the
copy of an original, whom not to refemble would furely be the honour ! Let him
give us the Sovereign himfelf, not the Favourite at fecond hand ; or ftill worfc
yet, the Favourite's Commh'^'- at fecond hand ! And in this deprecation of detri-
ment and diflionour to himfelf, there can queftionlefs be nothing difloval, or
difrefpeftful.
This teftimony of a genuine fentiment, takes birth too naturally from the
fubjedl with which it is conne6led to appear a digrefllon ; though in fuch a
caufe, and in fuch a crifis of the times, I fliould have judged even the digreflive-
nefs meritorious, and certainly alone the bell apology for a portrait, the exhi-
* Lord Hawkfljury.
bition
A P T S 1»
XXI V
176J.
[ 256 J
Chapter Maieftv had praced his Government in the hands of Mr. Gren-
XXIV * J I
V ^ ; viLLE, Lord Halifax, and Lord Egremont; and as foon as
^^ ^* the other arrangements were made, (the particulars of which,
the reader will fee in the Lift of Adminiftrations at the end of
the work), the fclTion was clofed on the nineteenth of April.
bition of which from any motive of pique or perfonality, would be infinitely
beneath the meaneft of daubers.
" Here itwould be perfcfhly infignificant tofearchout the diftindtion, without
a difference to the public, whether, or not,the favourite after that fcandalous de-
fertion, when he as abjedlly fneaked out of an oflenfible office in the State, as
he had arrogantly flrutted into it, retains individually by himfelf, or by his ap-
pointment of others, the power of continuing that infernal chaos, into which he
from tlie tirfl plunged affairs, at the time that through his cloudy imbecility it fo
foon thickened in the clear of the faireft horizon that ever tantalifed a country with,
the promife of meridian fplendor. It is enough to obferve, that fince his having
delivered up to his own parafites that mafler whom he thus made the centre of
their paltry cabals, and the prey of their fordid rapacioufnefs, it appears, at leaf!,,
from the identity of fpiritlefTnefs, of infenfibillty to honour, of want of plan,
and of the total diforder in which we fee things for ever lauguifliing, that the
' fame deflrudive impullion ftill fubfilb ; while none could collaterally be ad-
mitted into any participation of truft, but fuch as would wink hard, and, at
leaft, pretend not to fee through that grofs illufion, with which a natural defire
of not appearino- to be governed, might blind a Prince, without impohng on
any but himfeif. The joke of holding committees with refpedlive minifters o^
departments, pafTes on no one. In vain would the mafter take blame upon:
himfelf, and father errors not his own. The wires of motion to the will have
been too clumfily worked, not to be feen, however they may not have been
felt. Add, tliat the primary caufe may, by the fairell evclljgation, be brought
home to that unhappy man, whom chance had thrown into a channel of power
to do much good, or much mifchief. The laft he has mechanichally done,
without, perhaps, much meaning it, coming upon the fcene, with abfolutely,
every thing in his favour, except himfelf. All prejudice then a-part, mark in
him, to his Prince, a tutor without knowledge, a mlnlftcr without ability, a
favourite without gratitude ! The very anti-genius of politics. The curfe of
Scotland. The dlfgrace of his mafler. The defpair of the nation ; and the.
difdain of hlftory."— Pi<W/V Advcytlfu^ Augujl 30, 1776.
It
[ ^57 ]
It was upon the Tppech delivered at the clofe of this feflion Chapter
' XK!V
that the North Britoji madethofe obfervations, which drew upon ' -, If
the fuppofed author, an illegal and vindidive exertion of all ''^ ^"
the power and malice of Government. The particulars of this
intereftmg affair, have been amply ftated in feveral books. In
'Junius s addrefs to the Knig, originally publiftied on the 19th
of December 1769, are thefe woids, " The deftruclion of one
" man, has been for many years, the fole objedl of your Go-
" vernment."
Vol. L L 1 CHAP.
[ 258 ]
CHAP. XXV.-
Interview between Mr. Pitt and Lord Bute — Conferences bet'ween
the King and Mr. Pitt — Treaty of Connivance— Mr. Pitt at
Court-'-His rjmark—Lord Hardwicke's conduSi,
Chapteel IT^ARLY in the month of Auguft 1763, a circumftance hap-
pened, which threw the Miniftry into fome diforder and
XXV
... E-.
perplexity. This was the fudden death of the Earl of Egre-
MONT. The Minifters had rendered themfelves odious to the
nation by fupporting the meafures of the late Adminiftration,
and the meafures of the Court, in the perfecution of Mr.
Wilkes. Notwithftanding Lord Bute had recommended
them to their fituations, as the bargain of his own efcape ; yet
he grew impatient under the profcription he had impofed on
himfelf; and apprehending that their removal would be received
with fatisfaftion by the public, he feized this opportunity,
which the death of the Secretary of State afforded, and the va-
cancy of the Prefident's chair, which had not been filled fmce
the death of Lord Granville, to form a new Adminiftration j
not fo much with a view of manifefting his influence, as of ef-
fe(5ling his own emancipation. He fixed his attention upon
Mr. Pitt. His wifti was to form an Adminiftration under
the aufpices of that gentleman. For this purpofe he fent Sir
Harry Erskine to Mr. Alderman Beckford, foliciting the
Interview with Aldcrman's intereft with Mr. Pitt, to procure an inter-
l^orJ Bute*
view for Lord Bute. The propofal was accepted, and Lord
Bute
176
'3-
[ 259 ]
Bute waited on Mr. Pitt, at his houfe in Jermyn-iliect, on Chapter
. XXV.
Thurfday the 25th of Auguft, 1763. Lord Hardvvicki; in a
letter which he wrote to his fon, Lord Roys ton, gives the fol-
lowing account of this interview, and of Mr. Pi rr's two con-
ferences with the King ; which took place in confequence of it.
" JViinpoIe, Sept. 4*, 1763.
" I HAVE heard the whole from the Duke of Newcastle, and
on Friday morning de fourct from Mr. Pitt. It is as (Irange as it is
long, for I believe it is the moffc extraordinary tranlaftion that ever
happened in any Court in Europe, even in times as extraordinary as
the prefent.
" It began as to the fubftance, by a meflagefroni my Lord B e
to Mr. Pitt at Hayes, through my Lord Mayor, to give him the meeting
privately at fome third place. Tliis his Lordlhip (Lord B.) afterwards
altered by a note from himfelf, faying, that as he loved to do things
openly, he would come to Mr. Pitt's houfe in Jermyn-ftreet in broad
day-light. They met accordingly, and Lord B- e, after the firft
comphments, frankly acknowledged, that his Miniftry could not go
on, and that the**** was convinced of it, and therefore he fLordB.)
defired that Mr. Pitt would open himfelf frankly and at large, and
tell him his ideas of things and perfons with the utmoft freedom.
After much exciife and hanging back, Mr, Pitt did fo with the ut-
moft freedom indeed, though with civility. Lord B — e heard with
great attention and patience ; entered into no defence ; but at laft
fkid, " If thefe are your opinions, why fhould you not tell them to the
ti **** himfelf, who will not be unwilling to hear you ?" — How can
I, my Lord, prefume to go to the ****, zvho am nut of his Conncily nor in
hisfervice, and have no pretence to ajk an audience ? The prejumption would
be too great. " But fuppofe his M y lliould order you to attend
*' him, I prefume, Sir, you would not refufe it." — The ****'j com-
mand would make it my duly, and I Jhould certainly obey it,
* Sunday
L 1 2 " This
[ 26o ]
Chapter *' This was On laft Thurfday fe'nnight*. On the next day (Fri-
^_'\; '^ day) Mr. Pitt received from the **** an open note nnfealed, re-
1763. quiring him to attend his M y on Saturday noon, at the. Q;;^ r's
Conferences Pakcc in tlic Park. In obedience hereto, Mr. Pitt went on Satur-
wi-h ihc King, ^j^y ^^ noon-day through the Mall in his gouty chair, the booi of
which (as he faid himfelf) makes it as much known as if his name
was writ upon it, to the Q3 's Palace. He was immediately
carried into the clofet, received yery gracioufly, and his M y
began in like manner as his quondam Favourite had done, by order-
ing him to tell him his opinion of things and perfons at large, and
with the utmcil freedom ; and I think, did in fubftance make
the like confeffion, that he thought his prefent Minifters could
not go on. The audience lafted three hours, and Mr. Pitt went
through the whole upon both heads more fully than he had done to
Lord B — E, but with great complaifance and douceur to the *■** :
and his M — ^ — y gave him a very gracious accueil,and heard with great
patience and attention. And Mr. Pitt affirms, that in general, and
upon the moft material points, he appeared by his manner, and many
of his expreffions, to be convinced. Mr. Pitt went through the in-
firmities of the peace ; the things neceffary and hitherto neglefted to
improve and prelerve it ; the prefent ftate of the nation, both foreign
and domeftic ; the great Whig families and perfons which had been
driven from his Majefty's Council and fervice, which it would be for his
intereft toreftore. In doing this he repeated many names, upon which
his M y told him there was pen, ink, and paper, and he wiihed he
would write them down. Mr. Pitt humbly excufed himfelf, faying,
that would be too much for him to take upon him, and he might upon
his memory omit fome material perfons, which might be fubjed: to
imputation. The **** ftill faid, he liked to hear him, and bid him
go on, but faid now and then, that his honour mufl be confulted ; to
which Mr. Pitt anfwered in a very courtly manner. His M y or-
dered him to come again on Monday, which he did, to the fame place,
and in the fame public manner.
* Augufl 25.
" Here
[ 26l J
" Here comes in a parenthefis, that on Sunday'Mr. Pitt went to 'xxv.'''
Claremont, and acquainted the D. of Newcastle with the whole, ^- — /— — '
fully perfuaded, from the ****'s manner and behaviour, that the thing ^"
would do; and that on Monday the outlines of the new arrangement
would be fettled. This produced the meflages to thofe Lords, who
were fent for. Mr. Pitt undertook to write to the Duke of De-
vonshire and the Marquis of Rockingham, and the Duke of
Newcastle to myfelf.
". But behold the cataftrophe of Monday-j-. The **** received
him' equally gracioufly ; and that audience lafted near two hours.
The **** began, that he had confidered of what had been faid, and
talked flill more ftrongly of his honour. HisM y then mentioned
Lord Northumberland I for the Treafury, ftill proceeding upon
the fuppofition of a change. To this Mr. Pitt helitated an objec-
tion— that certainly Lord Northumberland might be confidered,
but that he Ihould not have thought of him for the Treafury. His
M - then mentioned Lord Halifax for the Treafury. Mr.
Pitt faid, Suppofe your M. fhould think fit to give his Lordlhip the
Paymafter's place. The **** replied, — -" But, Mr. Pitt, I had de-
" figned that for poor G. Grenville. He is your near relation,
" and you once loved him." To this the only anlwer made was a
low bow. And now here comes the bait. " Why," fays his M ,
" fliould not Lord Temple have the Treafury ? You could go on then
" very well."-— Sir, the per/on, whom you Jhall think Jit to honour zvith
the chief conditEl of your affairs, cannot fofjibly go on zvithout a Treafury con-
neSled with him. But that alone will do nothing. It cannot be carried on
zvithout the great families zvho have fupported the Revolution Government,
and other great perfons, of zvhofe abilities and integrity the public has had
experience, and who have weight and credit in the nation. I floould only de ■
~\ Augufl: 29.
\ This was an idea at that time fo ftrange, that it could not be explained un-
til about fix or feveii months afterwards, when an alliance took place between
Lord Northumberland's eldeft fon and Lord Bute's daughter, which in efFedl
nxade Lord Northumberland a part of Lord Bute's flunily, and which
feems to have been at this time in contemplation.
ceivt
[ 262 ]
CuAPTER. ceive your M- , if I JJjould leave you in an opinion that I could ?o on,
. ' . andyourM- make a/olid Adminijlration on any other foot . " Well, Mr.
1763. ** Pitt, I fee (or I fear) this won't do. My honour is concerned, and
" I muft fupport ir."---£/ fc finita efi fabtda. Fos valete, but I caa-
not with a fafe confcience add, plaudit e. I have made my fkeleton
larger than I intended at firft, and 1 hope you will underftand it.
Mr. Pitt profefles himfelf firmly perfuaded, that my Lord B--- was
fmcere at firft, and that the .... was in earneft the firft day ; but that
on the intermediate day, Sunday, fome ftrong effort was made, which
produced the alteration.
" Mr. Pitt likewife affirms, that if he was examined upon oath, he
could not tell upon what this negotiation broke off, whether upon
any particular point, or upon the general coiinplexion of the whole.
*' It will certainly be given out, that the reafon was the unreafon-
able extent of Mr. Pitt's plan---a general rout ; and the Minority*
after having complained fo much of profcriptions, have endeavoured
to profcribe the Majority. I afked Mr. Pitt the direft queftion, and
he affured me, that although he thought himfelf obliged to name a
great-many perfons for his own exculpation, yet he did not name above
five or fix for particular places. I muft tell you that one of thefe was
your humble fervant for the Prefident's place. This was entirely
without my authority or privity. But the . . . .'s anfvver was, " Why,
" Mr. Pitt, it is vacant and ready for him, and he knows he may
" have it to-morrow, if he thinks fit."
" I conjeftured that this was faid with regard to what had paffed
with poor Lord Egremont, which made me think it neceffary to tell
Mr. Pitt in general what had paffed with that Lord (not owning that
his Lordfhip had offered § it direftly in the . 's name) and what I
had anfwered, which he, in his way, much commended.
§ Mr. C. Townshend's explanation of this refufal was in thefe words,
" Lord Hardwicke refufedLord Egremont's offer, becaiife he thought the
*' beji of the lay was on the otlier fide."
" This
[ 263 ]
" This cbliges me to define, that you will fend by the bearer my '^"xxv!"
letter to you, which you were to communicate to my Lord Lyttel- <.— v — »
TON, that I may fee how I have ftated it there, for I have no copy. '^^i-
" I (hall now make you la\igh, though fome parts of what goes be-
fore make me melancholy, to fee the fo committed, and his M.
fubmitting to it, &c. But what I mean will make you laugh is, that
the Minifters are fo ftung with this admiffion, that they cannot go on
(and what has paffed on this occafion will certainly make them lefs
able to go on), and with my Lord B- 's having thus carried them to
market in his pocket, that they fay Lord B— has attempted to facri-
fice them to his own fears and timidity; that they do not depend upon
him, and will have nothing more to do with him. And I have been
very credibly informed, that both Lord Halifax and George
Grenville have declared, that he is to go beyond the fca, and refide
for a twelvemonth or more. You know a certain Cardinal was twice
exiled out of France, and governed France as abfolutely whilft he was
abfent as when he was prefent."
To the preceding ftatement of Lord Hardwicke, it is pro-
per to make fome additions. The five or fix other perfons,
whom his Lordfhip fays Mr. Pitt named for places, were the
following : —
Lord Temple for Firfl Lord of the Treafury, with power to
name his own Board.
Mr. James Grenville for Chancellor of the Exchequer*
Himfelf Secretary of State.
Mr. C. TowNSHEND, Secretary of State, with the manage-
ment of the Houfe of Commons.
* He was fecond brother to Lord Temple. He was a man of excellent
erudition and fine underftanding. When Lord Temple and Lord Chatham
differed in 1766, he adhered to Lord Chatham, and continued in that at-
tachment to the death of his Lordfhip, whom he did not long furvive.
Lord
[ 264 ]
Chapter Lord Albemarle at the head of the Army.
Sir Edw. Hawke at the head of the Admiralty.
XXV.
1763.
■Treaty of con-
nivance.
On the Sunday, between the two conferences, certain advice
was given, which broke off the negotiation. Lord Bute had the
merit of bringing it on, and to him is to be afcribed the caufe
of its failure. It was fignified to Lord Bute, that if he turned
out the Miniftry, his own impeachment ftiould be the confe-
quence. He took fright ; and again compounded for his fafety.
But the Minifters infilled upon his quitting London, and he
agreed to pafs the winter at his new eftate in Bedfordfhire.
When this profcription was fettled, the Duke of Bedford took
the Prefident's chair, Lord Sandwich was made Secretary of
State, and Lord Egmont had the Admiralty. His Grace tak-
ing an official fituation, the Adminiflration acquired the appel-
lation of the Duke of Bedford's Minifry. Lord Melcombe's
words are the moft proper commentary on this " treaty of con-
nivance" (as Mr. PfTT called it)—" It is all for quarter day."
Mr.Pittatcourt Ou thc Wcduefday (Auguft 31), fubfequent to the laft con-
ference with which his Majefty honoured Mr. Pitt, Lord
Temple and Mr. Pitt went to St. James's to pay their duty
to his Majefty, they were both received in the moft gracious
manner ; and his Majefty in the moft obliging terms faid to
Mr. Pitt " I hope. Sir, you have not fuffered by ftanding fo
" long on Monday." Upon this occafion Mr. Pitt faid to his
His remark, fngnds, " His Majcfty is the greateft Courtier in his Court."
Although Lord Hardwicke and the Duke of Newcastle
Lord Hard- afFcfted to bc well fatisfied with Mr. Pitt's conduft in this
negotiation, yet Lord Hardwicke was very defirous of a
place
[ 265 ]
place at Court, and would certainly have accepted of Lord Cr^^^rc.
EGRtMONT's offer, if he could have prevailed upon Lord Bute .--^
to have received the Duke of Newcastle and two or three
of his Grace's friends at the fame.time. But Lord Egremont
would not undertake a negotiation with Lord Bute for that
purpofe, and Lord Hardwicke could not open one himfelf,
having no direct communication with Lord Bute, nor any
oftenfible pretence. Even in the prefent defign of making fome
alterations in the Miniftry, the application was not made to ,
him, but to Mr Pitt. From motives of policy, he concealed
his 'difapprobation of this preference given to Mr. Put.
Upon the difcharge of Mr. Wilkes by the Chief Juftice of the
Common Pleas, he attended the levee and drawing-room, ac-
companied by the Duke of Newcastle, and a few of their
friends. Finding this bait not tofucceed, he afterwards courted
favour, by avowing in all companies, his opinion to be totally
different from the judicial judgment of the Chief Juflice :
and he aftually formed a league, with the Duke of New-
castle, and others, to determine in Parliament, that the
Chief Juftice had done wrong, in releafuig a member of Par-
liament frcm confinement, for a libel, upon a plea of privilege,
by an implied cenfure, in a vote, declaring, That privilege of
Parhament did not extend to a libel. And this accounts for the
proteft upon that queftion, not being figned by the Duke of
Newcastle, Lord Hardwicke, Lord Rockingham, Lord
Sondes, &c. At the meeting of the Lords in the Minority at
Devonfliire-houfe, to fettle the words of the proteft, the Duke
of Newcastle excufed himfelf from figning ti, by relating this
agreement with his friend Lord Haruwicke ; who at that
time was confined by ficknefs, and who died about three months
afterwards.
Mm CHAP.
[ 266 J
CHAP. XXVI.
Meeting of Parliament — Servility of the Commons ; of the Speaker — •
Verfatility — Vote away their own privilege — Koyal Apothegm—'
The North Briton — Mr. Pitt's fpeech againfl the facrifice of
Privilege.
Chapter /^^^ ^^^ fifteenth of November 1763 Parliament met. The
^^^' , \^^ moment the Commons were returned to their own
'7^3- Houfe from the Lords, Mr. Grenville and Mr. Wilkes rofe
Meeting of tosfcther. Each was eager to addrefs the Houfe. Mr. Gren-
Parliaaient. o O
viLLE to dehver the commands of the King — Mr. Wilkes to
complain of a breach of privilege. By the fettled forms of the
Houfe, the breach of privilege ought to have been heard firft.
But the Speaker, as previoufly directed, pointed to Mr. Gren-
ville.
Servility of the
Commons.
The reader muft have perceived in the courfe of thefe flieets,
that the corruption of Parliament, or, as it is fafhionably called,
the management of Parliament, is become an indifpenfible part
of the mechanifm of Government. The particular fervility of
Of the Speaker, thc Speaker has been noticed feveral times — by Mr. Pitt him-
felf, in his fpeech for the repeal of the American ftamp a6l.
Verfatility. This Pailiamcnt, which had been eledled while the Whigs
were in office — which had fupported them and deferted them—
which had fupported Lord Bute, and deferted him alfo— was
now the inftrument of the Duke of Bedford and Mr. Gren-
ville :
«
«
t 267 ]
viLLE : fuch meafures as they found neceflary for the efta- Chapte?.
X X v'l .
bUihment of their fituations, this Parhament readily fupported- « — ^, — »
This Parliament voted away its own privilege, in the cafe cf a ^'
. , , , . Vote awny ih^i.
libel, at the reqaifition of the iVImiuer, to gratify the King, in own pav,iege.
accelerating the punifhment of Mr. Wilkes*; thereby facri-
ficing not their own privileges only, but thofe of their confti-
tuents, and pofterity. The Lords, adopting a vote of this fort,
could affect only themfelves. But the piivilcges of the Ccm-
mons, are connefted with the rights of the people. One cannot
be facrificed, without injuring the other. As the matter now
flands, any obnoxious Member or Members, may be eafily got rid
of. The King, or his Minifter, has only to charge him, or
them, with being the author or publiflier of a libel ; or if nei-
ther King, nor Minifter chufes to be feen in it, they can order -
the Attorney General to do it, by his information ex officio. —
When Charles the Firji wanted to feize the five Members, he
was too precipitate. Had he taken the modern mode, he would
have fucceeded. It is related, as one of the Royal apothegmsj
that his Majefty, fpeaking of Charles the Firji.fald, He was a good f^^"l^\ ^f°-
King ; but did not know how to govern by a Parliament .
* Mr. Wilkes was difcharged from clofe imprifonment in the Tower, on
account of his privilege. The warrant of commitment was not held to be illegal.
A Member of Parliament may therefore be committed for a libel before trial.
And whether a paper be a libel or not, is a matter of difcretion in the judg-
ment of the King, his Minifter, or his Attorney General. And as to wit-
nefles, they are always to bg had. Algernon Sidney's woids, upon the laft
point, are — " Falfe wltneffcs are fent out to circumvent the mofl eminent men.
" The tribunals are filled with Court parajites, of profligate confciences, for-
" tunes, and reputation, that no man may efcape who is brought before them.
*' If crimes are wanting the diligence of well chofen officers, and profecutors,
" with the favour of the Judges, fupply all defeiSls. The law is made a
" fnare" — ^arto edit. p. 214.
M m 2 Mr.
1763.
[ 268 ]
Chapter Mr. Grenville liavinff delivered the King's mefiage, frating;
that his Majefly had cauied Mr. Wilkes to be apprehended,
■and fecured for writing a Ubel, and that he had been releafed on
his privilege, Sec. the Houfe took this matter instantly into con-
fidciation ; and voted an addrefs of thanks for his Majefty's
■gracious communication. The ufual addrefs, in reply to the
fpeech on opening the feffion, was not mentioned this day;
And Mr. Wilkes's complaint of a breach of privilege, by the
imprifonraeht of his perfon, plundering his houfe, and feizing
his papers, was put off to the twenty-third.
North Briton Thc Houfc immediately votcd thc North Briton a libel, al-
a Libel.
though it was one of their own effential privileges always to
treat the King's fpeech as the fpeech of the Minifter.
The light of either, or both Houfes of Parliament, to declare
any paper a libel, which is to be tried by another jurifdi6lion
may, in fome future day, become a queftion. Such a declara-
tion is, undoubtedly a pre-judgment of the paper ; and can-
not fail obtaining an influence on the minds of the jury, who
are to try the caufe,
Mr. Pitt on On the twenty-third of November, Mr. Wilkes's complaint of a
Privilege ancT - , . . ^ . , .
the North Bii- brcacli or privilege was taken mto confideration ; when it was re-
M.s. folved, that Privilege of Parliament did not extend to the cafe of
writing or publilhing a libel. On this day Mr. Pitt attended, al-
though fo feverely afflifted with the gout, he was obliged to be fup-
ported to his feat. He fpoke ftrongly againft this furrender of the
privileges of Parliament, as highly dangerous to the freedom of Par-
liament, and an infringement on the rights of the People. No
man he faid, could condemn the paper, or libel, more than he did :
But he would come at the author fairly, not by an open breach of the
Conftitution,
I
*
[ 26g ]
Conftitutlon, aad a contempt of all rediainr. This propofed facri-
fice of privilege, was putting every Member of Parliament, who did
not vote with the Minifter, under a perpetual terror of imprifonment.
To talk, of an abufe of privilege, was to talk againft the Conftitution,
iigamft the very being and life of Parliament. It was an arraignment
of the juftice and honour of Parliament, to fuppofe, that they would
proteft any criminal whatever. Whenever a complaint was made
againft any Member, the Houfe could give him up. This privilege
had never been abufed ; it had been repofed in Parliament for ages-
But take away this privilege, and the whole Parliament is laid at the
the mercy of the Crown. This privilege having never been abufed,
why then is it to be voted away ? Parliament, he faid, had no right
to vote away its privileges. They were the inherent right of the fuc-
ceeding Members of that Houfe, as well as of the prefent. And he
doubted, whether the facrifice by that Houfe was valid, and conclu-
live againft the claim of a future Parliament. With refpedl to the
paper itfelf, or the libel, which had given pretence for this requeft to
furrender the privileges of Parliament, the Houfe had already voted
It a libel---he joined in that vote. He condemned the whole feries of
North Britons ; he called them illiberal, unmanly, and deteftable.
He abhorred all national refleftions. The King's fubjefts were one
people. Whoever divided them, was guilty of fedition. His Majcf-
ty's complaint was well founded, it was juft, it was neceffary. The
author did not deferve to be ranked among the human fpecies — he
was the blafphemer of his God, and the libeller of his King. He had
no connexion with him. He had no connexion with any fuch writer.
He neither affociated nor communicated with any fuch. It was true,
that he had friendfliips, and warm ones ; he had obligations, and great
ones ; but no friendfhips, no obligations, could induce him to approve,
what he firmly condemned. It might be fuppofed, that he alluded to
his noble relation (Lord Temple). He was proud to call him his re-
lation; he was his friend, his bofom friend; whofe fidelity was as un-
fhaken as his virtue. They went into office together, and they came ou'^
together — they had lived together, and would die together. He knew
nothing of any connedlion with the writer of the libel. If there fub-
fiftcd
[ 270 ]
Chapter fifted any, he was totally unacquainted with it. The dignity, the ho
, ^ nour of Parliament, had been called upon to fupport and protedl the
1763. purity of his Majefty's charafter; and this they had done, by a ftrong
and decifive condemnation of the libel ; which his Majefty had fub-
mitted to the confideration of the Houfe. But having done this, it
was neither confiftent with the honour and fafety of Parliament, nor
with the rights and interefts of the people, to go one ftep farther.
The reft belonged to the Courts below.
'to^
When he had finiflied fpeaking, he left the Houfe, not being able
to ftay for the divifion.
CHAP.
«
t
[ 271 J
CHAP, XXVII.-
Prince of Brimfwick vifits Mr. Pitt at Hayes — ^cji'ion concerning
General Warrants — Mr, Pitt's Speech againjl them.
I
N the month of January 1764, the Prince of Brunswick ^xxvir"
came to England, to efpoufe the Princefs 'Hugusta, the ' — r— '
Kine's fifter. When the ceremonies were ended, he paid a
O ■* Pnnce of
vifit to Mr. PiTT; who was confined to his chamber by a fevere ^rp";;^.'''"^''
fit of the gout, at liis feat at Hayes in Kent. This vifit was
very far from being agreeable at St. James's. The Prince was
juft come from Berlin ; and whether the conjeflure was well
founded, or not, that he carried a complimentary meffage from
the King of Prussia to Mr. Pitt, the vifit at leaft fliewed, the
high eftimation in which Mr. Pitt was held by the Prince,
the King of Prussia and his allies, who at this time were
RufTia and Poland: while we were without any ally, and the
great Minifter of this country, who had condu6led the war with
fo much honour to himfelf and advantage to the nation, was
profcribed at Court and deferted in Parliament. He was retired
to Hayes— to his ability, glory and integrity— where this young
Prince diftinguilhed him, by the moft gracious marks of efteem
and affedion, filled with fentiments, which were known to be
fimilar to thofe of the King of Prussia, and the Ernprefs of
the North. After this circumftance, his Serene Highnefs did
not experience the moft cordial reception at the Britilh Court,
and
»
\
[ 272 ]
Chapter and he was permitted to embark for the Continent, in a very
XXVII. J r
' — r'^—) dangerous and tempeftuous fealon.*
1764.
Genctaiwar- Qn thc fourteenth of February 1764, Sir W. Meredith
moved, " That a Gf/z^T^/ Warrant for apprehending and feizing
" the authors, printers and publiihers of a feditious libel, to-
" gether with their papers, is not warranted by law." Seconded
by Sir G, Savile. Although the Conllitution, the law of the
^ land, common fenfe, and the flri6t principles of juftice, all
united in condemning a General Warrant j yet all the officers
.of Government, all the fubalterns of Minifters, all the people
who call themfelves Kings Friends, and all whom thefe could
command or influence, pertinacioufly defended, not indeed the
legality., for that was impoflible, but the neceffity of pofleffing a
power to iflue thefe yvarrants, whenever, the Secretary of State
in his dlfcretion fhould think fit. The debate having continued
all night, was adjourned to the feventeenth.
aglinftthem." On the adjoumcd debate, Mr. Pitt being able to attend, fpoke in
■ ■ favour of the motion. He began with obferving, that all which the
Crown had defired, all which Minifters had wiflied, was accomplifhed in
the convidtion and expulfion of Mr. Wilkes : it was now the duty of
the Houfe, to do juftice to the nation, to the Conftitution, and to the
Law. Minifters had refufed to lay the warrant before the Houfe be-
" In the pamphlet entitled Fafiion Urima/k'd, there is an anecdote of this
Prince, which feems to infiniiate, that the efFedts of this vifit were not con-
fined to an embarkation in ftormy weather. The words are thefe, " When
" General Spoerken died, the Duke of Brunswick wiflied to fuceed liim in
" the command at Hanover ; and from his having fought our battles, and married
" our King's filler, every body in Germany and England thought his claim fa
" juft, he would undoubtedly be appointed ; but the Queen's brother, a youth
*' at that time, was preferred to him." Edit. 1790,/). 103.
caufe
<
♦
i:64
[ 273 ]
caufe they were confcioiis of its illegality. And yetthefeMiniflers, who Ckat-ter.
affedt fo much regard for liberty and the Conftitution, are ardently de- ._ _._^ . '_,
firous of retaining for themfelves, and for their fucccflbrs, a power to
do an illegal adt. Neither the law officers of the Crown, nor the Mi-
nifter himfelf, had attempted to defend the legality of this warrant.
Whenever goaded upon the point, they had evaded it. He therefore
did not hefitate to fay, that there was not a marf to be found, of fuffi-
cient profligacy, to defend this warrant, upon the principle of legality^
It was no juftification, he faid that General Warrants had been ifTued.
Amongft the v/arrants which were laid before the Houfe, to fliew the
praftice of office, there were two which had been ifflied by himfelf; but
they were not againft libels. One was, for the feizure of a number
of perfons on board a fliip going to France; the other for apprehend-
ing the Count de St. Germain, a fufpefted foreigner; and both in a
time of war with France. Upon iffuing the latter warrant, he con-
fulted his friend, the Attorney General, (who was afterwards Lord
Camden) who told him the warrant would be illegal, and if he iffued
it he mufl take the confequences ; neverthelefs preferring the general
lafety in time of war and public danger, to every perfonal confidera-
tion, he run the rifk, as he would of his head, had that been the forfeit,
•upon the like motive, and did an extraordinary ad:, againft a fufpicious
foreigner, juft come from France; and who was concealed at different
times, in different houfes. The real exigency of the time, and the
apparent neceffity of the thing, would, in his opinion, always juftify a
Secretary of State, in every extraordinary adl of power. In the pre-
fent cafe, there was no neceffity for a General Warrant. Minifters
knew all the parties. The plea of neceffity could not be urged ; there
was no pretence for it. The nation was in perfeft tranquility. The
fafety of the State was in no danger. The charge was, the writing
and publilhing a libel. What was there in this crime, fo heinous and
terrible, as to require this formidable inftrument; which, like an in-
undation of water, bore down all the barriers and fences of happinefs
and fecurity? Parliament had voted away its own privilege, and laid the
perfonal freedom of every reprefentative of the nation, at the mercy of
his Majefty's Attorney General. Did Parliament fee the extent of this
N n furrender,
[ 274 J
XXVII.
furrender, which they had made ? That they had decided upon the
unalienable rights of the people, by fubjecling their reprefentatives
'7'>4- to a reftraint of their perfons, whenever the Minitlers, or the Attor-
ney General thougut proper. The extraordinary and wanton exercife,
of an illegal p^ovvcr, in this cafe, admits of no juftification, nor even
palliation. It was an indulgence of a perfonal refentment againfb
a particular perfon : And the condemnation of it is evaded by a pre-
tence that IS falje, is a mockery of juftice, and an impofition on the
Houfe. We are told, that this warrant is pendente lite; that it will
come under judicial decifion, in the determinations of the Court on
the bills of exception ; and, therefore, that Parliament ought not to de-
clare any judgment upon the iubjeft. In anfwer to this, he faid, that
whenever the bills of exceptions came to be argued, it would be
found, that they turned upon other pints. Upon other points he re-
peated. He was confident in his aflertion. He concluded with
faying, that if the Houfe negatived the motion, they would be the
difgrace of the prefent age, and the reproach of pofterity ; who, after
facrificing their own privileges, had abandoned the liberty of the fub-
jeft ; upon a pretence, that was wilfully founded in error, and mani-
feftly urged for the purpofe of delufion.
Upon a motion being made for adjourning the debate for
four months, the numbers were 234 for the queftion, and 220
againfl: it.
The Right Hon. Charles Townshend, who at this time
was in oppofition to the Miniftry, faid to Mr. Pitt as they
entered the Houfe, that they fliould be in the Majority that
night. It was certainly his opinion, for he faid afterwards to
feveral of his friends, that he was confident they went into the
Houfe a majority; but that Lloyu*, who had the Minifter's
private pocket iook-f, made converts before the divifion.
* Mr. Charles Lloyd, who was Mr. Grenville's private Secretary.
-[■ The term given to the Minifter's Lift of Members.
CHAP.
1
I
[ 27S ]
CHAP. XXVIII.
Sir William Fynfent leaver his fortune to Mr. Pitt — Similar in-
tention of Mr. HoUis — Prefe?it and Note from Wareham — Pitt's
Diamond — T^be Regency — American Stamp A5l — Lord Bute re-
folves to difnifs the Minijlers — Gets an audience of the Duke of
Cumberland— -"The Duke fends for Lord Temple— CoJifere^ice be-
tween them — T:he Duke goes to Mr. Pitt — Applies to Lord
Lyttelton — Lord Temple and Mr. Grejiville reco7iciled — Obfcr-
^ation — Mr. Stuart Mackenzie difmiffed—The King fends for
Mr. PitP —Lord Temple fent for — They refufe the Kings offers
Obfervation— King's Friends — Condu£l of the Duke of Bed-
ford and Mr. fenkinfon — The Duke forms a new Ministry.
THE fame of Mr. Pitt's charaaer, of his public virtue ^^^^H^
and talents, excited no lefs the admiration of all inde- ' — ^— '
pendent perfons at home, than of princes and potentates
abroad. Although profcribed the Court of his Sovereign, he
maintained a place in the hearts of the people. Although his
Majefty's Council had repudiated his advice, and the reprefenta-
tives of the nation had engaged with a more profitable mafter,
yet there were many perfons, who faw no difloyalty to the King,
nor difrefpe6t to Parliament, (themes which are conflantly
dwelt upon, whenever a profcribed perfon is popular) in con-
tinuing their efteem and veneration for a great character, of ex-
emplary virtue and unrivalled abilities. Amongft thefe, was
Sir William Pynsekt, of Burton-Pynfent, in Somerfetfhire, feav^*h^?o"'
NT> . tune to Mr.
n 2 a Baronet pitc.
[ 276 ]
Chapter a Baroiict of ancient family, and large fortune ; who having no
V — ^ / ilTue, bequeathed his eftate (of near three thoufand pounds per
^^ ^' annum) to Mr. Pitt, and his heirs. He died on the 12th of
January 1765. There was a contention for the property; and
it was countenanced from a quarter, where, it might have been
fuppofed the perverfion of juftice never reached. However it
was of no avail : the will of the teftator was confirmed.*
In the month of Auguft, Mr, Pitt went into Somerfetfhire.
Prefentfrom While hc was thcrc an inhabitant of Wareham fent him a fal-
Wareham.
mon, with this note: " I am an Englifliman, and therefore love
liberty and you ; Sir, be pleafed to accept of this fifh, as a mark of
my efteem ; were every fcale a diamond §, it ftiould have been
at your fervice."
During the greateft part of the feffion of the year 1765, Mr,
Pitt was confined by the gout.
Early in the month of April, his Majefly was afflided by an
alarming diforder. At the firft audience he honoured his Mini-
* It has been confidently aflerted, that Thomas Hollis, Efq. who died at
at Corfcombe in Dorfetfhire, in the month of December 1773, intended to
have bequeathed his eftate to Mr. Pitt, but died before he was able to make
the arrangement he had in contemplation.
Ralph Allen, of Prior Park, Efq. died, in 1764, and left Mr. Pitt one
thoufand pounds.
§ Alluding to the celebrated diamond, which Mr. Pitt's anceftor, Thomas
Pitt, Efq. who, in Queen Anne's reign, was Governor of Fort St. George, in
the Eaft Indies, brought from thence, weighing one hundred and twenty-feven
carats ; and which, being refufed by the Britifh Sovereign, was purchafed by the
Regent of France, for one hundred and thirty-five thoufand pounds fterling.
It is placed in the Crown of France ; and it is to this day called Pitt's diamond.
For a dcfcri;)tion and reprefentation of this diamond, fee the Mufeum Britanni-
cum, page 69, and tab. 28.
fler
t
(
[ 277 ]
fler after his recovery, he took a paper out of his pocket, con- Chapter
taining a fpeech to both Huiiies of Parliament, requeuing a il—^-^
power to nominate a Regent, with a Council, in cafe of his '' ^'
The Regency-
death, before his fuccelfor was eighteen years of age. His
Majcily gave the paper to his Minifter, and fixed the day for
going to the Houfe, As this was the firft notice the Minifters
had of the defign, they were greatly furprifed by it. The
fpeech was written, and the meafure was formed, without their
participation, or even knowledge. They had fubmitted to fe-
veral invafions of their departments, by appointments being
made, Ecclefiaftical, Civil, and Military ; fome without their
knowledge, and others contraiy to their recommendations : But
this was a flronger a6l, and a more indifiJUtable proof, of a fe-
cret unrefponfible influence, fubfifting fomewhere, than any
other they had met with. They were not very ardent, therefore,
in fupport of the meafure. The bill was brought into the Houfe
of Lords, agreeable to the portrait given in the fpeech. " To
*' veft in me the power of appointing, by inftruments in writing,
" under my fign manual, either the Queen, or any other perfon of
'• my Royal Family, ufually refiding in Great Biitain, to be," &c.
But a doubt arifmg, on the queflion, " Who were the Royal Fa-
" mily?" It was explained, the Defcendants of George the
Second. And this explanation was declared by the Secretary of
State, Lord Halifax, to be perfedly agreeable to the Royal con-
flruflion. The Princefs of Wales (who was defcended from an-
other family) being thus excluded, the Minifters conceived they
had gained a complete victory over Lord Bute. But their enjoy-
ment of this opinion, was of very ftiort duration; for when the bill
came into the Houfeof Commons, her Royal Highnefs's name was
added.
[ 278 ]
^xxvlu! ^^'^^^> °^ 3 motion made for that purpofe by Mr. Morton,
' — ;;v--— ' one of Lord Bute's friends, immediately after the Queen.
Whether Lord Halifax did not rightly underftand his Ma-
jefty, when he reported the queftion ; or whether his Majeily
did not rightly undcrftand Lord Halifax, is a diftindion not
worth afcertaining. The original error, was in the writer of
the fpeech, who ought to have been more explicit. Perhaps he
defignedly, as well as cautioufly avoided it ; with a view to pre-
vent, what by the family might have been called, invidious ob-
feivation and perfonaUty. But the remedy was made, in a
manner more palpably indicative of that fecret influence, which
di6tated and controuled every important meafure of Govern-
ment.*
Lord Bute re- Wliethcr during the King's late illnefs, or at whatever mo-
foives todifmifs
the Minifteis. ment earlier, or for whatever caufe, the Earl of Bute took a
a refolution of removing the Minifters ; are points, which can
be explained by only thofe perfons, who were at that time in
his confidence. The fincere opinion of other perfons was, that
fome reprefentations had been made by the fubfifling Minifters,
upon the appointment of Sir H. Erskine, upon filling the
See of Armagh, and other promotions; fome of which had
taken place contrary to their advice, and others without their
* It was in this fefilon of Mr. Grenville's Adminiftration, that the Ame-
rican Stamp Aft was paffed ; which Mr. Grenville afterwards defended with
the warmeft zeal and refolution ; yet if we may believe Mr. Jenkinson, now
Lord Hawkesbury, who, in fuch a cafe, may fafely be taken for the befl: au-
thority, this meafure was not Mr. Cjrenville's. Sec Mr. Jenkinson's fpeech
in the Houfe of Comn-.ons, on the fifteenth of May 1777. Mr. Jenkinson
has not yet informed the nation, to whom this meafure ought to have been
acrlbeJ; though he has explicitly acquitted Mr. Grenville of it.
knowledge ;
I
I
[ 279 ]
knowledge; the King was offended; and applied to his favou- Chapter
rite, to emancipate him fi^om thefe impoftanities. Whether this --^ — -^ '
opinion was well founded, or not, it is certain, that ten day?, at
leall, befoie any intimation was given to tlic Minifrers of the
Regency Bill, the Earl of Bute obtained, through the interen:
of the Earl of Albemarle, a private audience of the Duke of
CuMBERLAND§. His wifh was to bring Mr. Pjtt into office. di=ncc^"A':.'e
His project had failed in the year 1763, through his own cow- u'aL
ardice. This year he refolved not to appear in the meafure;
perhaps he was ftill influenced by his fears, and therefore, the
better to conceal himfelf, and to give greater weight to his de-
fign, his firft care was to put the negotiation into the hands
of the Duke of Cumberland, with fome limitations. After
his firft audience of the Duke, he and his brother appeared pub-
licly at his Royal Highnefs's levee, more than once during the
time the Regency Bill vvas in Parliament. Thefe circumftances
were not unknown to the Miaifters, nor did they fcruple to de-
clare to their friends. That the King's confidence was not placed
where it ought to be. Yet they did not refufe a neceffary mea-
fure. But they were particularly blanieable for admitting one
part of it, which whoever advifcd, gave bad advice : It was a
proportion, for an unexampled encroachment on the inherent
fundamental and eflential rights of Parliament, and a dange-
rous precedent, for an addition to the pretenfions of the Crown ;
by entrufting ro the Jole and fecret nomination of the Prince
upon the throne, the appointment of the perfon to exercife the
regal authority, during a minority.
§ On Sunday evening, April 14. His Royal Highaefs came to town on
purpofe.
Mr.
[ 28o j
Chaptei. Mr. Pitt having declared in Parliament, that he would live
XX\ III. .
. — , — ) and die with his brother (Lord Temple) the confidential con-
'^ ^' triver of this fecond projefl, to bring in Mr. Pitt, refolved to
make the firft application to Lord Temple, with the hope of
obtaining his favourable opinion, which was confidered the moft
eOential ftep towards gaining Mr. Pitt. Accordingly on the
, ^ , ^ , fifteenth of May, the Duke of Cumberland fent for Lord
The Duke fenJs •'
for Lord Tern- Te^pj^e froHi Stowc-f". As foou 38 pofliWe his Lordfhip
waited on the Duke, who began by informing him, that the
King had refolved to change his fervants, and to engage his
Lordfhip, Mr. Pitt, and their friends, in his fervice ; but firfl he
(the Duke) wiflied to know fbeir co)iditio?is. Lord Temple re-
conferencc be- fpedfuUv affurcd liis Royal Highnefs, that their conditions were
tvveen them. -^ •' j ij
not many. The making certain foreign alliances, the reftora-
tion of officers (Civil as well as Military) cruelly and unjuflly
difmiffed, a repeal of the Excife on Cyder, a total and full con-
demnation of General Warrants, and the feizure of papers.
His Royal Highnefs perfe6lly approved of thefe conditions, and
faid they mufl be agreed to. And then added, that he had a
propofition to make — this was, That it was the King's defire
Lord Northumberland fliould be placed at the Head of the
Treafury. Lord Temple replied, " He would never come into
" office under Lord Bute's LieutenantiJ:." Here the confe-
rence broke off. This propofition having been made in the
negotiation of the year 1763, when Lord Bute appeared openly
in the meafure, left no room to doubt of his Lordfiiip being
fl:ill the fecret advifer of the King, and the fecret mover of the
prefent negotiation.
•\- His Royal Highnefs alfo fent for Mr. James GRENviLLEfrom Pinner.
I Lord Northumberland was at this time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
On
«
I
[ 28, ]
On the nineteenth of the fame month, which was Sunday, Chapter
xx\ iir
the Duke fent a meffage to Lord Temple, requefling his Lord- « — v— '
fliip to meet him at Mr. Pitt's houfe, at Hayes in Kent. The
Duke was with Mr. Pitt, when his Lordfliip came in, and to Mr. pih." '
had made the fame propofition refpefling Lord Northumber-
land, which Mr. Pitt had refufed, as totally inadmifiible j
upon the fame principle, that the refufal had been made by-
Lord Temple; of which, Mr. Pitt had not, until that mo-
ment, received the fmalleft intimation. He affured his Royal
Highnefs, that he was ready to go to St. James's, if he could carry
the Conjlitution alofig with him ; — that was his exprefiion.
Next day the Duke fent Lord Frederick Cavendish to
Mr. Pitt, with an afTurance, that the propofition refpedting
Lord Northumberland being at the head of the Treafury,
was relinquiflied j provided his Lordftiip was confidered in fome
other way. Mr. Pitt returned the fame anfwer he had given to
his Royal Highnefs. Upon the return of Lord Frederick, the
Duke offered the Treafury to Lord Lyttelton, who defired to
confult Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt. The Duke was difpleafed
Applies to Lar*
with this anfwer, and immediately went to the King ; and hav- lyttelton.
ing informed his Majefty of the feveral anfwers he had received,
concluded with advifing the King, to continue his prefent fer-
vants.
At the fame time. Lord Temple and his brother, Mr_ urd xempie
Grenv I LLE became reconciled through the mediation of the ^'"'^ '■""■ne re-
friends of both parties ; who declared, that this reconciliation
was no more than domeftic frienddiip, as brothers; and oa
public principles, only as to meafures in future.
Vol. L O o It
Obfervatiun*
[ 2S2 J
Chapter It Is In their influence on meafiires i?i future, that fuch circum-
xxvm. n . ... , . ^, ....
«__v — -» Itances become mteieltmg to the nation. The reconcihation
/^ ^' being efTe6led, Mr. Grenville unbofoming himfelf to his bro-
ther, related all the arts and clandeftine fteps of the Favourite j
which, if poflible, encreafed his brother's ardour in oppofition
to Lord Bute. Both the brothers now entertaining the
fame opinion, there could be little probability of another fepa-
ration happening between them. Confe^uently, in future, it
muft be fuppofed they engaged to adl, and to concert their
•meafures together.
During the negotiation with the Duke, Parliament had been
kept fitting; under an expeftation of iffuing writs : But that
negotiation having failed, the fubfifting Minifters refolved to
vindicate the independence of their fituations, by aflerting the
due influence, which of right belonged to the refponfibility of
their offices, and to create a neceflity of ifluing writs, very
different from thofe, which had been in expe6lation.
Ml'ckenzic dif- Thc dccifivc ftroke of this contefl:, was the turning out Mr.
Mackenzie, Lord Bute's brother; which, they declared, they
offered to the public as a mark, that the Councils and employ-
ments of the State, were not feparated, notwithftanding the
late negotiation. And this circumftance gave them a merit in
their death, that moft of them would never have acquired in
any other way.
There was no ftep they could have taken more perfonally
'offenfive than this. And to it they added, the difmiffions of
il-ord Northumberland and Mr. Fox, who had been created
Lord Hollanb. As foon as thefe changes were made, Parlia-
iflient was prorogued.
The
<.
<
[ 283 ]
The Kins; confidered thefe three difmlfllonsj but mofl: parti- Chaptih
'^ . . . ^ XXVllI.
cularly the firft, as infults to his perfon and dignity. Whether " — r— >
the opinion was fpontaneoufly his own, or whether it was fug- '
gefted to him, is not deferving of an attempt to difcover. The
language of the Favourite upon this occafion was — What do
you mean to dejlroy the Monarchy ? — to atinihilate the Jirjl of the
three EJiate^?
In confequence of*thefe open and avowed afls of hoftilitv to Ti,t King fend.
. , . ■'tor Mr. Pitt.
the Favourite, a refolution was taken to open another negotia-
tion with Mr. Pitt. Lord Bute and the Duke having: both
failed, the King himfelf undertook this negotiation. His Ma-
jefty fent for Mr. Pitt. He waited upon the King at the
Queen's Houfe, on the twentieth day of June, 1765. The con-
fequence of this audience was, tlie fendinc; for Lord Temple Lnrd Tompi*
'■ " ' Cent tor.
And on the 25th they waited on his Majefty together, at the
Queen's Houfe ; when the following conditions were pronofed
to them.
1. Mr. Stuart Mackenzie to be reftored.
2. Lord Northumberland to be Lord Chamberlain.
3. The King's Friends to continue in their prefent fituations*.
To the two firft conditions Mr. Pitt v^^as not very averfe. Thtyrefufcthe
^ King's oft'ers.
Refpe<5ting the laft, he wiQied for fome explanation. But Lord
* There were about thirty perfons, wlio arrog.mtly affumed this appellation.
They afFefted to belong to no Minifter' — to maintain no connei5lion — to court
no intereft-— to embrace no principle— to hold no opinion. They mi^ht
more properly have been called the Houfehold Troops, or Janizaries of the
Court ; becaufe they lupportcd, or oppofcd, the Official Miniilejs, according to
the orders they received from the f^avouritc.
Oo 2 Tkmplf.
Charter Temple declared againft the whole. Upon which the confe-
XXVIiI.
<. — ^ — ' rence ended. Here it is proper to obferve, that upon more
^^ '" mature confideration Mr. Pitt's changed his fentiments on tlie
two firfl conditions, and perfetlly agreed with his brother.
obfervation. xjie rcadcr's judgment will anticipate any obfervations which
can be made on thefe extraordinary occurrences -, refpefting,
either the humiliation of the King, who defcended from his
ftation to execute the projecl of his favourite 3 or the fuperio-
rity of Mr. Pitt, who refifted the entreaties of his Sovereign,
when incompatible with the fervice of the public. Thefe pro-
minent features, are fo obvious from the plain ftatement of the
fafts, that no reader can feel the want of illuftration. The
future hiflorian may indulge in obfervations and inferences,
which the prefent writer dare not. And Truth may find an
advocate in a future age, which the venality of the prefent
refufes to endure.
The Kind's negotiation having failed, the Duke of Cumber-
TheDuke forms O O o
inewMiniftry. ^^j^jj vvas again applied to. His Majefty having refolved to
part with his prefent fervants at any rate*, his Royal Highnefs
had
* It has been flated, that this rsfolution was taken in confequence of fonie
expreffions, which had fallen from the Duke of Bedford in his Majefty's
clofet. One writer fays, " The Duke of Bedford continuing in fuch a
behaviour as no private man could have fuflered in any one of his inferiors,
produced an inftantaneous determination to get rid of fuch provocations at any
rate." Principles of the Changes in 1765, page 45.
Another, and more popular writer, fays, " The Miniftry having endeavoured
to exclude the Dowager out of the Regency Bill, the Earl of Bute determined
to difmifs them. Upon this, the Duke of Bedford demanded an audience of
the , reproached him in plain terms with duplicity, bafenefs, falfe-
hood, treachery and hypocrify,. repeatedly gave him the lye, and left
him
1765
[ 285 J
had full power to form an adminiftration. The Duke of New- ^-^xViiT
CASTLE, the Marquis of Rockingham, and their friends,
thought it their duty to accept of his Royal Highnefs's invita-
tion. General Conway was made Secretary of State, and to
him was committed the management of the Houfe of Com-
mons.
him in convulfions." 'Junius' s Letters, the author'' s own edition, printed by JVaod-
fall, volume I, page 171. the note.
And with refpeft to the particular difmiflion of Mr. Grenville, another
writer has given the following anecdote. — " He had been fo completely duped,
that for fome da"ys after his difmifTion, he had the vanity to believe the Court
retained a partiality for him ;— but when he faw, that Mr. Charles Jenkin-
sON, whom he knew was the confidant of Lord Bute, and whom he had
carried to the Duke of Newcastle, and for whom he had obtained a penfion,
for writing a pamphlet on the feizure of the Dutch veffels in 1757, and who .
for that, and other obligations, he thought would have followed him out of
Court— —when he difcovered that Mr. Jenkinson flayed behind, and that
his credit was not diminiflied at either Carlton Houfe or Buckingham Houfe,
he then faw, what all the world knew before, that he had been the dupe of Lord
'BvTE'i agent— ^ — that the very man, who owed his original recommendation to
him, was the very man who had betrayed him. Perhaps no gentleman ever
felt the poignant fling of ingratitude fo keenly as Mr. Grenville did upon
'hat occafion." Failion Unmajk^d,p. 19.
CHAP.
[ 286 ]
New Miniftry
CHAP. XXIX.
New Miniftry blamed for accepting'— ^Lord Bute's infuetice not
diminified — Their Apology — Mr. Pitfs Speech agaimt the
American Stamp AB — He compliments Mr. Burke.
R. PITT did not entirely approve of the new Miniftry's
acceptance. And Lord Temple condemned them in
terms of acrimony : he faid, if they had followed the example
blamed for ^c- j^f jyjj.^ PiTT and hlmfclf, in refufins; the allurements of office,
the Favourite mufl have fubmitted to fuch conditions, as it
rnight have been thought neceflary to impofe upon him j
which certainly would have been, an abfolute and total ex-
elufion of him and his friends, from every fituation and
channel of fecret communication with the Sovereign : there
muft have been an end of all thofe unhappy fuggeftions, which
had already diftrafled the kingdom, and menaced the pervafion
of further misfortunes. This might be called violent language,
but it was founded in truth and experience} and although the
, , new Miniftry were not under the influence of the Favourite,
Lord Bute's ■^
yet his influence was not diminiflied ; it might, perhaps, be faid
to fuff'cr a temporary abatement^ or rather it was his own policy
to fufpend the exercife of it, until a more fuitable opportunity
occurred for making another difplay of his power and verfatility.
inflvience not
diminlfted.
Thcit apology.
The new Miniftry had this apology fairly to offer. — Out of
office they were inadequate to the performance of any fervice to
their country ; but in office they might accomplifli fomething,
though
«
t
t
[ 287 ]
Ghapte*
XXIX.
though perhaps not fo much as they wifhed ; and undoubtedly
they fliould prevent any encreafe, or aggravation of the public
difcontents. — Thefe motives were laudable. — Gradatim was ^' ^
Mr. Pitt's own word, in a former day. — They might reafon
juftly, that in the prefent unhappy partiality of the King, the
Conftitutional exercife of the powers of Government were to
be obtained by degrees, not by hazarding a violent convulfion of
the State ; to which point fome.of them feai:ed Lord Temple's
inflexibility might pofTibly extend.
When the nev/ Minifters entered their offices, they found that
many of their former fubalterns, were either dead, fequeftered
in retirement, or allied to the enemy : even the firft Lord of the
Treafury was at a lofs for a private Secretary of competent ta-
lents. An accomplifhed Commis is an ineftimable chara6ter.
Mr, FiTZHERBERT, of Tiffington in Derbyfliire, a gentleman
of unexampled philanthropy, and moft gentle manners, whofe
ambition was benevolence, and whole happinefs confifted in the
adminiftration of kindnefs, recommended to his Lordfliip Mr.
Edmund Burke. The Britifh dominions did not furnifli a more
able and fit perfon, for that confidential important fituation.
He is " the only man, fince the age of Cicero, who has united the
talents of fpeaking and writing, with iirefiftible force and ele-
gance." At the fame time, his coufin, Mr. Wm. Burke, of
, equal diligence, penetration and integrity, was made Secretary
to General Conway. There was no private interefl: courted or
gratified by thefe appointments. The merit of the perfons was
.their principal recommendation.
.Parliament
Stims Ad.
[ 288 ]
Chapter Parliament met on the feventeenth of December, in order to
(^^[^l_, iflue writs for the vacancies, which had been made by the change
'''^5- of the Miniftry, and then adjourned to the fourteenth of Ja-
1766. nuary 1766, for the difpatch of bufinefs. On this day the
feffion was opened with a fpeech from the throne. On the ufual
motion for an addrefs, the friends of the new Miniftry fpoke
very tenderly of the difturbances raifed in America, in oppofi-
tion to the Stamp A6t, terming them only occurrences ; which
gave great offence to the friends of the late Minifty, by whom
that a(5l had been pafled.
Mr. Pitt's Mr, Pitt was impatient to fpeak on this fiibjeft : therefore he rofe in
the" mmcan thc early part of the debate. He began with faying, I came to town
but to-day ; I was a ftranger to the tenor of his Majefty's fpeech, and
the propofed addrefs, till I heard them read in this Houfe. Unconneded
and unconfulted, I have not the means of information ; I am fearful of
offending through miftake, and therefore beg to be indulged with a fe-
cond reading of the propofed addrefs. The addrefs being read, Mr.
Pitt went on: He commended the King's fpeech, approved of the
addrefs in anfwer, as it decided nothing, every gentleman being left at
perfeft liberty to take fuch a part concerning America, as he might af-
terwards fee fir. One word only he could not approve of, an early, is a
word that does not belong to the notice the Miniftry have given to Par-
liament of the troubles in America. In a matter of fuch importance,
the communication ought to have been immediate : I fpeak not with re-
fpeft to parties ; I ftand up in this place fingle and unconnecfted. As to
the late Miniftry, (turning himfelf to Mr. Grenville, who fat within
one of him) every capital meafure they have taken, has been entirely
wrong!
As to the prefent gentlemen, to thofe at leaft whom I have in my eye
(looking at the bench, where Mr. Conway fat, with the Lords of the
Treafury), I have no objeftion ; I have never been made a facrifice by
any of them. Their charaders are fairi and I am always glad when
men
[ 289 ]
men of fair cliara<5ter engage in his Majesty's fervice. Some of them Chapter
have done me the honour to aik my opinion, before they would en- . _ V,
gage. Thefe will do me thejullice to own, I advifed them to en- 1766.
gage ; but notwlthftanding — I love to be explicit — I canjiot give them
my confidence; pardon me, gentlemen, (bowing to the Miniftry)
xorifidence is a plant of flow growth in an aged bofom : youth is the
feafon of credulity ; by comparing events with each other, reafoning
from effects to caufes, methinks, I plainly difcover the traces of an
over-ruling influence. >
There is a claufe in the aft of fettlement, to oblige every Minifter
to fign his name to the advice which he gives his Sovereign. Woukl
it were obferved ! — 1 have had the honour to ferve the Crown, and if
I could have fubmitted to influence, I might have ftill continued to
ferve ; but I would not be rcfponlible for others. 1 have no local
attachments ; it is indifferent to me, whether a man was rocked in his
cradle on this fide or that fide of the Tweed. I fought for merit
wherever it was to be found. It is my boafh, that I was the firft Mi-
nifter who looked for it, and I foinid it in the mountains of the North,
r called it forth, and drew it into your fervice, an hardy and intrepid
race of men ! men, who, when left by your jealoufy, became a prey
to the artifices of your enemies, and had gone nigh to have overturned
the State in the war before the lafl. Thefe men, in the laft war, were
brought to combat on your fide : they ferved with fidelity, as they
fought with valour, and conquered for you in every part of the world :
detefled be the national refleftions againft them ! they are unjuft,
groundlefs, illiberal, unmanly. When I ceafed to ferve his Majefty
as a Minifter, it was not the country of the man by which I was moved
— but the man of that country wanted zvifdom, and held principles in-
compatible \v\x.\\ freedom.
It is a long time, Mr. Speaker, fince I have attended in Par-
liament. When the refolution was taken in the Houfe to tax Ame-
rica, I was ill in bed. If I could have endured to have been car-
ried in my bed, fo great was the agitation of my mind for the confe-
quences ! I would have folicited fome kind hand to have laid me
down on this floor, to have borne my teftimony againft it. It is now
Vol. I. Pp an
[ 290 ]
CiiA^TPR an aift that had paffed — 1 would fpeak with decency of every ad of
,___^^___^ this HouC^, but I miift beg the indulgence of the Houfe to fpcak of
1766. it with freedom.
I hope a day may be foon appointed to confider the ftate of the na-
tion with refpeft to America. — I hope, gentlemen will come to this
debate with all the temper and impartiality that his Majefty recom-
mends, and the importance ot the fubjeft requires. A fubjeft of
greater importance than ever engaged the attention of this Houfe !
that fubjeft only excepted, when, near a century ago, it was the quef-
tion, whether you yourfelves were to be bound or free. In the mean
time, as I cannot depend upon health for any future day, fuch is
the nature of my infirmities, I will beg to fay a few words at pre-
fent, leaving the juftice, the equity, the policy, the expediency of
the adt, to another time. I will only fpeak to one point, a point which
feeras not to have been generally underftobd — I mean to the right.
Some gentlemen (alluding to Mr. Nugent) feem to have confidered
it as a point of honour. If gentlemen confider it in that light, they
leave all meafures of right and wrong, to follow a dclufion that may
lead to deftruftion. It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right
to lay a tax upon the colonies. At the fame time, 1 affert the autho-
rity of this kingdom over the colonies, to be fovereign and fupreme,
in every circumftance of government and legiflation whatfoever.
They are the fubjefts of this kingdom, equally entitled with your-
felves to all the natural ri^,hts of mankind and the peculiar privileges
of Engliflimen. Equally bound by its laws, a- d equally participating of
the conftitution of this free country. The Americans are the fons,
not the baftards of England. Taxation is no part of the governing
or legiflative power. — The taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the
Commons alone. In legillation the three eftates of the realm are
alike concerned, but the concurrence of the Peers and the Crown to a
tax, is only neceffary to clofe with the form of a law. The gift and
grant is of the Commons alone. In ancient days, the Crown, the
Barons, and the Clergy pofleffed the lands. In thofedays, the Barons
and the Clergy gave and granted to the Crown. They gave and
granted what was their own. At prefent, fince the difcovery of
America,
[ 291 ]
America, and other circumftances permittinpr, the Commons are be- Chaptcii
come the proprietors of the land. The Crown has diverted itlelf of ^^1^ ,
its great eftates. The Church (God blefs it) has but a pittance. The 1766.
property of the Lords, compared with that of the Commons, Is as a
drop of water in the ocean : and this Houfe reprefents thofe Com-
mons, the proprietors of the lands ; and thofe proprietors virtually
reprefent the reft of the inhabitants. When, therefore, in this Houfe
we give and grant, we give and grant what is our own. But in an
American tax, what do we do ? We, your Majefty's Commons of
Great Britain give and grant to your Majefty, what ? Our own pro-
perty ? — No. We give and grant to your Majefty, the property of
your Majefty's Commons of America. — It is an abfurdity in terms.
The diftinftion between legiflation and taxation is eflentially necef-
fary to liberty. The Crown, the Peers, are equally legiflative powers
with the Commons. If taxation be a part of fimple legiflation, the
Crown, the Peers have rights in taxation as well as yourfelves : rights
which they claim, which they will exercife, whenever the principle
can be fupported by pozver.
There is an idea in fome, that the colonies are virtually reprefented
in this Houfe. I would fl^in know by whom an American is repre-
fented here ? Is he reprefented by any Knight of the fhire, in any
coimty in this kingdom ? Would tu God thai refpetlable reprefentatiun was
augmented to a greater number ! Or will you tell him that he is repre-
fented by any reprefentative of a borough — a borough, which perhaps
no man ever faw — This is what is czXltd, the rotten part of the ConJiituiioH.
It cannot continue a century — If it does not drop, it muft be am-
pututed. — The idea of a virtual reprefentation of America in this
Houfe, is the moft contemptible idea that ever entered into the head
of a man — It does not deferve a ferious refutation.
The Commons of America, reprefented in their feveral aflemblies,
have ever been in pofleffion of the exercife of this, their conftitu-
tional right, of giving and granting their own money. They would
have been flaves if the had not enjoyed it. At the fame time, this
kingdom, as the fupreme governing and legiflative power, has always
bound the colonies by her laws, by her regulations, and reftrid,ions in
P p 1 trade.
[ 292 ]
CnAPTFR trade, in navigation, in manufactures — in every thing, except that of
'^'^'^- taking their money otit of their pockets without their confent.
1766. Here I woukl draw the line,
' ^^uim ultra critraque iiequii confijlere reSlum.'
He concluded with a familiar voice and tone, but (o low that it
was not eafy to diftinguiih what he faid. A confiderable pauie enfued
after Mr. Pirr had done fpeaklng.
Mr. coiiway. Mr. CoNWAY at length got up. He faid, he had been waiting to
fee v/hether any anfwer would be given to what had been advanced by
the Right' Honovu-able Gentleman, relerving himfelf for the reply :
but as none had been given, he had only to declare, that his own
fenriments were entirely conformable to thofe of the Right Honour-
able Gentleman — That they are fo co'formable, he laid, is a circum-
ftance that afFefts me with the mod fenfible pleafure, and does me the
greateft honour. But two things fell from that Gentleman, which
give me pain, as, whatever falls from that Gentleman, falls from fo
great a height as to make a deep impreffion. — I muft endeavour to re-
move it. — It was objefted, that the notice given to Parliament of the
troubles in America was not early. I can affure the Houfe, the firft
accounts were too vague and imperfeft to be worth the notice of Par-
liament. It is only of late that they have been precife and full. An
over-ruling influence has alfo been hinted at. I fee nothing of it—
I feel nothing of it — I difclaini it for myfelf, and (as far as my dif-
cernment can reach) for all the reft of his Majefty's Minifters.
Mr. Pitt. Mr. Pitt faid in anfvver to Mr. Conway, The excufe is a valid
one, if it is a juft one. That muft appear from the papers now before
the Houfe.
Mr. Crenviiie. - Mr. Grenville Hcxt ftood up. He began with cenfuring the Mi-
niftry very feverely, for delaying to give earlier notice to Parliament
of the difturbances in America. He faid. They began in July, and
now we are in the middle of January ; lately they were only occur-
rences, they are now grown to difturbances, to tumults and riots. I
doubt they border on open rebellion ; and if the doftrine I have
heard this day be confirmed, I fear they will lofe that name to take
that of revolution. The government over them being diflblved, a
revolution
\
[ 293 3
revolution will take place in America. I cannot underftand the dif- Chapter
. • xxrx.
ference between external and internal taxes. They are the fame in ^ '_f
effect, and only differ in name. That this kingdom has thefovereign, 1766.
the fupreme legiflative power over America, is granted. It cannot be
denied ; and taxation is a part of that fovereign power. It is one
branch of the legiilation. It is, it has been exercifed, over thofe who
are not, who were never reprefcnted. It is exercifed over the India
Company, the merchants of London, the proprietors of the Stocks,
and over many great manufafturing towns. It was exercifed over the
palatinate of Chefler, and the Biflioprick of Durham, before they fent
any reprefentatives to Parliament. I appeal for proof to the preambles
of the A6ts which gave them reprefentatives : the one in the reign of
Hekry VIII. the other in that of Charles II.. Mr. Grenville
then quoted the A6ts, and defired that they might be read ; which
being done, he faid : When I propofed to tax America, I afked the
Houfe, if any Gentleman would objeft to the right ; I repeatedly
alked it, and no man would attempt to deny it. Proteftion and obe-
dience are reciprocal. Great Britain protefts America ; America is
bound to yield obedience. If not, tell me where the Americans
were emancipated ? When they want the protcftion of this kingdom,
they are always very ready to afk it.. That protcdion has always been
afforded them in the moft full and ample manner. The nation has run,
itfelf into an immenfe debt to give them their proteftion ; and now they
called upon to contribute a fmall Iliare towards the public expence,
an expence arifing from themfelves, they renounce your authority, in-
fult your officers, and break out, I might almoft fay, into open rebel-
lion. The feditious fpirit of the colonies owes its birth to the faftions
in this Houfe. Gentlemen are carelefs of the confequences of what they
fay, provided it anfwers the purpofes of oppofition. We were told we
trod on tender ground : we were bid to expect difobedience. What
was this, but telling the Americans to ftand out againfl the law to en-
courage their obftinacy with the expeftaiion of fupport from hence ?
Let us only hold out a little, they would fay, our friends will foon be
in power. Ungrateful people of America ! Bounties have been ex.
tended to them. When I had the honour of ferving the Crown
while you yourfelves were loaded with an enormous debt, you have
givea.
[ 294 ]
CHAPTfR o;iven bounties on their lumber, on their iron, their hemp, and
XXiX. ■ .
^ '^'^ many other articles. You have relaxed, in their favour, the adl
176:. of navigation, that palladium of the Britifli commerce; and yet
I have been abufed in all the public papers as an enemy to the
trade of America. I have been particularly charged with giving or-
ders and inflructions to prevent the Spanifh trade, and thereby flopping
the channel, by which alone North America ufed to be fupplied with
cafli for remittances to this country. I defy any man to produce any
fuch orders or inflruclions. I difcouraged no trade but what was
illicit, what was prohibited by an aft of Parliament. I defirp a Weft
India merchant, well known in the city (Mr. Long) a gentleman of
character, may be examined. He will tell you, that I offered to do
every thing in my power to advance the trade of America. I was
above giving an anfwer to anonymous calumnies ; but in this place, ic
becomes one to wipe off tne alperfion.
Here Mr. Grenville ceafed. Several Members got up to fpeak,
but Mr. Pitt feeming to rife, the Houfe was fo clamorous for Mr.
Pitt, Mr. Pitt, that the Speaker was obliged to call to order.
After obtaining a little quiet, he faid, Mr. Pitt was up ; who be-
gan with informing the Houfe, That he did not mean to have, gone
any further upon the fubjed that day ; chat he had only defigncd to
have thrown out a few hints, which, Gentlemen, who were fo confi-
dent of the right of this kingdom to fend taxes to America, might
confider; might, perhaps, refled:, in a cooler moment, that the right
was at lead equivocal. But fmce the Gentlemen, who fpoke laft, had
not flopped on that ground, but had gone into the whole ; into the
juflice, the equity, the policy, the expediency of the Stamp Aft, as
well as into the right, he would follow him through the whole field,
and combat his arguments on every point.
He was going on, when Lord Strange got up, and called both
Gentlemen, Mr. Pitt and Mr. Grenville, to order. He faid, they
had both departed from the matter before the Houfe, which was the
King's fpeech; and that Mr. Pitt was going to fpeak twice on the
fame debate, although the Houfe was not in a Committee.
Mr. George Onslow anfwered, That they were both in order, as
nothing had been faid, but what was fairly dcducible from the King's
fpeech :
Mr. Pitt
Lord Strange-
Mr. OnHovir.
[ 295 J
fpeech; and appealed to the Speaker. The Speaker decided In Mr. Chaptkr
O, f. XXlA.
NSLOW s ravovir. ■_ ^ . j
Mr. Pitt faid, I do not apprehend I am fpeaking twice : I did ex- 1766.
prcfsly referve a part of my fubjea, in order to fave the time of this Mr. Pitt.
Houfe, but I am compelled to proceed in it. I do not fpeak twice ;
I only finiflied what I defignedly left imperfea. But if the Houle is
of a different opinion, far be it from me to indulge a wifli of tranf-
greffion, againll order. I am content, if it be your pleafure, to be
filent. — Here he paufed — The Houfe refounding with Go on, go on :
he proceeded :
Gentlemen, Sir, (to the Speaker) I have been charged with giving
birth to fedition in America. They have fpoken their fentiments
with freedom, againft tlris unhappy aft, and that freedom has become
their crime. Sorry I am to hear the liberty of fpeech in this Houfe,
imputed as a crime. But the imputation fliall not difcourage me. It
is a liberty I mean to exercife. No gentleman ought to be afraid to
exercife it. It is a liberty by which the gentleman who calumniates
it mio-ht have profited. He ought to have dehfted from his projcd-..
The Gentleman tells us, America is obftinate ; America is almoft in
openrebellion. I rejoice, that America has refilled. Three millions
of people, fo dead to all the feelings of liberty, as voluntarily to fub-
mit to be flaves, would have been fit inftruments to make flaves of the
reft. 1 come not here armed at all points, with law cafes and ads of
Parliament, with the ftatute book doubled down in dog's-ears, to
defend the caufe of liberty : if I had, T myfelf would have cited
the two cafes of Chefter and Durham. 1 would have cited them,
to have Ihewn, that, even under any arbitrary reigns, Parliaments
were afliamed of taxing a people without their confent, and allowed
them reprefentatives. Why did the Gentleman confine himfelf to
Chefter and Durham ? He might have taken a higher example in
Wales ; Wales that never was taxed by Parliament, till it was incorpo-
rated. I wovild not debate a particular point of law with the Gentleman:
I know his abilities. I have been obliged to his diligent refearches.
But, for the defence of liberty upon a general principle, upon a confti-
tutional principle, it is a ground on which I ftand firm ; on which I
dare meet any man. The Gentleman tells us of many who are taxed,
and
[ 296 ]
Chapter andarenot reprefeiited — The IndiaCompany, merchants, (lock-holders,
•^^''^' manutaclurers. Surely many of thefe arc reprefented on other capa-
1766. cities, as owners of land, or as freemen of boroughs. It is a misfor-
tune that more are not actually reprefented. But they are all inhabi-
tants, and as fuch, are not virtually reprefented. Many have it in their
option to be actually reprefented. They have connexions with thofe that
eleft, and they have influence over them. The Gentleman mentioned
the flock-holders : I hope he does not reckon the debts of the nation
as a part of the national ellate. Since the accelTion of King Wil-
liam, many Miniflers, feme of great, others of more moderate
abilities, have taken the lead of Government.
He then went through the lift of them, bringing it down till he
came to himfelf, giving a Ihort fketch of the chara6lers of each of
them. None of thefe, he foid, thought, or ever dreamed, of robbing
the colonies of their conftitutional rights. That was referved to mark
the sra of the late Adminiftration : not that there were wanting fome,
when I had the honour to ferve his Majefty, to propofe to me to burn
my fingers with an American Stamp A6t. With the enemy at then
back, with our bayonets at their breafts, in the day of their diilrefs,
perhaps, the Americans would have fubmitted to the impofition ;
but it would have been taking an ungenerous, and unjud advan-
taee. The Gentleman boafts of his bounties to America ! Are
not thofe bounties intended finally for the benefit of this kingdom ?
If they are not, he has mifapplied the national treafures. I am
no courtier of America, — I ftand up for this kingdom. I mam-
tain, that the Parliament has a right to bind, to reftrain Ame-
rica. Our legiflative power over the colonies, is fovereign and
fupreme. When it ceafes to be fovereign and fupreme, I would-advife
every Gentleman to fell his lands, if he can, and embark for that
country. When two countries are connefted together, like England
and her colonies, without being incorporated, the one mufl: neceffarily
govern ; the greater mufl rule the lefs ; but fo rule it, as not to con-
tradidt the fundamental principles that are common to both.
If the Gentleman does not underftand the difference between in-
ternal and external taxes, I cannot help it; but there is a plain
diftindtion
«
t
[ 297 ]
diftinftion between taxes levied for the purpofes of raifing a revenue, Chapteb
and duties impofed for the regulation of trade, for the accommoda- ._ '.' _'^
tion of the fubjeft ; although, in the confequences, fome revenue 1766.
might incidentally arife from the latter.
The Gentleman afks, when were the colonies emancipated * But
I defire to know, when they were made ilaves ? But I dwell not upon
words. When 1 had the honour of ferving his Majefty, I availed my-
felf of the means of information, which I derived from my office :
I fpeak, therefore from knowledge. My materials were good. I was
at pains to colleft, to digeft, to confider them ; and I will be bold to
affirm, that the profits to Great Britain from the trade of the colonies,
through all its branches, is two millions a year. This is the fund that
carried you triumphantly through the laft war. The eftates that were
rented at two thoufand pounds a year, threefcore years ago, are at
three thoufand pounds at prefent. Thofe eftates fold then from fif-
teen to eighteen years purchafe ; the fame may now fold be for thirty.
You owe this to America. This is the price America pays you for her
protedlion. And fliall a miferable financier come with a boaft, that
he can fetch a pepper-corn into the Exchequer, to the lofs of millions
to the nation ! I dare not fay, how much higher thefe profits may be
augmented. Omitting the immenfe increafe of people by natural po-
pulation, in the northern colonies, and the migration from every part
of Europe, I am convinced the commercial fyftem of America may be
altered to advantage. You have prohibited, where you ought to have
encouraged ; and you have encouraged where you ought to have
prohibited. Improper reftraints have been laid on the continent, in
favour ot the iflands. You have but two nations to trade with in
America. Would you had twenty ! Let afls of Parliament in confe-
quence of treaties remain, but let not an Englifli Minifter become a
Cuftom-houfe officer for Spain, or for any foreign power. Much
is wrong, much may be amended for the general good of the whole.
Does the Gentleman complain he has been mifreprefented in the
public prints ? It is a common misfortune. In the Spanilh affair of
the laft war, I was abufed in all the news-papers, for having advifed
his Majefty to violate the law of nations with regard to Spain. The
abufe was induftrioully circulated even in hand-bills. If adminiftra-
Vol. I. Qji tion
[ 298 J
Chapter tion did not propagate the abufe, cdminijlrauon never contrad'iSled it. I
VYIV. .. , ...
A>MA^ Will not fay what advice I did give to the King. My advice is in
1766. writing, (igned by myfelf, in the poffeffion of the Crown. But I will
fay, what advice 1 did not give to the King : I did not advife him
to violate any of the laws of nations.
As to the report of the Gentleman's preventing in fome way the
trade for bullion with the Spaniards, it was fpoken of fo confidently,
that Lown I am one of thofe who did believe it to be true.
The Gentleman muft not wonder he was not contradifted, when, as
the Minifter, he aflerted the right of Parliament to tax America. I
know not how it is, but there is a modefty in this Houfe, which does
not chufe to contradict a Minifter. I wi(h Gentlemen would get the
better of this modefty. Even that Chair, Sir, fometimes looks to-
wards St. James's. If they do not, perhaps, the colleftive body may
begin to abate of its refpedl for the reprefentative. Lord Bacon had
told me, that a great queftion would not fail of being agitated at one
time or another. I was willing to agitate that at the proper feafon, the
German war : my German war, they called it. Every feflions I called
out, has any body any objeftions to the German war ? No body would
obje<fl to it, one Gentleman only excepted, fince removed to the upper
Houfe, by fivcceffion to an ancient barony, (meaning Lord Le De-
SPEKCER, forrnerly Sir Francis Dashwood ;) he told me, " he did
not like a German war." I honoured the man for it, and was forry
when he was turned out of his poft.
A great deal has been faid without doors, of the power, of the
ftrength of America. It is a topic that ought to be cautioufly meddled
with. In a good caufe, on a found bottom, the force of this country
can crulh America to atoms. I know the valour of your troops. I
know the fkill of your officers. There is not a company of foot that
has ferved in America, out of which you may not pick a man of fuffi-
cieht knowledge and experience, to make a Governor of a colony there.
But on this ground, on the Stamp Aft, when fo many here will think
it a crying injuftice, lam one who will lift up my hands againftit.
In fuch a caufe, your fuccefs would be hazardous. America, if fhe
fell, would fall like the ftrong man. She would embrace the pillars
of the State, and pull down the Conftitution along with her. Is this
' your
[ 299 ]
your boafted peace? Not to fheath the fword in its fcabbard, but to Chapter
xxrx
fheath it in the bowels of your countrymen ? Will you quarrel with ^ 'j
yourfelves, now the whole Houfe of Bourbon is united againft you ? 17^^-
While France difturbs your filheries in Newfoundland, embarraHes
yourflave trade to Africa, and with-holds from yourfubjedls inCanada,
their property ftipulated by treaty ; while the ranfoni for Manillas
is denied by Spain, and its gallant conqueror baftly traduced into a
mean plunderer, a gentleman, (Colonel Draper) whofe noble and
generous fpirit would do honour to the proudeft grandee of the coun-
try. The Americans have not afted in all things with prudence and
temper. The Americans have been wronged. They have been
driven to madnefs by injuftice. Will you punifh them for the mad-
nefs you have occafioned ? Rather let prudence and temper co.re firfl; '^
from this fide. I will undertake for America, that (he will follow the
example. There are two lines in a ballad of Prior's, of a man's be.
hayiour to his wife, fo applicable to you and your colonies, that I caa-
not help repeating them :
Be to her faults a little blind:
Be to her virtues very kind.
Upon the whole, I will beg leave to tell the Houfe what is really my
opinion.^ It is, that the Stamp Aft be repealed ahfolntely, totally, and
immediately. That the reafon for the repeal be affigned, becaufe it
viras founded on an erroneous principle. At the fame time, let the
fovereign authority of this country over the colonies, be afferted in as
ftrong terms as can be devifed, and be made to extend to every point
of legiflation whatfoever. That we may bind their trade, confine their
manufaSlures, and exercife every power whatfoever, except that of tak-
ing their money out of their pockets without their confent !
In the coufe of this debate, Mr. Burke made his firfl: fpeech Hecomi>iiment5
*^ Mr. Butke.
in Parhament. Mr. Pitt complimented him upon it, in terms
peculiarly flattering to a young man.
Qjl 2 CHAP.
[ 3°° 3
Chapter
XXX.
t- ir— ^
1766.
Lord Bute re-
folves
the M
CHAP. XXX.
Lord Bute refohes to chajige the Minifiry again — Difregards the
Duke of Bedford — T'ries to gain Lord 'Temple — Meeting at
Lord Lglintoim s—Amufes Lord Tejnple — Lord Strange' s ajjcr-
tion — Lord Rockingham s requejl — Affair of Dunkirk — Nego-
tiation with Mr. Wilkes — Propoftion for the Govermnent of
Canada— Difapproved by the Chancellor, who advifes the King
tofendjor Mr. Pitt.
BEFORE the meeting of Parliament, the new Miniftiy
having fliewn an inclination to leverfe the fyftem pur-
fued by their predecefTors, Lord Bcjte, who had been the author
inm/"^' of that fyftem, took a refolution to remove them. He was no
^""* longer terrified by the threats of impeachment. The Duke of
a'^^^Be'dford. Bedford had connived fo long, his Grace could not now bring
forward his menaced accufation, upon any ground or pretence
of public principle. He had moreover been recently ftigma-
tized by violent marks of popular odium*. His Grace was not
at this time, in the judgment of the Favourite, an obje6l of
either dread or refpe6l.
Tries to gain Lord Bute's Ettcution at this period, was directed to another
Lord Temple.
Nobleman. Since the reconcihation between Lord Temple
and his brother Mr. Grenville, there had commenced a cool-
Tiefs between his Lordfhip and Mr. Pitt, and between his
* By the Spitalfield weavers, who had affembled in great multitudes before
his houfe. Several partizaas of Lord Bute were feen amongfl them.
Lordfhip
301
Lordfhip and Mr. James Grenville. They imagined from ^^^^y"
feveral circumftances, that their brother had fupplanfed them
in his Lordfliip's favour and confidence. To diffolve all
great connexions had been Lord Bute's favourite maxim, from
the moment of his acceOion to power. Nothing, therefore,
could be more favourable to his projeft than this family divifion.
He refolved to feize the opportunity which this circumftance
feemed to offer. Accordingly, a few days after the meeting of
Parliament, when Mr. Pitt had given the decifion for the
repeal of the Stamp A61 (by the preceding fpeech) which Mr.
Grenville had oppofed, he folicited an interview with Lord
Temple and Mr. Grenville, for the purpofe of forming a
new Adminiflration. His firft application was to Lord
Eglintoun, between whom and Lord Temple, there fubfifted
a very warm friendfliip. Lord Eglintoun opened his com-
mifTion to Lord Temple at Lord Coventry's, where they EgUnwun-b.'"
dined on the firft Sunday after the meeting of Parliament. The
convei'fation began upon the affairs of America, in which the
three Lords agreed in opinion, that a repeal of the Stamp A6t
would be a furrender of the authority of the Britifli legiflature
over the Colonies. Lord Eglintoun finding that Lord
Temple was of their opinion, faid to his Lordfliip, " Let us
talk no more upon that fubje6l here, but let us go to your bro-
ther— Has your Lordfhip received no meffage from him ?" Lord
Temple faid he had not : and in a few minutes after they went
to Mr. Grenville's. This matter had been more explicitly
opened to Mr. Grenville, by Mr. Cadogan, now Lord Ca-
dogan, and Mr. Grenville had requefted Lord Suffolk to
acquaint the Duke of Bedford with it. Upon feeing his bro-
ther, he inftantly told him, without being afked a queftion, that
an
Chapter.
XXX.
1766.
302 ]
an opening had been made to him of an accommodation with
Lord Bute, and that he wanted to confult his Lordfliip upon
making the Duke of Bedford a patty to the affair." Lord
Temple repUed, " that he might do as he pleafed ; but, that
he, himfelf, would have no concern in the matter."
Another channel to Lord Temple was then purfued. This
was by Mr. W. G. Hamilton, who was in the moft confiden-
tial intimacy with his Lordfliip, and who from the time of the
reparation of Mr. James Grenville, was intended to be his
Chancellor of the Exchequer, if ever he accepted of the Treafury.
But Mr. Hamilton knowing his Lordfliip's temper and refo-
lution, with refpe6t to Lord Bute, did not warmly recommend
the propofition.
Next day (Monday) Lord Eglintoun went to Mr. Gren-
ville's, to defire him to meet Lord Bute at his houfej but
Mr. Grenville was gone to the Houfe of Commons j upon
which Lord Eglintoun went there to him ; but meeting with
Mr. Stuart Mackenzie, he incautioufly told him of the in-
tended meeting, and that Gentleman immediately informed
Lord Holland, who feeing Lord Bute a few moments after,
told his Lordfliip, " That he was going to do a very foolifli
thing; but as he had gone fo far he mufl: not fliopj but give
them the meeting, hear what they had to propofe, and then
leave them."
Lord Temple called upon his brother, juft: as he had re-
turned from the Houfe of Commons. In a minute or two
afterwards. Lord Eglintoun came in ; and being rejoiced to
fee his Lordfliip, begged he would fl:ay there ten minutes, while
he
<
«
[ 3^3 J
he went home. Lord Temple faid he could not flop fo long j Chaptbr
that he was going to the Houfe of Lords upon particular bull- « — r— »
nefs, and it was growing late. Lord Eglintoun then defired
he would flay only five minutes. This-was refufed : Laflly, he
requefted only three minutes ; and this was refufed alfo. But
in the expollulation it came out, that it was to meet Lord
Bute, whom Lord Eglintoun fuppofcd was, by this time,
waiting at his own houfe, and he wifhed to fetch him. At
length, prefFrng the matter very earneflly, Lord Temple an-
fwered, By G-d 1 will ftot — that was his exprefTion, and imme-
diately ftepped into his carriage.
The Duke of Bedford and Mr. Grenville met Lord Bute
at Lord Eglintoun's. The conference was very fhort. Lord
Bute followed Lord Holland's advice — he heard them— and
then left them. He afterwards faid to Lord Eglintoun, that
he did not meet the perfon he wanted to meet (Lord Temple),
but the perfon he did not want to meet (the Duke of Bedford).
Some time afterwards, Mr. Pitt mentioned this meeting in the
Houfe of Commons. Mr. Grenville did not deny it j but
faid, " That the fingle propofition made, or point fpoken of,
was relative to the befl means of preventing the intended repeal
of the Stamp Acl. No other fubjeit was mentioned." ■
Notwithflanding the ill fuccefs of this proje6l. Lord Bute Amufes Lord
found means through one of the Princefs's confidantes, to amufe
Lord Temple with afTurances, that a Carte-blanche would, in
a very little time, be offered to him: and this manoeuvre was
managed fo well, he was completely duped by it. He believed
the affurances for fome time. The defign was to engage him
warmly
[ 304 ]
Chapter Warmly in the oppofition to the repeal of the Stamp A(5t; and
\^-y-^ he fell into the fnare. Having implicitly adopted the Ameri-
''' ■ can politics of his brother, the American politics of the Court
became an eafy, and almoft a natural gradation.
During the progrefs, of the bill for the repeal of the Stamp
Aft, it was flrongly inQnuated in Parliament, that the bill was
very far from being agreeable to the King ; upon which Lord
RocKiNHAM afferted, that his Majefty's approbation of the
the meafure was clear and unequivocal. Next day, Lord
Lora strange-s Strange maintained the contrary — that his Maiefty highly
difapproved of the bill. Lord Rockingham was greatly fur-
prifed by this explicit declaration from Lord Strange ; and at
Lord Rocking- his ucxt audicuce of the King, he requefted the honour of his
ham'« requeft.
Majefty's opinion in v/riting; which the King refufed to give.
This circumftance was an indifputable proof, that notwith-
flanding the late negotiation had not fucceeded, yet his Ma-
jefty ftill withheld his confidence from his prefent fervants.
Another change of Minifters was doubtlefs in contemplation ;
although no frefh applications for that purpofe were yet made.
However unfortunate thefe Minifters might be in the clofet,
yet they rendered great and important fervices to the country.
Their proceedings and condu6l are well known ; they are to be
found in the public accounts of the time : but there is one
meafure of that Adminiftration, which has been very imper-
feftly ftated. It is concerning Dunkirk.
Dunkirk.
This point of frequent and anxious difcufllon, feems to have
been miftaken by the Britifh Minifters, prior and fubfequcnt to
Lord Rockingham. From the peace of Utrecht, in the year
<
[ 3^5 3
lyi^^to the month of September 1765, all our demands con- ^^JAfJ^*-
cerning the demolition of Dunkirk, have originated in a wrong
. 1 76
principle. We have infifted upon levelhng the ramparts, upon
filling up the cunette, &c. Thefe were immaterial points, to
which the French Court confented, after fome affe6led hefita-
tion. The fortifications on the land fide are of no confequence
to England. It was the harbour alone, that ought to have
engaged our attention. Lord Rockingham faw this mif-
take; in his Adminiftration only, was the demolition of the
harbour ferioufly attempted : and had he remained a little longer
in office, it muft have been accomplifhed. His demands were
diredled to the jettees, which protect the channel to the harbour,
and without which, the harbour becomes totally unferviceable.
Thefe jettees are two piers, which project about three quarters
of a mile from the harbour, into the fea j and are about twelve
feet high, from low-water mark : between them is the channel
into the harbour. His Lordfliip ordered a breach to be made in
the Eaftern jettee, near the middle, fufficient to admit the fea.
All Dunkirk was inftantly filled with alarm. They faw the
ruin of the harbour was inevitable. A few tides made the fa6l
clear. The fand was driven through the breach with fuch
aftonifliing velocity, it was fully manifefl-, the channel mufl be
entirely choaked in a few days more. Had this breach been
made larger, which was intended ; and^another made lower down,
towards the fea, which was alfo intended ; the harbour mult
have been fo efFe6tually rendered ufelefs, that nothing larger than
a row-boat, or a pilot, could have got into it. The French
immediately faw the efFe6l of this fmall breach, and inftantly
put a ftop to the progrefs of the workmen, The reader is to
Vol. I. R r obferve,
t 3o6 ]
Chapter obfcrve, that ill all the ftipulations our Court has made with
France, rcfpe^ling Dunkirk, a kind of childifti delufion has
conflantly been admitted— this was— -the French were to em-
ploy their own people to execute our demands, and we were to
fend our furveyors to examine and report the flate of their
operation. Our furveyors had no controul over the the work-
men : and if the French Governor at any time, chofe to put a
flop to their labour, we could not oblige them to refume their
work. The furveyors might return to England, and upon their
report, the Britilh Ambaflador at Paris was ufually inn:ru6led to-
remonftrate ; which commonly produced an evafive anfwer.
The furveyors have been fent back, and the fame farce has been,
played over again. In this manner have the negotiations con-
cerning Dunkirk, been continued, dropped, and revived, from the
year 1713. As a proof, that Lord Rockingham was right in^
this matter, we need only obferve, the conduft of the French,,
in this particular, fuice the treaty of 1782, by which we fur-
rendered all claim and concern whatever refpe6ling Dunkirk..
Inftead of repairing the fortifications, on the demolition of
which, we formerly fo ftrenuoully infifled, or opening the cu-
nette, or paying any regard whatever to the land fide, their
whole attention has been directed to widening, deepening, and en-
larging the harbour. They have made it capacious, safe, and
^ convenient. Thofe who think Dunkirk a place of no danger tO'
the commerce of London, may find their miftake in a future day.
During this Adminiftiation, Mr. Wilkes returned from
France to London ; and there was fome communication between
the Minifters and him. The following is Mr. Humphry
CoTEs's account of this affair; tranfcribed verbatim from his
own manufcript.
" Monday
«
[ 307 ]
*' Monday the 12th of May 1766, Mr. Wilkes arrived in Chapte*
town from France, with Mr. Macleane (formerly in partner- < — . — »
fliip with Mr. Stewart, in a druggift's flore at Philadelphia).
Negotiation
He was very intimate with Mr. Burke, through whofe intereft "'^J;^'-
he was made Governor of the ifland of St. Martin. Mr.
Wilkes had a lodging at Mr. Stewart's, in Holles-ftreet,
Cavendifli-fquare. Mr. Cotes did not know of his coming,
till he faw the account of his arrival in the Evening Poft of
Tuefday, at his houfe at Byfleet. He immediately came to
town, when he found a note from Mr. Wilkes, defiring to fee
him. He went immediately ; when Mr. Wilkes acquainted
him, that he was come to demand a performance of the re-
peated promifes of the Minifters ; which he had in writing, viz.
to give him a general pardon, five thoufand pounds in cafli, in
lieu of what he might receive from a fine from Lord Halifax,
and fifteen hundred pounds per annum, for thirty years, upon
Ireland. He faid he had feen feveral people from the Minifters,
and had great reafon to hope for faccefs. He faid, the people
he had converfed with from the MiniHers, expreflcd great
wrath againft Lord Temple, for his flrong oppofition to their
meafures ; that he had told them, he had very many and fingular
obligations to Lord Temple ; and if that was not the cafe, he
had fo great a regard for Lord Temple's public and private vir-
tues, that nothing under Heaven, fhould induce him to do any
tiling, that would give that noble Lord a moment's uneafinefs.
He defired me to communicate this to Lord Temple, and to
aflfure him of his bed refpe6ls ; and that he would have paid his
refpecls in perfon, but as he was in an interefling negotiation
with the prefent Minifters, he hoped his Lordftiip would excufe
him. I went immediately to Lord Temple's bed fide, and related
R r 2 the
1765.
[ 3oS J
Chapter the above to him. He feemed extremely well fatisfied with Mr..
XXX. ^
Wilkes's conduft, and wiihed moil heartily, that the Minifters
might be as good as their promifes. He defired me to convey
his kind compliments to Mr. Wilkes, and to aiTure him of his
friendfhip, and approbation of his condu6l upon tlie prefent
occafion : at the fame time he told me, that he was very certain
that Lord Rockingham had not the lead intention of ferving.
Mr. Wilkes, and feared they would deceive him.
" I faw Mr. Wilkes next morning, and found Mr. S.,
LuTTRELL * with him. I thought that a good omen for Mr.
Wilkes, as 1 knew Luttrell to be a friend of Lord Bute ;
and I knew, without that di6tator's eonfent or approbation,
nothing v/ould be done for my poor friend. However, I found,
afterwards, that Luttrell only came upon private bufinefs.
Mr. Wilkes was extremely well fatisfied with Lord Temple's
anfwer to him, but feemed to think he fliould fucceed with the
Miniilers. He continued in the fame fentiments all that week j
though I often told him, from the bed and mod authentic in-
formation, that I heard they never had fpoke to the King about
him, nor dared they do it. I went out of town, as ufual on
Saturday, and returned on Monday ; when I found my friend;
much lowered in his expectations ; but faid he fliould fee Mr.
FiTZHERBERT ncxt day, and hoped things would go better.
The next day he told me, he had got into a damn ci f crape, and:
believed he had been deceived, and that my information was
true, viz. that the Minifters did not intend doing any thing for
him : he faid Mr. Fitzherbert had alked him, in the name
of Lord Rockingham, for a carte blanche, to leave it to his
Lordfhip to do as he thought proper. To which Mr. Wilkes
* Afterwards Lord Carhampton-
anfwered,.
«
I 3®9 ]
anrwered, that he knew Mr. Fitzherbert to be a man of ho- Cn^AP^rr^
nour, and if the bufuiefs was to pafs between them, he fhould u-^
have no fort of objeclrion; but wiQied Mr. Fitzherbert to
recoUea, that he himfelf had told him the day before, that
Lord Rockingham had broke his word with him ten times,
and then wifhed Mr. Fitzherbert to declare, whether he
would tmft him?
» The next day (Wednefday), he feemed to have fome more
pleafing hopes, having feen Mr. Rose Fuller*, Mr. G.
Onslow, the late Speaker's fon, and Sir W. Baker. He then
told rac, that they had faid the King was poffeffed with a notion,
that the Minifters had fent for him, on purpofe to embarrafs his
affairs and that it would take time to difabufe the royal ear. I im-
mediately made enquiry after thetruthof this affertion, and found
ittotally void of truth, and that the name of Wilkes had never
reached the royal ear, by any of his Mimflers. Of this I m-
formed him.
<« I found this day 'I riday^ that they had prelTed him much-
to cro back to France, but that he had abfolutely refufed them j
and defired, I would get him a private lodging in Surrey, near
the Thames, to facilitate his efcape in cafe of necefTity. I went
next day to Mr. Johnathan Tyers, who very genteely offered
his houfe at Dorking, but that was thought to be too far off. I
went to Byfleet on Saturday, and left him to go on Sunday and
fee a houfe Mr. Tyers had provided for him. I offered him
* It is an interefting anecdote of this Gentleman, that he was violent in
Oppofifon to feveral Minifters ; particularly on all queftions concern.ngBr.-
rirHberty, and American policy ; and that when he d>ed a. the year 1777, |
Z difco^' red, he had received a penf.on from the Court for many years. H.
rrmt, and a;parent^al, induced every Oppofmon to admit h.n. mto the..
confidence. g^^^^^^
1766.
[ 310 ]
Chapter Byfleet, but he objecled that it would be too public, and tha,t it
A. .X. A
would be declaring againft the prefent Minifters, as they knew
my enmity to them.
" On my return on Tuefday, I found he had given over all
hopes of fuccefs from the Minifters, and defired I would fee
Philips fhis Solicitor), and Meflrs, Glynn and Dunning, to
confult what was proper to be done, previous to his furrender
on the Friday following, (the firil day of Term) as he was
firmly refolved to ftand all chances ; and faid he had told MelT.
Burke and Fitzherbert, tliat he had taken that refolution,
and that if they wanted to fee a fteadier man than him, they
muft go to Corfica to find one.
" I appointed Philips to meet at Mr. Wilkes's next day in
the evening, and we went to Serjeant Glynn's houfe in
Bloomfbury-fquare, who was fo obliging to accompany us to
Mr. Wilkes, and ftayed there the whole evening. Our dif-
courfe ran upon the means to be taken, either to appear per-
fonally, or by Attorney, to reverfe the outlawry ; but as the
Serjeant had not confidered of the matter, the confultation was
deferred until next morning, when Mr. Dunning was to meet.
" I found Sir W. Baker and Mr. Fitzherbert at Mr.
Wilkes's door next morning, going into Sir William's cha-
riot } who faid to me, " That he was going upon an embafly for
my friend within doors." I found Meflis. Glynn and Dun-
ning in the dining room with Mr. Wilkes and Philips, and
a good deal of difcourfe upon the proceedings, upon writs of
error, &c. pafled ; but Mr. Wilkes was defirous to fufpend any
refolution being taken, until the return of Sir W. Barer and
Mr.
/
4
«
[ 311 ]
Mr. Fitzherbetit, which happened in about two hours ; when Chapter
^ A A •
after a long converfation with them, and Lord Rockingham's
Secretary, Mr, Burke, who came with them, Mr. Wilkes came
up flairs and tald us, that as he could not reverfe his outlawry,
either, by error, or appearance, until November Term, and as he
did not chufe to furrender and lie in prifon all that time, he had
determined to go abroad again. He told me, that they had not
given him any money, nor would Lord R.ockingham make
him any promife , and that he had been forced to borrow one
hundred pounds of Mr. Fitzherbert, as a private friend.
He had received one hundred and thirty pounds before, from
the fubfcription of one thoufand pounds per annum, promifed.
by the Minilhy, of Mr. Fitzherbert: which made the
whole received of this boafted affair, fix hundred and thirty
pounds for the year 1765. Mr. Wilkes faid he would cer-
tainly come in Navember, and take his chance.
" Sir W. Baker afked Lord Rockingham what he intended
doing for Mr. Wilkes? l.ord Rockingham anfwered, Mr.
Wilkes muft truft to his honour. Sir W.Baker faid he would
certainly have no objedion to do that, but thought that fome-
thing fhould be mentioned of his intentions ; that if his Lordfliip
would givje his honour to intercede with the King for his par-
don, or do any thing elfe in his power for his fervice, he would
acquaint Mr. Wilkes, who would be fatisfied with refpedl to
time, &c. But as to trufting to his Lordfliip's honour at large,
he fhould conflrue that as a negle6l of Mr. Wilkes ; .and
fhould acquaint him, that he had nothing to expecfl from his
Lordfhip ; and that he fliould look upon this, as a flight of
himfelf. And defired that Mr. Burke might go with him
to Mr. Wilkes, to whom he delivered the above meHage."
When
1766.
\
\
[ 312 ]
Chapter When the pcace of the American Colonies liad been fettled,
XXX
L— ,^— L< the Miniflry took into confideration the State of Canada; for
'^ ■ which great province the late Minifters had provided no Coniti-
the Govern- tution. This dcfcdl they conceived it neceflary to fupply. And
ment ofCanada.
for this purpofe, they drew the outlines of a plan of Govern-
ment, preparatory to a bill. This plan, or principal features of
one, was fubmitted to the Chancellor (Lord North ington),
who fo far from approving of it, or offering to corre6l it, con-
Difapproved by dcmncd the whole meafurc, in the moft violent terms of indig-
nation and intemperance. It is to be obferved, that the Chan-
cellor had never been cordially their friend ; and he feemed
eagerly to feize this opportunity of exprefiing his diflike. His
manners were not of the mofl gentle kind, nor was his language
very polifhed, whenevei he indulged in his natural difpofition of
reproach ; harfii and bitter, vulgar and brutal, were epithets
frequently applied to him. And, perhaps, upon no event in his
life, they were more juftly merited than the prefent. He went
to the King, and complained to his Majefty of the unfitnefs of
his fervants : he told the King, in terms of the utmoft plainnefs.
King to fend for that thc prcfeut Mmiiiers could not go on, and that his Maielty
Mr. Pitt. '^ " ' ■'
muft fend for Mr. Pitt.
It is eafy to conceive, that this advice was agreeably received.
In confequence of it, his Majefty commiflioned the Chancellor
to confer with Mr. Pitt, on the fubjedt of a new arrange-
ment.
CHAP.
/
(
<
•
/,
[ 3'3 J
CHAP. XXXI.
Lord Northington opens his Negotiation with Mr. Pitt — Duke of
Grafton rejigns — Several Perfons refiife Places — An eighteen
days 'Journal — Mr. Pitt fees the King — Lord Temple Jent for,
and goes to the King — Conference between Mr. Pitt and Lord
Temple at Hampjlead — They differ and feparate — Lord Temple
has an audience of the King — Returns to Stowe — Mr. Pitt
created Earl of Chatham — His extraordinary Grants — Mr.
Townfhend Manager of the Houfe of Commons — Several Perfons
refufe Places— Lord Rockingham refufes to fee Lord Chatham —
Mr. Stuart Mackenzie reflored — Lord Chatham not united with
Lord Bute.
LORD NORTHINGTON opened his negotiation with Mr. chapter
Pitt, through the channels of the Duke of Grafton y^^^l' _f
and Mr. Calcraft. Mr. Pitt was at that time at his new '766.
eftate in Somerfetfliire j from which place he was fent for. He
arrived in London on the eleventh of July; and the fame
evening he had a conference with Lord Northington.
The Duke of Grafton had lately refis;ned his office of Se-
. ° . Duke of
cretary of State, and attached himfelf to Mr. Pitt: this °"»"w""''e"-'
attachment he had publicly avowed in the Houfe of Lords*.
* His Grace faid in the Houfe of Lords, " That he had no obje£lion to the
perfons, or to the meafures of the Minifters he had recently left ; but that he
thought they wanted ftrength and efficiency to carry on proper meafures with
fuccefs ; and that he knew but one man who could give them that ftrength and
folidlty (meaning Mr. Pitt) ; that under him, he ftiould be willing to ferve ia
any capacity, not only as a General Officer, but as a Pioneer, and would take
up a Spade and a Mattock."
Vol. I. S f When
r 3H ]
Chapter When it was indlfputably clear, that Lord Rockingham's Ad-
»— y— ^ mlniftration was not honoured by the countenance and fupport
of Mr. Pitt, not only the Duke of Grafton, but feveral
KfuT' ''"'^'"' other perfons* refufed to contribute their affiftance j from an
apprehenfion, that a new Adminiftration would in a fliort time
be appointed ; of which, each man flattered himfelf with be-
coming a part, under the idea of forming a more comprehenfive*
fyftem. Nobody doubted the honour and integrity of Lord
Rockingham : it was even admitted, that his Adminillration
had been regulated, and conducted on the pureft principles
of Patriotifm ; yet there was not virtue enough in the country
to fupport him.
Thofe who aflert, that Lord Bute was not confulted, nor
gave any advice upon this occafion, muft forget all the pre-
ceding fa6ls, fince the death of George the Second ; and muft
deny his no£Vurnal vifits, at this time to the King's mother at
fighteendays Carltou Houfc-f-. Lord NoRTH I NGTON did not indeed, begin
' his
* Lord Shelburne refufed the Board of Trade, and Col. Barre Vioc
Treafurer of Ireland.
His Lordfhip refufed alfo the Enibaffy to Paris.
Lord North refufed the Exchequer, alfo Vice Treafurer of Ireland.
Lord ToNNSHEND refufed to go to Paris or Madrid.
Lord Egmont refufed the Seals refigned by the Duke of Grafton.
Lord Hardwicke refufed them likewife.
Lord Lyttelton refufed a Cabinet fituation.
•^ An eighteen Days faithful Journal, ending a few Days previous to the Minifiry's
kijfing hands in 1766.
Tuefday, June 24, 1766. From Audley-flreet, the Favourite fet out about one
o'clock, in a pofl-coach and four, for Lord Lichfield's at Hampton Court,
and came home again at ten at night ; went out diredlly after in a chair to
Mifs
[ 315 }
his negotiation with Mr. Pitt, under the immediate and per- Chapter
fonal diredions of Lord Bute, but Lord Bute's influence per- C-S-^
vaded through a higher channel. ''^^'
Lord
Mifs Vansitt art's, maid of honour to the P. D. of W. in Sackville-ftreet •
ftaid there but a very little while, and then went to Carlton Houfe, and re-
turned home about twelve o'clock.
JVednefday 25. From Audley-flreet, the Favourite fet out in a chair, at half
paft fix in the evening, went into Sackville-ftreet, as before, flaid there till pail
ten, then went to Carlton Houfe, and returned home about twelve.
Thurfday 26. From ditto, the Favourite fet out at half paft fix in the evening
in a chair, went into Sackville-ftreet as before, ftaid there till ten, then went to
Carlton Hpufe, and came home at twelve.
Friday 27. At feven this morning the Favourite fet out from Audley-ftreet,
for his feat in Bedfordfhire.
Sunday 29. The Earl returned from Bedfordfliire this day to dinner ; fet out
as before at a quarter paft fix for Sackville-ftreet, ftaid there till about ten, then
went to Carlton Houfe, and came home at twelve.
Monday 30. From Audley-ftreet, the Favourite fet out in a chair a quarter
paft ftx, went into Sackville-ftreet, ftaid there till about ten, then went to Carl-
ton Houfe, and came home as ufual at twelve.
Tuefday, July I. From ditto, at half paft ftx in a chair to Sackville-ftreet,
ftaid there till ten, then to Carlton Houfe, and thence home at twelve.
Wednefday 2. From ditto, ditto, ditto, and ditto.
Thurfday 3. At fix this morning the Favourite fet out from Audley-ftreet for
his feat in Bedfordfhire.
Saturday 5. The Favourite returned to Audley-ftreet from ditto this day to
dinner ; at half paft fix went to Sackville-ftreet, ftaid there as ufual till about
ten, then to Carlton-houfe, and afterwards came home about twelve.
Sunday b. At half paft fix to Sackville-ftreet as ufual, about ten to Carlton
Houfe, and home at twelve as before.
Monday 7. At three quarters paft fix to Sackville-ftreet as ufual, about ten to
Carlton Houfe, and home at twelve.
Tuefday 8., At half paft fix to Sackville-ftreet, about ten to Carlton Houfe,
and home at twelve. «
JVednefday 9. At half paft fix to SackviUe-ftreet, about ten to Carlton Houfe,
and home at twelve.
Ss 3 Thurfday
\
\
Lord Temple
fent for.
[ 316 ]
Chapter Lord NoRTHiNGTON offered Mr. Pitt a Carte Blanche. AI-
XXXI>
<— v^-Ij though Mr. Pitt did not difpute his Lordfliip's authority or
''' ' veracity, in making this ofter, yet he wiQied to have it confirmed
Mr. Pitt fees bv thc Kinff. Mr. Pitt was incioduced to the King at Rich-
tlic King. JO o
mond. The conference was very (hort. His Majefty con-
firmed the offer made by his Chancellor ; and added, that he
had no terms to propofe — He put himfelf into his (Mr. Pitt's)
hands. This was on Saturday the 12th of July*, In the
evening Mr. Pitt had another conference with the Chancellor,
and afterwards with General Conway, with whom he fettled
the principal arrangements. Next day (Sunday) the Chancel-
lor, by his Majefly's command, fent for Lord Temple, who
was at Stowe, in Buckinghamlhire. His Lordfhip came to
town on the fourteenth. Next day he waited on the King
at Richmond, before he faw Mr. Pitt. The King acquainted
his Lordfhip with the offer that had been made to Mr. Pitt;
and added, that he expe6led his Lordfhip would aflill Mr. Pitt
in forming the arrangements. Next day, which was the i6th,
Thurfday lO. This morning at feven the Favourite and his lady fet out from
Audley-ftreet for Bedfordflilre.
Saturday 12. Returned this day from Bedfordfhire to dinner, and, being
Lord Mount Stuart's birth-day, he went out at eight this evening to Sack-
ville-ftreet, ftaid there till paft ten, then went to Carlton Houfe, and returned
home about twelve.
Sunday 13. At half paft fix to Sackville-ftreet, ftaid there till paft ten, then
to Carlton Houfe, and home at twelve.
Monday 14. At half paft fix to Sackville-ftreet, ftaid there till ten, then to
Carlton Houfe, ftaid there till paft twelve, and then home.
N. B. The curtains of the chair, from Audley to Sackville-ftreet, were con-
llantly drawn, and the chair taken into the houfe.
* Vide the dates, of the laft three days, of the preceding eighteen days
journal.
«' his
[ 3^7 ]
"-|-his Lordfliip received a very afFe6lion ate letter from Mr. CH.v?rpR
Pitt, then at North Hnd, Hampftead, deliring to fee his Lord- C. -v-'-l*
fhip there, as his health would not permit him to come to town. '^
His Lordfliip went ; and Mr. Pitt acquainted him,, that his Ma- between Mr.
Pitt and Lord
jefty had been gracioufly pleated to fend for him, to form an Ad- ^^^^pj^"^"^
miniftration ; and as he thought his Lordfliip " itjdifpenfable," ht
defired his Majefty to fend for him, and put him at the head of
the Treafu'ry ; and that he himfelf would take the poll of Privy
Seal. The Commoner then produced a lifl: of feveral perfons,
which he faid he had fixed upon to go in with his Lordfliip ; and
which, he added, was not to be altered. Lord Temple faid,
that he had had the honour of a conference with his Majefty at
Richmond the evening before, and that he did not underfland,
from what pafled between them, that Mr. Pitt was to be abfo-
lute Majier, and to form every part of the Adminiftration ; if he
had, he would not have given himfelf the trouble of coming to
Mr. Pitt upon that fubjeft, being determined to come in upon
an equality with Mr. Pitt,, in cafe he was to occupy the moft;
refponfible place under Government. And as Mr. Pitt had
chofen only a fide-place, without any relponfibility annexed to
it, he fhould infifl upon fome of his friends being in the Cabi-
net offices with him, and in whom he could confide ; which he
-j- This account of the Conference between Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple
at Hampftead, and the fubfequent audience of the King, are taken from a
pamphlet called y^« Enquiry, he. Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his fon
fays, this pamphlet was written by Lord Temple. But his Lordfhip was mif-
taken. The pamphlet was written by Mr. Humphry Cotes, aflifted by
another pcrlon. It is, however true, that the particular fads, ftated in this ac-
count of the conference and of the audience, were comrnunicated by Lord
Temple, in converfation, to Mr. Cotes ; who, \vithout Lord Temple's par--
ticipation; caufed them to be publifhed.
thought
\
1766.
1 3i8 ]
Chapter thouglit Ml". PiTT coiild havc no objeflicn to, as he muft be
fenfiblc he could not come in with honour, unlefs he had fuch
nomination ; nor did he defire, but that Mr. Pitt Ihould have his
fliare of the nomination of his friends. And his Lordfiiip added,
til at he mzde zfacnjice of his brother Mr. G. Gbenville, who
notwithftanding his being entirely out of place, and excluded
from all connexion with the intended fyftem, would reverthe-
lefs, give him (Lord Temple) all the affiftance and fupport in
his power : that it was his idea to conciliate all pardes, which
was the ground that had made Mr. Pitt's former Adminirtra-
tion fo rerpe6lable and glorious, and to form upon the folid.
bafis of UnioUi an able and refponfible Adminiftration ; to brace
the relaxed finews of Government, retrieve the honour of the
Crown, and purfue the permanent intereft of the public : but
that if Mr. Pitt infilled upon a fuperior dictation, and did not
chufe to join in a plan defigned for the reftoration of that Um'on,
which at no time was ever fo neceflaiy, he defired the conference
might be broke off, and that Mr. PrTT would give himfelf no
further trouble about him, for that he would not fubmit to the
propofed conditions.
" Mr. Pitt, however, infilled upon continuing the confer-
ence ; and afiied, who thofe perfons were whom his Lordlhip
intended for fome of the Cabinet employments ? His Lordlhip
anfwered, that one in particular, was a noble Lord of approved
chara6ler, and known abilities, who had laft year refufed the
very office now offered to him (Lord Temple) thougji prefled
to it in the flrongeft manner, by the Duke of Cumberland,
and the Duke of Newcastle ; and who being their common
friend, he did not doubt Mr. Pitt himfelf had in contempla-
tion.
/.
[ 3^9 ]
tion. This worthy and refpe<5lable perfon was Lord Lyttel- Ch
TON. At the conclufion of this fentence,Mr. Pitt faid, Good
God ! how can you compare him to the Duke of Grafton,
Lord Shelburne, and Mr. Conway ? Befides, continued he,
J have taken the Privy Seal, and he cannot have that. Lord
Temple then mentioned the poll of Lord Prefident : upon
which Mr. Pitt faid, that could not be, for he had engaged the
Prelidency : but, fays he, Lord Lyttelton may have a penfiofi.
To which Lord Temple immediately anfwered, that would
never doj nor would he ftain the bud of his Adminiftration
with an accumulation of penfions. It is true, Mr. Pitt
vouchfafed to permit the noble Lord to nominate his own Board;
but at the fame time infilled, that if two perfons of that Board,
(T. Townshend, and G Onslow, Lfqrs.) were turned out,
they fliould have a compenfation, i. e. Pen/tons.
" Mr. Pitt next afked, what perfon his Lordfliip had in his
thoughts for Secretary-Kjf State ? His Lordlhip anfwered, Lord
Gower, a man of great abilities, and vi'hom he knew to be
equal to any Mr. Pitt had named, and of much greater al-
liance J and in whom he meant and hoped to unite and conci-
liate a great and powerful party, in order to widen and ftrengthen
the bottom of his Adminiftration, and to vacate even the idea
of Oppofition ; thereby to reftore unanimity in Parliament, and
confine every good man's attention to the real objefts of his
country's welfare. And his Lordlhip added, that he had never
imparted his defign to Lord Gower, nor did he know whether
that noble Lord would accept of it*, but mentioned it now,
* Lord Temple afterwards wrote to Lord Gower, to excufe the mention
he had made of his name.
only
PTER
XXXI.
1766.
\
[ 320 ]
Chapter oiily 35 3 coiTiprehenfive meafure, to attain the great end he
«- — r-L> wiflied, of reftoring unanimity by a reconciliation of parties,
'"^ ' that the bufinefs of the nation might go on without interrup-
tion, and become the only bufinefs of Parliament. But Mr.
Pitt reje6led this propofal, evidently heali?ig as it appeared, by
faying, that he had determined Mr. Conway fliould flay in his
prefent office, and that he had Lord Shelbvrne to propofe for
the other office, then held by the Duke of Richmond ; fo that
there remained no room for Lord Gower. This Lord Temple
faid, was coming to his firfl propofition of being fole and abfolute
diftator, to which no confideration fliould ever induce him to
They differ, fubmit. And therefore he infilled upon ending the conference ;
which he did with faying. That if he had been firfl called upon
by the King, he fliould have confulted Mr. Pitt's honour, with
regard to the arrangements of Miniflers, and have given him
an equal fliare in the nomination j and that he thought him-
ill-treated by Mr. Pitt, in his not obferving the like condu£l.".
Alii feptntc.
Here the conference ended.
Lord Tett>pie Ncxt day Loid Temple had an audience of the King in the
Ki"g.° ^ clofet ; when his Lordfhip told his Majefly, in fubflance,
*' That Mr. Pitt's terms were of fuch a nature, he could not
poffibly accept of them confiftently with his honour : that he
had made a facrifice of his brother to Mr. Pitt's refentment,
in order to accommodate with him ; but that Gentleman in-
fifled upon bringing in a fet of men, fome of whom were per-
fonal enemies to his Lordfliip, rnd with whom he had differed
upon the mofl eflTential points of Government ; and would not
permit him to name one friend for the Cabinet, in whom he
had
". /.
[ 321 ]
had an entire confidence: and had afTumed a power to hlmfelf, Chapter
XXXI
to which his Lordiliip never could fubmit ; for if he did, the > -,-0
world would fay, with great juftice, that he went in like a child, '^
to go out like a fool. That his wifli was, to retrieve the honour
of the Nation by an Adminiftration formed upon a broad bot-
tom, and compofed of men of the beft abilities, without refpedl
to party, which his firft and principal view was to extinguifli
and annihilate, as much as poffible, in order that the whole
attention of Parliament might be confined to the great objects
of national concern. That he had never been a fuitor to his
Majefty, either for himfelf or his friends, for any place of ho-
nour or emolument ; he did not even feek the prefent offer j
yet he was extremely wilHng to facrifice his own peace and lei-
fure, to the fervice of his Majefty and the country, provided he
could do it with honour; but that, he added, was in his own
difpofal, and he would not make a compliment of it to any
man.
" In the evening (of the fame day) the noble Lord told Lord
NoRTHiNGTON, that the farce was at an end, and the mafque
was off: His Lordfhip need not have fent for him from the
country, for there was no real wifli or intention to have him in
the Adminift:ration."
Lord Temple returned to Stowe. The natural difpofition of And returns i
this noble Lord, was the moft: amiable that can be conceived, to
his friends. But when offended, his dlfapprobation was warm
and confpicuous — his language flowed fpontaneoufly from his
feelings ; his heart and his voice always correfponded. With
fuch a temper, it was not probable that the caufe of his fepa-
Vol. I. T t ration
\
■ 1-66.
[ 3^2 ]
L-. PiTTj V
rently exprefied.
^"^'^''^^ ration from Mr. Pitt, would either be concealed, or indite;-
A X A t .
ll-ir/ch'Slm Mr. Pitt having made choice of the office of Privy Seal for
himfclf, was neceflarily created a Peer. This was announced to
the Public, in the London Gazette in the following words — —
" Sl james'^, 'July 30. The King has been pleafed to grant unto
the Right Honourable William Pitt, and his heirs male, the
dignity of a Vifcount and Earl of Great Britain, by the name,
flyle and title of Vifcount Pitt, of Burton-Pynfent, in the
county of Somerfet, and Earl of Chatham, in Kent." — A Lift
of the perfons, to whom his Lordfhip diftributed the offices of
State, may be feen at the end of the work*. Although he con-
tinued Mr. Conway in his poft of Secretary of State, yet he
Mr.Townflicnd gsvc the management of the Houfe of Commons to Mr.
«f coiLjons.^ TowNSHEND ; and Lord Granby was put at the head of the
* But the following extraordinay grants are proper to be mentioned here-
Having made Lord Northington, Prefident of the Council, it was ftipu-
lated, that whenever his Lordfhip fliould refign that pofl, he fhould receive during
his life a penfion of 4000I.
Alfo the reverfion of the Hanaper was fecured to him for two lives, after the
demife of the Duke of Chandos ; falary fuppofed to be per annum 1350I.
The reverfion of a Teller of the Exchequer for Lord Camden's fon. Sa-
lary about per annum 3500I.
A penfion to Lord Camden on the Iri/h Eftablifhment, in cafe he Jhould
lofe his poll: of Lord Chancellor before there is a vacancy in the Exchequer for
his fon ; per annum ij'ool.
A penfion to Col. Ligonier for life, on England ; per annum 1500I.
A furrenderof the borough of Orford to Lord Hertford
Mr. Stanley appointed Ambaffador to Ruflia, but never went — —
Lord Bristol appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, but never went '
An additional penfioa to Prince J'erdinanDj on the Iriih Eftablifhment,
per annum 2000I.
Army..
/
/
[ 323 J
Army. Before Lord Chatham had finally fettled his arrange- ^xxx"
ments, he made feveral offers to different perfons of great weight '"'[7^^
and confideration, with a view of ftrengthening his IMiniftry,
and of detaching them from their friends. But that fuperiority
of mind, which had denied him the ufual habits of intercourfe
with the world, gave an air of auflerity to his manners, and
precluded the policy of a convenient condefcenfion to the minu-
tiae of politenefs, and fafcinating powers of addrefs. He made
an offer of Secretary of State to Lord Gower, whom he had
refufed, when propofed for that office by his brother. He made
offers to the Duke of Portland, Mr. Dowdeswell, and
feveral others. But in fuch terms of hauteur, as fcemed to
■ . • 11 1 n' r r r 1^ Several perfons
provoke, though unmtentionally, the neceflity of refufal*. refuf^ places.
They were all rejected. He then waited upon Lord Rock-
ingham, at his houfe in Grofvenor-fquare? but Lord ta°m r^fLtlT
Rockingham, who was at home, refufed to lee him. — Thefe
circumflances chagrined him conliderably. He now found,
for the firft time in his life, that fplendid talents alone,
•were not fufficient to fupport the highefl fituations; that the
Government of a Partv and the Government of a Nation
were as diflindt in their features as in their principles. He
now felt the lofs of his brother. Lord Temple, whofe gracious
affability procured him the efteem of all ranks of people, while
the fplendor of his own talents commanded their admiration.
Thefe two great men united, made a hofl againfl the world j but
when feparated, they became the inflruments of two fa6lions ;
* To one, of the mofl amiable and gentle manners, an abrupt meffage was
fent, " That he might have an office if he would." To another, " That fuch
an office was ftill vacant." To a third, " That he muft take fuch an office, or
none."
T t 2 both
feeL.Chathim'
A ,'
[ 324 ]
^xxxf'^ both of them without hitending it, and for fome time without
1 ^— J perceiving it: Lord Chatham of the Court, and Lord Tem-
'^'' ' PLE of the Oppofition.
One of the firft a6ls of Lord Chatham's Adminiftration,
was the reftoration of Mr. Stuart Mackenzie. — He did this
in the handfomeft manner poflible. — When Mr. Mackenzie
was firfl appointed to the Jinecure of Privy Seal for Scotland,
he was honoured with the royal aflurance, that he fhould enjoy
the place for his life. But the Duke of Bedford had obliged
his Majefty to break his promife in the year 1765, in order to
convince the nation, that he [the Duke] was not under the in-
fluence of Lord Bute. Lord Chatham thought this removal
fuch a flagrant violation of the royal promife that he made this
reparation of the King's private honour one of the firfl: a6ts of
his Miniftry, without regarding the unpopularity of the meafure.
This circumftance indifputably proves, that Lord Chatham was
not unfavourably difpofed to the King's friendfliips, nor even to
his partialities. And if wereflefl a moment, upon the great po-
litical talents of his Lordfliip, and the wonderful effeils of his
return to office in the year 1757, we may fafely fay, that every
public intereft, and every private attachment might have been at
this period, as harmonioufly arranged, and would probably have
been honoured with equal fuccefs, and fupported by fimilar
unanimity, had he found the fame fidelity in the clofet.
Mr. Stuart
Mackenzie
leftored.)
The reftoration of Mr. S. Mackenzie, the fafl of his own
Peerage, and his fudden difference with Lord Temple, gave
caufe and credit to a fufpicion, which all the minions of the
Court afliduoufly encouraged, and circulated, that in a very fliort
time
^ /
[ 325 ]
time prevailed throughout the kingdom, of his havmgjoijied the Chapter
Earl of Bute. However itrong the appearances were, it is cer- ^.i— .y^— ;
tainly true, that the fufpicion was unfounded. What was {aid
of Lord Rockingham, on a fimilar pretence of fufpicion, isnotunked
^ ' ^ withLordButi.
might with equal veracity he faid of him alfo " That with
the Earl of Bute he had no perfonal connexion, nor corref-
pondence of Council: he neither courted him, nor perfecuted
him."*
• By Mr. Burke.
CHAP,
\^
[ 326 J
CHAP. XXXII.
'Embargo on the 'Exportation of Corn — State of Parties — Conference
between Lord Chatham and the Duke of Bedford at Bath — Con-
ference between Lord Chatham and Lord Edgcumbe — Its confe-
quences — "The Admiralty offered to Lord Gower — ConduSi of the
Court — Second Conference with the Duke of Bedford — Breaks
of-
Embarg
exportation of
Chapter T^HERE never vvas known in Eneland fo wet a fummer as
XXXII. I
x^_„_l' -*" that of this year. From the month of March to the
''' ■ ^ month of Auffuft, there were not fuccedively two fair days.
argo on the O ' v .
This uncommon feafon injured the corn harveft prodigioufly.
Towards the end of the fummer, when the extent of the injury
was manifeft, Minifters held feveral Councils upon the fubje6l.
At length they ifTued a proclamation, commanding an embargo
to be laid on the exportation of corn. Lord Chatham did not
attend any of thefe Councils, To the fccond Council he fent
his opinion in writing, which was in favour of the embargo.
When Parliament met, Minifters defended their condu6t upon
this particular point, by the fame arguments, and avowed the
fame dodrines which had been ufed in defence of fimilar arbi-
trary meafures by the Stuart's. The Conftitution was very
ably fupported by Lord Mansfield, Lord Temple and Lord
Lyttelton. And their arguments were afterwards publiflied
in a pamphlet, entitled A Speech against the Jufpending and dif-
penfng 'Prerogative. Many people afcribed this fpeech to Lord
Mansfield.
[ 3=7 J
Mansfield. But they were miftaken. The pamphlet was Chaptkr
A. \ A 1 1 .
written under the eye of Lord Temple, by a gentleman at the < — ,,— »
bar, who was prefent at the debate, and who was alfo aflifted in
the compofition by Lord Lvttelton.
A few days after the proclamations were ifTned rerpe6ling the
embargo*, Ltord Chatham retired to Bath, for the benefit of
his health. During his flay at Eath, the Duke of Bedford
came there for the fame reafon. Lord Chatham folicited an
interview with his Grace. His Lordfliip's view was, to detach
the Duke from Mr. Grenville. His own penetration fiig-
gefted to him the neceffity of this attempt ; and however in- st^^e of I'^tjcs
confiftent he might feem, in his offers to accomplifli his defign ;
the fa6l fhews, that men of the greatefl talents are not al-
ways influenced by the ftri61: rules of confiflency. Lord
Chatham was not unacquainted, that a powerful and violent
oppofition was forming againfl him. It was menaced, that this
oppofition would confift of the late Miniftry, whom for dif-
tinftion's lake, and becaufe the Duke of Newcastle was yet
alive, was fometimes called the Pelhams ; of the relations of his
own family, and their friends, who, though a junior and a
minor party, were yet a growing one; and of the Bedford mtt-
rcfl, which at that time was refpeftable, firm and compact. The
two laft interefls were united. His defign was to feparate
them ; and to flrengthen his Adminiflration by an acquifition
of the Duke of Bedford. He therefore opened his conference conference
, ^ between Lonl
With his Grace, by making the ftrongeft afTurances, that he Chatham .™d
^ J O O ' the Duke ot
fhould be particularly happy to fee the King's Adminiflration ^'^^"''•
* They were dated Sept. 26, 1 766.
countenanced.
[ S28 ]
Chapter countcnanced and fupported by his Grace's approbation and in-
terefl. The Duke making no reply to this exordium, Lord
1766.
Chatham proceeded by faying, that he would frankly.lay be-
fore his Grace, the principal meafures he intended to purfue.
Firft. He intended to keep the peace inviolate, and to keep a
watchful eye over the Princes on the Continent, that they did
the fame.
Secondly. He would enter into no continental conneflions,
nor make any fubfidiary treaty with any European power.
Thirdly. He would obferve fuch a ftri6l and rigid ceconomy,
as fhould command the approbation of the moll frugal Mem-
ber of Parliament.
The Duke replied, that thefe were the very meafures for which
he had always declared and contended. They were his meafures,
and he would certainly fupport them, whether his friends were
in, or out of office.
Not a word was fpoken of America, nor of any arrangements.
They parted in fimilar conceptions, that this interview was
only a prelude to another. And this accounts for a great part
of the Bedford interejl being neuter at the meeting of Parlia-
ment.
Lord Chatham's next ftep was, an attempt to divide the
Nensocaftle interejl. He began with Mr. Shelley, the Duke's
near relation. To him, he promifed the Staff of the Treafurer
of the Houfliold} which at this time was in the hands of Lord
Edgcumbe. In his expectations of accomplifliing this defign,
he
i /
C 329 3
he wastoofan^uine. It is true, he procured the difmiflion of Lord Chapter
XXXII
Edgcumbe, and the appointment of Mr. Shelley ; but the v. — v — ■>
difmiffion of Lord Edgcumbe was attended with confequences, '
which rather weakened, than ftrengthened his Adminiftration ;
and fo far from dividing, or difmaying his opponents, rather
cemented their union, and provoked their refentment.
The particulars of this difmiffion were as follov^'s :
* " About the 20th of November 1766, the minifter fent p""^""" ''=-
' ' tween Lord
a note to Lord E. acquainting his Lordfhip, "That a great Per- w^ETgclbe
" fonage had determined upon making fome alterations in his
*' fervants ; and that he [the Minifter] fliould be glad to fee
" Lord E. in Bond-ftreet, or he would wait upon his Lordfliip
" in Upper Grofvenor-flreet." Lord E. dire6lly waited upon
the Minifter in Bond-ftreet. The Minifter began with highly
commending his LordHiip's abilities, his virtues, his integrity,
and recited the contents of his letter. Then, after many paufes,
and inarticulate founds, he faid, " He was very forry for it, was
" extremely concerned it fliould happen fo but — a — it was
" necefTary— a— ." Here Lord E. ftopped him fhort, and bluntly
demanded " if his poft was deftined for another." The Mini-
fter, after a little paufe, and uttering a few broken fentences,
acknowledged that it was, and that it had been fo for fome
time. Lord E. then proceeded to remind him of the nieafures
of the late Oppofition ; " that he had, four years, fteadily and
" and uniformly fupported thofe meafures; meafures which he
" [the Minifter] had approved and adopted ; and which were
" now happily effected: that he had never deferted any of the
* From the Political Regifter, vol. I. page 275.
Vol. I U u " great
\
1766.
I 330 ]
^vvv^rt" " Z^^^^ quelllons upon the fubjefts of the liberties and interefts
" of his country; andexprefled his aftonifliment that this treat-
" ment fliould be the reward of a condu£l that had manifeilly
" the approbation of, and was agreeable to the fpirit and princi-
" pies of the Minifter, while in Oppofition." The force of
thefe truths, and this conclufion, obvioufly made an impreffioa
upon the Minifter; and he faid, " that however unwilling a
" Great Perfonage was to cncreafe the number of his Lords of
" the Bedchamber, yet he [the Minifter] would neverthelefs
" venture to place his Lordlhip upon that lift." Lord E. di-
re6lly made anfv\'er, " That however willing he really was to-
*' hold fome place, in order that he might continue in office.
" with his friends, and fupport the meafures of Government, yet,
" after this ufage, he would not take any place, nor refjgn that
" which he held, to any but the Great Perfonage himfelf." And
added, " that it was extremely impolitic thus to turn out perfons
" of rank; perfons of great Parliamentary intereft." The Mini-
fter burft out — " Oh !" faid he, " if that be the cafe, Ici me
"feel myfelf! I defpife your Parliamentary intereft ! I do not
" want your aflijftance !" And added, " that he trufted to the
" uprightnefs of his meafures, for the fupport and confidence
" of the K — , and the favour and attachment of the people ;
" and a6ling upon thefe principles," faid he, " I dare look i?i the
"face the proudeji conneBiom of this country I" They parted.
" Two days after, Lord E. received a note fignifying a Great
Perfon's defire of his ftaff". On Monday tlie 24th of Novem-
ber, 1766, he waited on the Great Perfon, who faid, " that he
■ " was very forry to part with his Lordftiin, of whofe fervices he
" had.
I 331 3
" had a very high opinion, as well as of his Lordfhip's abilities, ^^^]^^l^
« and attachment to his perfon, and efpecially becaufe his Lord- ^-"^^
" fhip had no mixture of faaious principles in his difpofition ;
" But," fays he, " My Minifters tell me it muft be foj" and
*♦ added, " that the idea of the bed-chamber was purely his
" own." Lord E. returned the Great Perfon his fincere and moft
" humble thanks for the good opinion he was pleafed to enter-
«' tain of him ; and expreifed the great obligation he was under
«' for it, and the more fo," added he, " for not prcfllng the bed-
*' chamber upon me ; all which, more than pay me for the ill
" ufage of your Minifters." The ftaff was given up, and iMr;
Shellev appointed Treafurer of the Houftiold.
" Next day the Earl of Bessborough, who was one of the J'--|=-
joint Poil-mafters, offered to make room for Lord E. by pro-
pofmg to refign that poft in favour of his Lordfhip, and taking
the bed-chamber, which had been offered to that Lord. But
this obliging offer was rejeaed. Upon which the Duke of
Portland, the Earls of Befsborough and Scarborough, and Lord
Monfon, refigned the next day, which v/as Wednefday, Novem-
ber the 25th, 1766. And thefe refignations were immediately
followed by thofe of Sir Charles Saunders, Sir William Meredithy
Admiral Keppch &c."
In confequence of thefe refignations, 'LoxAChathatn refolved to offeTc^oVri
renew his overtures to the Bedford interejl. The ofHce of firft
lord of the Admiralty, which SlrC/i^r/w Saunders had refigned,
he immediately tendered to Lord Go^iver. But that Lord did
think proper to accept it (though he did not refufe it) without
firil confulting the Duke of Bedford, who at this time was at
U u 2 Wooburn.
\ \
V
1765.
[ 332 ]
Chapter Woobum. And having given this anfvver to Lord Chatham, he
XXXfl,
went on the 28th to Woobuni to confult his Grace. Next day
Lord Chatham had a long conference in the clofet. He laid open
the plan of his intended alliance with the Bedford intereji, to fill
the vacancies occafioned by the late refignations. But the condii61:
of tlie great leader of this intereft, when lafl in office, had created
fo violent a prejudice againfi: him. Lord Chatham found the exe-
cution of his plan to be impracticable in the whole extent that
he defigned it j for he intended to have included the Duke him-
in his new arrangement. But he was entreated to abandon aH
thoughts of that Nobleman. He was promifed the warmeft,
the fulleft, moll fmcere, and moil effeftual fupport. He yielded
to thefe aflurances, or, as he faid afterwards, he could not
refill them : and feveral vacant offices were filled before Lord
Gower leturned fi'om Wooburn. The names of the perfons
appointed, will fufficiently diflinguiflied the intereft which pre-
vailed. Lord Le Defpe}icer, who had been Lord Bute's Chan-
cellor of ths Exchequer, was made Poflmafteri Mr. Jenkitifon,
who had been Lord Bute's private Secretary, was made a Lord
of the Admiralty. The refl the reader will find in the Lift of
Changes at the end of the Work. By this arrangement, Lord
Chatham feemed to be entirely united to the Court. He cer-
tainly trufted to the promifes which had been made, for his
fupport ; and he gave them full credit, be caufe he believed them
to be fincere.
Second cnnfc- Qn thc fitft of Deccmber Lord Goiver returned from Woo-
rence with the
Duke of Bed- ijurn, with the Duke of Bedford. A few hours after their ar-
rival in London, the Duke waited on Lord Chatham in Bond-
ftreet. The conference between thefe two noble Peers was very
fliort. Lord Chatham's purpofe was to conceal the engagement
he
1/
[ 333 ]
had made with the Court. The Duke's idea was, that the ne- Chapter
XXXII,
gotiation begun at Bath, and continued with Lord Gower, was v__J — 'j
ftill open. His Grace therefore requefted fome of the vacant '^
offices for his friends, and an Englifh Peerage for the Marquis
of Lome, now Duke of Argyll. He afked nothing for himfelf j
but added, that the meaiures which had been avowed at Bath, '
he expeded were Hill to be purfued. Lord Chatham began with
putting a pofitive and unquahfied negative on the Peerage of
Lord Lome. Then, as to the offices, he faid, there were very few
vacant. He had bellowed the AdmiraUy upon Sir Edward
Haivh, 2iVi^ given to Mv. Jenkinfon and Sir Piercy Brett th.e
two vacant feats at that Board, and Lord Le Defpencer was def-
tined for the Poit-office. And as to meafures, he obferved, he
had never altered his opinion of the peace, it was the fame that
he had declared in Parliament : And with refpe6l to Pruffia, he
was refolved to iupport and maintain the alliance with that
monarch.. From thefe anfwers the Duke was convinced, that
all thoughts of negotiation were at an end, and next morning,
his Grace returned to Wooburn.
CHAP.
\ \
E 334 J
CHAP. XXXIIL
Further Arrangements — Lord Chathafn regrets the lofs of Lord
Temple — Siezed with the Gout at Bath, and at Marlborough—'
Comes to Hampjlead — Another Change meditated — General Con~
•way wi flies to refign — Lord Northington wijhes to refign^King s
Mcjfcige to Lord Chatham — Duke of Newcajlle is very anxious
to prjferve the Union oj the Oppofition — Application to Lord
Rockit7gharn — Declaratio}i of the Duke of Bedford — Declaration
' of the Duke of Newcaftle — Conference at Newcafle Houfe —
Breaks off— Importance of the Mitiijler of the Houfe of Com-
mons— America the true caife — Second Conjerence at Newcajile
Houfe— Anecdotes of Mr. Loionds's Tickets, and of the Judges'
'Tickets— Lord Rockingham waits on the King — Lord Holland
advifes the King.
xxxii^L W/'^'^^ ^ ^^^^ ^° ^^^^^^ ^°^''^ °^ ^^^ ^"^^ °^ Bedford's
^--~^^ — ' ▼ ' Friends from his Grace's intereft, Lord Chatham, in ten
Further dajs aftcr the preceding negotiation was clofed, gave the fame
Peerage to the Marquis of Lome, which lie had refufed to the
requeft of the Duke : And at the fame time Mr. Nugent, who
was placed at the head of the Board of Trade, was created Lord
Clare. But the American bufinefs, ufually managed and tranf-
adled at that Board, was transferred to the office of the Southern
Secretary of State j and the Board itfelf was reduced to the ftate
of a board of reference only. As foon as Lord Chatham had
made this alteration, and a few other IclTer arrangements he
went into SomerfetHiirc.
Although
arrangements.
1/
[ 335 ] ' '
Although the vacant offices were filled, yet he was far from Chaptei:
being fatisfied with the choice he had been obliged to make of < — , — j
fevcral of the individuals, or with the union he had been obliged '
to accept. And he reeretted, more than any other circumftance, Lord Chatham
t <-> J regrets the lofs-
the lofs of his brother, Lord Temple — becaufe he felt that lofs "''^ord Ten.pi^
more and more every day.— He now felt the lofs of a repofitory
of his confidence---the folace of his hours of afBi6tion. Grief,
vexation, and difappointment, preyed upon his nerves ; which,
though in early life, naturally ftrong, were now become weak
by age and infirmity. His Peerage had dimiuifhed his
popularity. A confiderable part of his Miniftry, confifted of
men, who had been appointed through neceffity, not through
choice ; and this circumftance being notorious to thofe, whom
he had felecled in the firft inftance, infpired them with a fpirit
of envy and ambition, to become the rivals of his fituationand
power. He was agitated by contending paffions— -a mind fome-
times vigorous, and often depreiled— his body tortured by pain,
and impriloned by infirmity---he fell into a paroxyfm of the
gout at Bath, which feemed to threaten his extinction. In the gout at'Bath.'*
month of February 1767, he attempted to return to London, 1767.
but was unable to pi oceed further than Marlborough j where And at Maru
boroujjh.
he lay until March, and then finifhed his journey. He retired
to a houfe he had hired at Hampftead ; but was in fo feeble a Hampftead,-
ftate, he could not atund to any public bufinefs. He remained
at Hampftead fome time, having fold his eftate at Hayes, in
Kent. The air of Hampftead was too fharp for his diforder —
that of Hayes he thought fuited him better ; therefore he wiflied
to re-poffefs his former habitation ; which being made known
to Mr. JValpole, the purchafer, he very politely gratified his
Lordftiip
I 336 ]
'xxxni? Lordfliip, notwhhftanditig he had bought the place for his own
' T — ' refidence.
176,-.
During his abfence, Mr. To'ivjijl^end in feme degree aflumed
the reins of Government. He fuppofed Lord Chatham % flate
of health to be fuch as would totally, and for ever, preclude his
return to public bufinefs. He therefore meditated the accom-
jLnother change pliniment of fomc allianccs, with a view of forming another
Adminiflration for the eftablifliment of his own power. In
this projeft he was joined by General Conway. They cultivated
a favourable underflanding with Lord Rockingham. Their firft
bbje6l was the removal of the Duke of Grafton; but Lord
Chatham arriving in the vicinity of London, the defign was
abandoaed, and the Duke and Mr. TgwnJJjend became recon-
ciled.*
During Lord C/^^//-?^/7/s flay at Hampftead, the King fent fre-
quent melfages to him, defiring him not to be concerned at his
confinement, or abfence from public bufinefs j for that he [the
King] was refolved to fupport him.
ten. conw.y 4- «' Earlv lu tlic mouth of June, General Conivay declared
to feveral of his friends, that he had refolved to refign his office
of Secretary of State j becaufe his fituation was of late become
very difagreeable to him, not only from having been frequently
over-ruled in his opinions refpecling meafures ; but from his
being fenfible, that he was acling in oppofition to his friends,
and particularly to thofe fiiends, with whom he anxioufly
* They had differed -upon the affairs of India.
■f From the Political Regifler, (with feveral corrcdions and additions) vol.
J, page 201.
wiflied
1/
T 337 r
tvUhed to be re-unitcd. And he made the fame declaration, or ^v"v^i'i1*
fomething not very unlike it, to the King ; but at the fame ^— v— »
1 76"* .
time faid he would ftay till a fucceflbr was appointed. In con-
fequence of this declaration, he ceafed to tranfafl any bufmefs
in his office, and circular letters were fent to the AmbafTadors
for four weeks together, fignifying that he was out of employ-
ment.
.,, ^Towards the end of June, Lord Northlngton declared to the J-^^trmaftl"^"
King his refolution to refign, on account of his ill ftate of ''''^""
health, and real inabiUty to attend the public bufmefs ; and
advifcd the King to fend for the Duke of Bedjordy Lord Temple^
and Mr. Grenvillcy whom he had before publicly declared ivere
equal to their offices.
This, though an expected event, bore no relation to the pi^-
ceding declaration of Mr. Conway^ nor were the two perfons iH
the fmalleft degree conneded. Jj i»
A few days after the rifmg of Parliament, which was on the
fecond day of July, the King wrote a letter with his own hand t^ Lord"'"^'^'
to Lord Chatham, who lay fick at Hampflead, acquainting him ^''^''^'""*
of his refolution to make fome alterations in his fervants, and
defiring his afliflance or advice. Lord Chatham returned a ver-
bal anfwer to this efFeft, " That fuch was his ill ftate of health,
that his Majefty muft not expedl from him any further advice,
or afliftance, in any arrangement whatever."
It being now certain, that application muft be made to Ibme 'o-ocnt^-ziftie
*-' ' 1 i anxious to pre-
part of the Oppofuion, the Duke Ntwcajlle who dreaded no- I'/'he op"p»l"
thing fo much as a divifion of them, and therefore had for fome *'°"*
time ftrongly recommended a firm union among them, againft the
V0I.L Xx fecret
1767
[ 338 ] .
Chapteb fecret defigns of the Favourite ; whom, he fufpecled would repeat
his old trick of dividing them. His Grace converfed with the
friends of all the leaders in the Oppofition ; and prefled with
particular affiduity and extraordinary ardor, the great and in-
difpenfible neceffity of a faithful and fteady adherence to each
other. He fliewed the advantages which muft refult from fuch
an union, and exhibited the wretched and ruined fituation
into which any part of them muft inevitably fall, if they
fuffercd themfelves to be feduced from their friends. His Grace
took infinite pains to unite the houfes of Rujfel and Wentworth -,
left, by the fecret machinations of the Favourite, (againft who(&
pernicious influence no Adminiftration had hitherto been able
to fland, the moment he chofe to become their enemy) either
of them fhould be over-reached, or drawn in by a principle of
miftaken duty ; wheji, in reality, it was a much more effential
duty, and a matter of ftridl juftice, to enquire after tlae author
of the public grievances, than to connive at the prote6lion afr
forded him. With a view to the final accomplifhment of this
union, fb extremely interefting to the welfare of the country,
the Lords Goiver, IFeymouth and Mr. Rigi>y, dined with his Grace
atCIaremontj and a few days afterwards (July 5, 1767) the
Marquis of Rockingham and feveral of his friends, dined like-
wife with his Grace at the fame place.
^ At this period we will leave tha Oppofition, and turn to tbi
proceedings of the Court.
In confequence of the verbal anfwer, received. fromHamp-
jftead, the Favourite applied to his former aflbciate, Lord HoL-
landy who had io materially aflifted him in. procuring an appror
bation
f 339 ]
batlon of the late peace, and other meafures. That perfon fent ^^^^J^^"^
him his advice on Sunday morning, July the fifth; loon after « — r — '
the receipt of which, the Favourite fet out for Richmond j and
it was remarkable, and much taken notice of at the tin" :, that
the King did not come to town that day. Whatever was the
plan then adopted for a new arrangement of Minifters is not
exactly known ; and if it were, might be more decently guefled
than related. Certain it is, that that part of the Oppofition
fuppofed to be the leaft hoftile to the Favourite, was imme-
diately applied to. The Duke of Grafton, wrote a letter, by-
order of the Court, to the Marquis of Rockingham, " requeft- L" 'ao'kins-
ing his Lordfliip's return to Court, to affift in the prefent cri-
tical fituation of affairs." This naturally brought on an in-
terview between the Duke and the Marquis; when, among
other things, his Grace faid, " That he was tired of his office,
and wiflied his Lordfliip might be his fucceflbr." Lord Rockitig-
bam afked, " Whether his Grace faid this from his own, or the au-
thority of an higher power." TheDukefaid, "hecould notanfwer
that queflion^" The conference broke off; but two days after
was renewed ; when Lord Rockingham alked, the Duke, " whe-
ther he was treating with the King's Minifter, or with the Duke
of Grafton" The Duke anfwered, " with the King's Mini-
fler." Lord Rockingham then faid, " he would not conclude
upon any thing without the advice and participation of his
friends."
Accordingly, on Saturday July 1 1, he fet out for Wooburn ;
where he found Lord Albemarle, who had flopped there in his
way to Buxton ; when the above particulars were laid before
his Grace, he faid, " that as the Great Perfonage had made |^^_^;|J';^'[°y^
X X 3 choice "^^ "''
[ 340 ]
Chapter choice of the Marquis of Rockingham for his Minifter, he ftiould
A A A, 1 1 1 .
1767.
readily acquiefce in that nomination, for the fake of putting
an end to parties, and of reftoring unanimity, fo peculiarly
wanting at this time in the management of the public bufmefs ;,
but though he renounced all pretenfions to any place or emo-
lument for himfelf, yet he did not mean that his friends,
fhould, for that reafon, be excluded: on the contrary, he
ftipulated, that they fhould be confidcred in the new arrange-
ment ; and upon that condition he chearfully offered his
fupport to the Adminiflration. And added, that if the King.
had made choice of himfelf to treat with, he fhould have
expected the fame kind of renunciation from his Lord-
fliip, regarding himfelf perfonally, and his friends fliould, in
Jike manner, have been taken care of. However, his Grace
faid, that all this was conditionally only, for that he and Lord
I'emple and Mr. Grenville were one, and that he would not pro-
ceed without confulting them. — The information given con-
cerning the plan was, that as to meafures, particularly Ameri-
can meafures. Lord Rockingham hoped they might be fettled to
the joint fatisfa£lion of the Duke of Bedford, Lord Temple, and
Mr. Grenville, and as to men. Lord Rockirgham declared for a
wide and comprehenfive fyflem. — The anfwer returned to thia
eommunication by Lord 'temple and Mr. Grenville was, that
they concurred in the idea of a comprehenfive Adminiflration^
as the likeliefl to be permanent, and that they were ready to.
fupport fuch an Adminiflration, though out of office, (Mr..
Grenville having before infifled, that his name fhould not be
mentioned for any ofhce, having determined long ago not to.
be obtruded on the King) provided they adopted fuch mea-
fures as could fatisfy them, and particularly the capital meafure
of afferting and eflablifliing the fovereignty of Great Britain.
over
«
«
t
[ .-4t I
over America; laftly, that if this were the cafe, though ^"vv?".'!''
A. A A. 1 J J. .
they did not mean to take places themfelves, they would ufe ' — ^ — '
their beft offices with their friends to accept of honourable and
becoming fituations in Government.
Declatlonofthei
It muft not be forgot, that the Duke of Newcajile faid pre- Duke'of
cifely the fame. Thus, thefe four great and refpeftable per-
fons, of acknowledged ability and great experience, agreed to
facrifice themfelves in order to reftore tranquility to the public,
unanimity to the King's Councils, and to eftablifh an able and
permanent Adminiflration, compofed of men of talents, judici-
oufly felefled from all parties. Lord Rockingham impreffed with
this idea, and following, as he had done, in his conferences
with the Duke of Bedford, the advice and direction of his friend.
Lord Albemarle, returned to London, with full powers to treat
upon the formation of a new Adminiflration, upon a broad and
comprehenfive fystem. The Duke of Grafton was made acquainted
with this, and defired to report it to the King, which he did on
the 15th of July. His Majefty took two days to CG«ifider of it.
On Friday the X7th, an anfwer was faid to be returned to the
Duke of Grafton to this effefl, " That the King adopted and
approved of the idea of a compreben/ive fystem, and hoped it was
not meant to exclude his friends, and thofe about his perfonj
for the reft, he entirely agreed."
This anfwer being given to Lord Rockingham, his Lordihip*
fent for the Duke of Bedford, who came to London on Sunday.-
evening, the 19th. of July..
On Monday, July the 20th, it was agreed that there fliould conferenc* atr
be a meeting of the feveral |)erfons in town, at Newcaftle-houfe '""'^'•
that.
J
[ 342 J
CHArTBR that dav. and accordinsly there came the Dukes of Bedford,
XXXIIf. •■""*• y ' . a J
♦" — . — '■> Newcastle^ Richmond and Portland; the Marquis of Rockingham i
'''''' the Earl of Sandwich; Vifcount Weymouth; Mr. Dowdefwell,
Mr. Rigby, and Admiral KeppeL
Mr. Rigby read a letter from Mr. Grenwlky wherein that
gentleman promifed his fupport to the new Adminiftration, out
of office, provided the dependance and obedience of the colonies
were aflerted and maintained. Much altercation mftantly arofe
upon reading this letter. The Marquis of Rockingham was
warm : the Duke of Bedford remarkably cool ^nd temperate.
At length, Lord Sandwich faid, " that it was ncedlefs to debate
about that letter, for he was certain they all meant the fame
thing ; that their condu6l refpeding the colonies, muft be re-
gulated by the future behaviour of the colonies, and not by any
reo-ard or retrofpe^: to former tranfaftions. If the colonies,
added his Lordfhip, are dutiful and loyal, there will be no oc-
cafion to exercife any extraordinary power over themj and if
they fliould be other wife, be did not doubt but all prefent, as
well as their friends, would join in every proper and neceflary
meafure to enforce obedience. This reafoning being approved
•of, and all uniting in the fame fentiment, Mr. Dowdefwell took
up the letter, and ftruck out the two words ojferted and main^
tained, and put mfiipported and eJlabliJJoed. Here all altercation
upon this fubjedt entirely ended, Mr. Rigby folded up the letter,
and put it Into his pocket, and there was not another word ut-
tered concerning it.
They then came to the arrangement of men to the great
offices ; the fubjedt upon which they had met. The Marquis
of Rockingham propofed himfelf for the firlt Lord of the Trea-
fury;
/
I
t
«
•
I »■
[ 343 ]
fury; with the pcfwers ufually annexed to that pod, and iMr. ^'^"'^j',]*-
176-.
Doivdepwell for his Chancellor of the Exchequer ; to all which
the Duke of Bedford agreed. The Marquis next propofed Mr.
Conway for Seci^etary of State, and Minister of th< Houfe of Com-
mons. To which the Duke t>f Bedjcrd faid, " that he had for
two fefllons feen fufficient proofs of Mr. Conivafs inability in
a. Civil capacity, ever to agiee to that propofal ; that he thought
the Military was Mr. Conwafs proper line ; that he had always
entertained a very high opinion of him as a military officer ;
that he had not the leaft objeftion to Mr. Conway's being amply,
provided for on the military eftablifhment ; nay, to his being
gratified to the utmoft of his wifiles."
The Marquis- of Rockingham faid, "that it was a propofal conference
* " ■* * breaks off.
&om which he could not recede ;" and other words- to the fams
cfFeft. Upon which Mr.Rig^y faid, " that thty ftopt at the
tJirefliold, and that it was needlefs to go any. further into the
matter."
Here the conference ended. — No other particulars or condi-
tions were even mentioned.
In a corrupt fyftem.of Government, the Minister of the Houfi ^'"•'""'"f "'';
i J ' J I ^ xMtt Miniiler of
Commons, or Manager, as he is fometimes called, is the firft effi- qI^^^^^^^
ci£nt* Minifter in the State. His confequence cannot be more
clearly fhewn than by the abrupt conclufion of the preceding con-
ference.— After fo many oppofitejinterels had been rec:)nciled,
and fo many great facrifices had been made, to remove indivi-
dual jealoufies, and to eftablifli public harmony— all thefe were
* A diftindion firft made ufe of by Lord MansFIEID— between efficient
and official— between confidential and oftejifible.
but
V , '
.I767-.
AmeHca the
'tpue caufe*
[ M4 y
^■XxVm. t>^^ 3S a phantom— they all vanifhed ia a moment — when
the appointment of this fiew Minister came under difcuffion.
Each party wiflied to nominate him. They differed, and fepa-
rated upon that point only — not in a contention for places,
but in a contention for power. Whoever is the Minifter of the
Houfe of Commons, has the power of direfting the meafures
of Government. Lord Rockingham wanted Mr. Conway, becaufe
he intended to perfevere in his own fyftem, with refpedl to
America. The Duke of Bedford intended to have nominated
Mr. Rigby, becaufe he intended to purfue the Court fyflem,
which Mr. Grenville had adopted, of taxing America. Ame-
rica was therefore the true caufe of this conference breaking
off. Subfequent events have proved, whofe policy was right.
Had Lord Rockingham been Minifter, America would ftill in all
probability have belonged to the Crown of Great Britain. Oi*
had this fyftem of appointing a Minifter of the Houfe of Com^
mons, been abandoned, that, and other important benefits,
would, no doubt, have continued ; becaufe the Members would
have been left to the free exercife of their own judgment.
It is impoffible to difmifs this point without a ftiort apoftro-
phe, on the alarming ftate of Britifh depravity. If the admi-
niftration of annual bribes to the Members of the Legiflature,
independent of the influence of places, public and private, is
become fo neceffary, and the pradlice fo mechanical, as to com-
prife the mofi ejfetitial department of Government — is it not a
matter of indelible difgrace on the Nation, and oh the Confti-
tution ? There is no fpecies of corruption to be found iil the
antient Governments, that equals it. It is a perfe«5l parricide.
The Britifti Empire has been difmCmbelred by it*^*— fo fatally true
is
i
4
1766.
[ 345 )
is that maxim of Lord Burleigh^ " that Endand can ne'ver be Chattrr
undone but by her Parhatnetit *.
Notwithflanding the conference ended, In the manner that has
been aheady related, the Earl of Satidivich having occafion to
make a vifit to the Duke of Newcastky his Lordfhip went next
morning (Tuefday, July 21), when the Duke took an oppor-
tunity of refuming the fubjedl of the preceding conference :
" He earneftly conjured his Lordftiip to exert his abilities, and
employ all his good offices in endeavouring to reconcile the
parties who had differed ; he urged again, and again, the ne-
ceffity of their agreeing upon this important occafion : he trem-
bled for the mifchiefs and dangers which mufl arife from a
divifion of their ftrength and intereft j and concluded with re-
peatedly fupplicating, in the ftrongeft terms, that they might
be
* Of the many FACTS which might be Hated, the following may feive for
a fpecimen :
Towards the end of the feffion, the Secretary of the Treafury, Mr. Brad-
sHAw, one day accofts Mr. Lowndes (Member for Bucks) with. Sir, you hav*
voted with us all the winter ; fame return is ufually expelled upon thefe occajions ; and
as we are much obliged to you for your conjlant fupport, if you chufe to accept of two
hundred Lottery Tickets at Ten Pounds each, they are at your fervice, Mr.
Lowndes bowed, exprefled his great friendfliip for the Secretary, and accepted
of the offer ; adding only, That as the feffion was juft upon the clofe, he
fhould, as foon as it was fiiiifhed, go into the country upon his private affairs ;
and begged the tickets might be fent to fuch a one, Iiis banker ; which the Se-
cretary having promifed to comply with, they parted. Mr. Low^DEs went to
Winflow. The tickets were delivered : none, however, were fent to Mr.
Lowndes's, banker. The reafon of which was, they had been diflributed
among that part of the Common Council, who voted againfl the Livery hav-
ing the ufe of Guildhall. Mr. Lowndes, hearing nothing of the tickets,
wrote to his banker, who returned for anfwer, that he had not received, nor
Vol, L Y y heard
V
[ 346 ]
^HAPTER \yQ brougHt togetlicr again to his houfe that evening." Lord
1766.
i^econd confer-
ence at New-
^.'.!{!e-!u>'.:l'e.
Sanc/iak/j, waited on the Duke of BeJJcrJ : and the Duke of
Neiecastle went himfelf to the Marquis of Rockingham. Ac-
cordingly the following five met at Newcaftle-houfe that even-
ing, viz. the Dukes of Bedford and Newcastle, the Marquis of
Rockingham, Mr, Dowdefwell, and Mr. Rigby. When the Mar-
quis infilling on the propofal he had before made refpeding Mr.
Conivay, and declaring that he would not agree to any arrange-
ment in vvhich Mr Conway was njt included in that capacity,
and the Duke of Bedford refufing to agree to it, the conference
finally broke off.
Lord Rocking- Ncxt dav, V/ednefdav, the Marquis of Rockins:ham waited on
n.-,m waits en ^ ■' ^ "
^^ '^"^* the King at it. James's, and refpeClfully acquainted his Majef-
ty, that he had met his friends, who had agreed to his propofal
heard of, any tickets. Mr. Lowndes next wrote to Mr. Bradshaw, who in
his aiifwer " begged a thoufand pardons ; that the matter had quite flipped hij
memory ; that the tickets were all dlfpofed of, except five-and-twenty, which
were at his fervice." Mr. Lowndes meanly accepted of the twenty-five, and
they were fent to his Banker's. — By thefe tickets he probably cleared about one
hundred pounds. Such was his douceur for voting one feffion with the Duke of
Grafton.
\\\ a late Parliament, the Nabob of Arcot had nine Members in his intereft —
Might not any European Prince have twice that number by the fame means ? —
Do not thefe fatfts fpeak ftronger than a thoufand arguments, the neceffity of a
Parliamentary Reform ?
But it is further remarkable, and in the breaft of every honefl man it mufl be
matter of fmcere lamentation, that douceurs have been given to the Judges. — Sir
R.CHARD Aston, in particular, was feen felling his tickets in 'Change Alley;
and when the Fa61; was mentioned to him at the Old Bailey at dinner, he con-
feffed it, and faid, he had as good a right to fell his tickets, as Mr. Juflice
Willis, or any body elfe. — Is not this circumftance a full anfwer to all the
encomiums on the independence of the Judges ?
of
l-bfi.
[ 347 ]
of his being firft Lord of the Treafury; but that they had dif- Chapteh
fered in providing for Mr. Conway^ and that in conf^quence of ' '
that difference, he had no plan of Adminiftration to lay befoic
him. The King thanked his Lordfliip for the pains he had
taken, and the regard he had fliewn for his fervice; but added,
that he ficver knew the Treafury was intended for his LordJ]jip-\-.
From the conclufion of this anfwer it Is clear, that either the
Marquis of Rohkingham greatly miftook the Duke of Grafton
in the conferences he had with his Grace ; or that his Grace
was not fufficiently candid and explicit in his converfations with
the Marquis.
The Marquis of Rockingham waited on the Duke of Bedford
(Thurfday July 23), and expreffed his defire that no diffe-
-j> The moment the Marquis of Rockingham came out of the King's
clofet, Lord Holland was immediately introduced to his Majefly ; with
whom he continued fome time. In Lord Bath's pamphlet (Seafonable
Hints, edit. 1761, p. ^jj, of which Mr. Burke fays, (Thoughts on DifcontoitSy
edit, 1770, p. 23^, " there firfl: appeared the idea of feparating the Court from
'^ the Adminiftration," — are the following lines : —
" Though the wings of prerogative have been dipt, the influence of the
Crown is greater than ever it was in any period of our hiftory. For when we
confider, in how many boroughs the Goverment has the voters at its command ^'
when we confider the extenfive influence of the money corporations, fubfcrip-
tion jobbers, and contradtors ; the endlefs dependence created by the obliga-
tions conferred on the bulk of the gentlemens' families throughout the king-
dom, who have relations preferred, in our navy, and numerous landing army :
when, I fay, we confider how wide, how binding a dependence on the Crown
is created by the above particulars ; and the great, the enormous weight and in-
fluence which the Crown derives from this extenfive dependence upon its fa-
vours and power ; any lord in waiting, any lord of the bed-chamber, any man, may
be appointed Minijicr"
A dodrine to this effeit, was the advice which Lord Holland gave his
MajeAy.
Yy 2 rence
[ 34S j
Chapter rcncc might ailfe between them on account of what had pafled.
XXXIII. . . .
L - - 1^ but that they might continue in the fame union and fricnd-
''' * fliip as before ; which was accepted.
On Friday July 24, Mr. Conway attempted to renew the ne-
gotiation with the Marquis of Rockingham, feparately ; but the
Marquis refufed to leave his friends.
All negotiation being now at an end, the leading perfons In
Adminiftration met to confider on what (hould be their future
Condu6V. They all agreed to remain in their places."
CHAP„
[ 349 3
CHAP. XXXIV.
Mr. 'TownJJiend refohes to be Min'ijler — Dies— Lord North ap-
pointed— Lord Chatham goes into Somerfeifiire — The Bedford
Interejl join the Minijlry — Duke of Bedford's apology to Mr.
Grenville, and Mr. Grenville" s Anfwer — Lord Chatham, returns
• to Hayes — French purchaje Corfica — Difference between the Duke
of Bedjord and Lord Skelkurne — Lord Rochjord refigns — Lord
Shelburiie refgns — Fine Diamond Ring prejented to his Majejly
—Lord Rochjord made Secretary of State ^ with the reafons —
Lord Chatham refigns — Lord 'Toivnjhend continued in. Ireland.
M
R. TOWNSHEND obferving, that no notice had been Chap-ter
XXXIV.
taken of him in the preceding negotiationfor a change of <— v — 'j
Minifters, refolved to relent this contempt, with which he had m^ xLnLnd
been treated. Adminiftration had been for fome time without u\1\b.V!'.^'^'
a leader, and was ftill confidered to be in that fubordinate ca-
pacity. "Lovd. Chatham was thought to be irrecoverable. This
fituation leemed to afford him an opportunity, for the uncon-
trouled exercife of his talents. He determined to embrace it;
Therefore he inflantly joined the Court, with the rnoft full and
explicit declaration of fincerity. His alliance was favourably
received; and he gave a proof of his power, by creating his
lady, an Englifh Peerefs, with the remainder to his fon. Plad
he lived, he would have been firft Lord of the Treafury before
the enfuing feffion of Parliament : and Mr. Torke was to have
been. his Chancellor. His death, which happend early in the dim^.
^ month,
XXXIV
[ 350 ]
Chapter moiith of September, put both the Court and the Miniftry Into
frefli difficulties. Every effort had been made to form a new
Adminiftration in vain. Every party had been foUcited, indi-
viduals feparately, and connections jointly, without fuccefs.
But there was one part of the Royal Family, that had not
publicly appeared in any of thefe negotiations : this was the
Princefs of Wales.
Mr. 'fo'wnjljend's place of Chancellor of the Exchequer was
offered to feveral Gentlemen, who refufed to accept of it. At
length it was thought of giving it to Lord Barrington, pro tem^
pre. Lord Mansfield attempted to open a negotiation with the
Duke of Bedford. But his Grace refufed to enter into any fe-
parate treaty. Lord North, who, during Mr. Grenville's Admi-
niftration had been entrufted with all the motions againft Mr.
Wildes, was defired to fucceed Mr. Tow?i/l:end, but he declined it.
The Princefs of Wales went to the King. His Lordftiip was
again entreated — he took time to confider of it — he confulted
Lord North ap- his father. — After hefitating three weeks, he yielded. The
P'""''= • Princefs's influence prevailed. Mr. T'homai T'ownfJje7id, now
Lord Sidney, fucceeded Lord North at the Pay-office, and Mr.
Jenkinfon fucceeded Mr. Townfloend at the Treafury.
In making this arrangement, no communication was had
with Lord Chatham, by either the Court or the Miniftry. As
Lord Chatham foon 35 his hcalth permitted, he retired into Soraerfetfliire. His
Sre. "*""' departure from the vicinity of the metropolis, though he had
not been confulted in any bufinefs whatever, was confidered by
the Miniftry as a kind of direlidion. However, he continued
to hold the Privy Seal.
Lord
1* *^
[ 35^ ]
The Duke of Grafton, who fcmetime ago wifhed to refign, on ^^'™,;^
account of Lord Chatham s infirmity*, now changed his opi- ^--^
nion ; but Lord North'mgton and General Conivax flill expreffing
their defire to refign, his Grace refolved to try the friends of
the Duke of Bedford once more. If they had refufed, he mult
have refigned, and a new Adminiftratlon muft have been
formed. But the perfons to whom his Grace made his offers, B^jj-^^dint^at
could not withftand the temptation any longer j they feparated ^Zkf
from their friends and allies j thereby preventing the appoint-
ment of an able and powerful Adminiftratlon, and bargained to
fnpport the prefent, which feemed to confift of the remnants and
refufe of feveral parties. Lord Goiver was made Lord Prefident,
in the room of Lord Northington -, Lord Weymouth Secretary of
State, in the room of Mr. Con'way ; Mr. Rigl^y Vice-treafurer
of Ireland, in the room of Mr. Ofaaald, who had a large penfion
and a lucrative reverfion. Lord Hillfiorough was made Secretary
of State for Americaf . Lord Sandwich made Poftmafter, &c.
While the negotiation for thefe changes was under confidera-
tion, the Duke oi Bedford faid to Mr. GrenviUe, " ^^^^^"^^t^.
♦' hoped it would not be confidered as a breach of good faith,
«' if his friends thought themfelves at liberty to accept of any
«' offers which might be made to them of public employments."
Mr.
* Lord Bristol gave the fame reafon for refigning the Lieutenancy of Ire-
land at ihe end of July, " That he had no hope of having the advice, diredion,
and afliftance of Lord Chatham." Upon which Lord Townshend was ap-
pointed.
f The creation of this new office, and the charader of the noble Lord
xvho was appointed to it, were fuch ftrong nurks of the defigns, the plan, and
the refolution taken, with refpeft to the Colonies, that an alarm inftantly went
forth
Vv
[ 352 ]
^xxxn'." ^^*' Gf^^^'^^l^^ replied, " That he left to his Grace's own judg-
'^r^' " ment, whether, (retting every private compa6l and agreement
Mr. Grenviiie'3 " afidc) the acceffion of his friends to the prefent Mlnitlry, was
•ufwsr.
" not a breach of good faith to themfclves, and to the public ?"
1768.
Lord Chatham Beforc thcfe negotlatlons were concluded, Lord Chatham xQ'
returns to ^
Hayes. turned from Somerfetlhire to his old feat, at Hayes, in Kent j
but fo exceedingly ill and infirm, he was quite unable to tranfa6l
any bufinefs. Early in the month of February, 1768, the Privy
Seal being officially neceflary, was put into commiflion for a few
weeks, but in the month of March it vi^as re-delivered to him.
The Duke of Grafton, who had been to him the moft obfequious
of men, and was now proceeding at the helm without that
pilot, whom he lately deemed indifpenfible, did not venture to
turn him cut ; though Lord Brijlol and Lord Egmont were can-
didates for his place.
Parliament met on the 24th of November 1767, and was
difTolved on the 12th of March, 1768. Lord Chatham did not
attend during the feffion.
A few weeks before the diflblutlon of Parliament, Mr. U'ilkes
returned to England, and at the general election, was ele6led
forth amongft them. Nothing could more clearly fignify, that the Court were
preparing to make them the objects of fome extraordinary meafures — fince
another Secretary of State, with a complete eftablifliment of office, had been
appointed feparately and diflindtly, for this department — at a time of great in-
convenience to his Majefty — when the Civil Lift was deeply in arrear. His
Lordfhip's firft important a6t of office, was fending Lord Bottetourt,
Governor of Virginia ; and his apologv for it was, I'hat the nomination came
from a higher aiithority.
Lord Chesterfield fays in his letters, that Lord Bute was backwards
and forwards at this time — from Luton to London.
Member
V" . .
[ 353 3
Member for the county of Middlefex. All the ch'cumftances S^Vv^-i^''
of which, have been amply related in feveral publications. ' — > — '
During the laft year the French Court purchafed of the Ge-
nocfe,. the claim of that republic to the idand of Corfica. And French j-urch+t
Corfica.
this year a French army landed, on the ifland, to take pofleflion
of it. This was an unprecedented kind of purchafe. The French
might, with the fame propriety, have purchafed the Spanifti claim
to the Netherlands, or Jamaica. This addition to the French
Monarchy, alarmed the Courts of London and Turin. Mr.
George Pi ft, (afterwards Lord Rivers J, the Britifli Minifter at
Turin, having rcfigned at the General Eledion, on the promife
of a Peerage, the Miniftry were divided on the appointment of a
fucceffor. Lord Lanfdoian then Lord Shelburne, was for Lord -.^
■J ' ' Difference be-
rankerville*, and the Duke of Bedford for Sir W. Lynch. Thz'-^'^Z'tJ^'C
latter was appointed. But this was not the only inftance in
w^hich the Secretary of State had been over-ruled, in the affair
of Corfica. He confidered the acceflion of Corfica to France,
an objcfl of importance to Great Britain ; and being deeply
impreffed with this opinion, he infl:ru6ted Lord Rochfordy the
the Britifli Minifter at the French Court, to remonftrate flrongly
againfl this acquifition to France. The French Minifter
treated the remonftrance with contempt. The fa6t is, he knew
the fentiments of the Britifli Court better than the Britifli Mi-
nifter. In a fliort time. Lord Rochford found that his inftruc-
tions were difavowed by his own Court. Upon receiving this
information he refigned his diplomatic chara<5ler, and returned ^'"^ R^^hfora
rctigns.
* His Lordfliip was one of the five Lords, who voted agalnft the American
Declaratory Bill in 1766. The other four were the Lords Cornwallis*, Tor-
rington, Shelburne, and Camden.
• For this vote Lord Chatham made Dr. Cornwallis Archbifhop of Canterbury.
Vol. L Z to
CHAPrtR
XXXP.'.
176s.
xearons*
t 354 J
to London. The Secretary of State now difcoverlng the dupe
he had been made, and the deceptions which had been praClifed
Lord shciburr.e uDon him, refigncd alfo:}:. "When the Court of Turin faw,
rcfigns. , _
that the Britidi Cabinet were indifferent to the aggrandize-
Lord Rochford ttient of France, the King of Sardinia immediately att-iched
made Secretary r- r i r • /•
ef sute. himfelf to the Houfe of Bourbon. Upon the refignation of
Lord Lanjdown, Lord Rochjord was made Secretary of btate, in
the month of October 1768. But to reheve the French Mini-
fter from the indeUcacy of correfponding with a perfon whofe
veracity he bad difputed. Lord Weyjnouth was removed from the
Northern, and placed in the Southern Department, and Lord
Rochford was made fucceffor to Lord Weymouth.
With the Lord Rochford was made Secretary of State through fear, not
through friendfhip. The chiefs of the interior Cabinet dreaded
his laying open the fcene of negotiation at Paris, If he had
laid this information before Parliament, the whole machinery of
the Miniftry mud have fallen to peices. The fyftem of a Dou-
ble-Cabinet muft have become fo apparent to the whole nation,
and the hypocrify of the Court fo perfe£lly unveiled, that it may
be prefumed, from the ordinary feelings of mankind to repeated
infults and indignities, that no man of the fmalleft fpark of
■| But Sir John Macpherson in his memorial, {^printed in the anfwer to tht
letter from Mahomed ^U Chan. Jppendix, page xii.] fays " the Earl of Shelburne
was difmlfled at the injligatton of the Duke of Grafton." — We learn alfo
from this memorial, That his Majefty was gracioufly pleafed to receive from the
Nabob of Arcot, whofe forts are garrifoned by our troops, and whofe army is
commanded by our oiEcers, a fine diamond ring, through the hands of Governor
Palk. The world is not ignorant of many other magnificent prcfents from
the Eaft. But as the Governor was once in holy orders, the ceremony of in-
vefting the royal finger with this myflic fign of alliance, may be confidered as
Something divine.
honour.
i
^r^
^
V
i 255 ]
honour, who was not leagued with the Court, as parfv in fome Chapter
XXXIV
criminal tranfaftion, oi- deeply diftreffed in the means of fubfift- v.-^ — j
ence, would continue one moaient to uphold, or connive at, a '^^^*
fyilem, that had for its objeds, the debafement of the Englifh
nobility, the extenfion of the power of the Crown, and the hu-
miliation of the pride of the nation. But Lord ******
wanted another place, and upon condition of his filence, he
was gratified. Thus the French got Corfica. What they gave
for it, the prudence of the parties hath hitherto concealed*.
Lord Chatham had for fometime entertained thoughts of re- w-i Chatham
figning. This event decided him. The appointment of Lord '"'^"''
Hill/borough Secretary of State for the Colonies, was fuch an
outrage of his American fyftem, and the atchievement of Cor-
fica by France, was fuch an abandonment of his European poli-
cy, that they were the principal caufes of his refignation. He
did not go to Court when he refigned, but fent the Privy Seal by
Lord Camden.
* On the firft of Auguft 1768, (the anniverfary of the Hanoverian fucceffion)
Lord Bute fet out for Bareges in the South of France. In the fucceeding
winter a violent difpute arifmg between Lord Towmshend, Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, and feveral of the great Lords of that kingdom, the Miniftry con-
ceived it ncceffary to change the Lord Lieutenant ; but they could not agree
in the choice of a fucceflbr. The Duke of Bedford was for Lord Sand-
wich, and the Duke of Grafton for Lord Harcourt. This difagreement
occafioned the return of Lord Bute in the Autumn of the year 1769. He
fettled the difference between thefe Dukes, by not accepting the recommenda-
tion of either; but continuing Lord Townshend, who had been appointed
under his own influence. Their Graces fubmitted to his controul ; and then he
returned to the Continent. This accounts for Lord Townshend ftaying in
Ireland four years, being the time of the ufual refidcncc of two Lord Lieute-
tenants.
This
[ 356 ] '
^xxxiv'^ This was the lafl: place hs held under the Crown.
1768. His refignation was an event that had been long expe6^ed,
and therefore it occafioned no furprife to the Public, nor diftrefs
to the Miniftry. The Duke of Grafton having .completed his
alliance with the Bedfo7-d Intereft, eftimated himfelf fully ade-
quate to all the difficulties and burthens of the State. Lord
Camdeji attached himfelf to his Grace, and continued in office.
END OF VOLUME L
V^:,..
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D 000 143 247 5
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