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of parliament was therefore confidered as a circumftance highly favourable to the minifter, and was doubtless employed in endeavouring to form fuch alliances amongft the parties out of power as might enfure fome degree of ftrength and permanence to his adminiftra

tion.

A reunion of the whigs was the favourite expectation of the public, and anxiously looked for by thofe who equally dreaded the revival of the old fyftem, and the mifchiefs of a weak and unfettled government. It does not, however, appear that any advances were made towards effecting fuch an accommodation; to which there appear, indeed, to have been infuperable difficulties, from the industry with which the friends of each party laboured to throw the blame both of the fchifm and failure on the other.

On the part of thofe who had retired from the service of government, it was urged, that as the appointment of the noble earl to the highest office in adminiftration was one of the principal causes of the divifion that enfued, fo it continued to be the chief obftacle to a reunion. It was indeed abfurd to expect, that his complaifance to his enemies fhould carry him fo far as to enter into a treaty, of which he was himself to be the firft facrifice; and it was not more reasonable, they faid, to fuppofe, that thofe who continued to act with him, how much foever they might difapprove of his principles, or cenfure the measures he was carrying on, (a conduct which fome of them did not fcruple to purfue) would be willing to defcend from fituations in which, by the remoyal of their former friends, they

ftood as principals, in order to ac fubordinate parts again in conjunction with them.

These infinuations were combated, on the other fide, by ftudiously reprefenting the caufe of diffenfion to have been a mere perfonal conteft for power; and by charging their opponents with holding opinions of a dangerous nature, trenching on the most undoubted prerogative of the crown, that of choofing its own minifters, and confequently having a direct tendency to fubvert the conftitution.

But whatever weight may be allowed to thefe charges or furmifes, it was generally agreed, that, though the parties themfelves had been ever fo well difpofed towards an accommodation, yet, the countenance and approbation of the court would hardly have been lent to a measure fo diametrically oppofite in its principle to that favourite fyftem of politics, which had the difunion of all party con nections for its bafis. In oppofition to this fyftem, after a long and arduous ftruggle, by no mean exertion of abilities, and by the concurrence of many important events, the late administration had arrived at a kind of adverfe poffeffion of power, which being fubmitted to from neceffity, it could not be expected would be fuffered to remain, whenever the means of deftroying it could be found. Thefe, by an unfortunate event, foon after offered themfelves. The appointment of the Earl of Shelburne to fucceed the Marquis of Rockingham, it was eafily forefeen, would difguft thofe individuals of the party, whofe principles were the most inflexible and obnoxious; and the probability of gaining over

many

many others, who might wish to make themfelves fome amends for the long profcription they had un dergone, by the advantages of a more accommodating line of conduct, was reckoned on with a confidence that proved not ill-founded. Add to this, that the firmness of the party had hitherto ftood the trial of defeats and mortifications only; that power and emolument will fometimes be retained on terms and by means through which they would not have been fought; and laftly, that many of the members, wearied and grown old in oppofition, would naturally feel difinclined, from the diminution both of their vigour and profpects, to embark in a fresh conteft with the court.

The defign appears to have been planned with great political fagacity, and the fuccefs went beyond even what the moft fanguine hopes could have expected. Not only a change of minifters was effected, and a cabinet formed more agreeable to the views of the court; but feveral of thofe whofe former conduct had been marked by extraordinary violence were gained over; and thefe, not fatisfied to embrace their new principles with all the zeal and eagerness of converts, feemed to regard with an unufual degree of malignity that inflexibility of their old colleagues, which appeared no less than a tacit reproach to their own conduct. Thus a decifive blow was given to the very existence of the party; and which feemed even to preclude all future attempts to form a fyftema tic oppofition.

Such were the obftacles, which, from every quarter, appear to have rendered a reunion of the whigs, under the auspices of the new mi

nifter, totally impracticable. A coalition with the noble lord who had formerly been at the head of his majesty's government, feemed more feasible, and was certainly free from the most material objections that lay to the former meafure. Overtures accordingly are faid to have been made by the minifter, and various terms offered him: but whether from a confidence in his own ftrength, and the hope of rifing again, on the divifions of his adverfaries, to the poffeffion of undivided power; or from refentment of former indignities; or from fome change in his political fentiments, and a conviction of the impoffibility of ferving the public with fidelity on the terms propofed, the bufinefs fell to the ground.

In the mean time the Nov. 23d. negotiations for a general peace were advancing towards a conclufion. On the 23d of November letters were fent by the fecretary of state to the lord mayor of London and the governors of the Bank, acquainting them "for the information of the public, and to prevent the mischiefs arifing from fpeculations in the funds, that the negotiations carrying on at Paris were brought fo far to a point, as to promife a decifive conclufion, either for peace or war, before the meeting of parliament, which on that account was to be prorogued to the 5th of December."

1782.

On that day the feffion Dec. 5th. was opened by a speech from the throne of a very unufual length, and comprehending almost every poffible topic of political difquifition. It fet out with affuring both houses, that fince

the

the close of the last feffion, his majefty's whole time had been employed in the care and attention, which the important and critical conjuncture of affairs required.

It next stated, that no time had been loft in putting an end to the profecution of offenfive war in North America; and after informing them that he had offered to declare those colonies free and independent states, and that provifional articles were actually agreed upon, to take effect whenever terms of peace should be finally concluded with the court of France, it was made to proceed as follows" In thus admitting their feparation "from the crown of thefe king"doms, I have facrificed every "confideration of my own to the "wishes and opinion of my peo"ple. I make it my humble and "earnest prayer to Almighty God, "that Great Britain may not feel "the evils, which might refult "from fo great a difmemberment "of the empire; and that Ame"rica may be free from thofe ca

lamities which have formerly "proved, in the mother country, "how effential monarchy is to the enjoyment of conftitutional li"berty."

The defence and relief of Gib. raltar, and the fubfequent conduct of the fleet, were next men tioned in terms of the highest panegyric, as were alfo the proofs of public fpirit that had been given by the city of London and private individuals.

The negotiations for a general peace were announced to be confiderably advanced, and likely to be brought, in a very short time, to an honourable conclufion. At the

fame time a perfect confidence was expreffed, that if thefe expectations fhould be fruftrated, the most vi gorous efforts would be used in the further profecution of the war.

The members of the House of Commons were next affured of the endeavours that had been used to diminish the burthens of the people; of the better economy that was to be introduced into the expenditure of the army; of the reductions made in the civil list expences, as directed by an act of the last feffion; and of further reforms in other departments. By thefe means his establishments were faid to be fo regulated, that the expence fhould not in future exceed the income. The payment of the debt ftill remaining on the civil lift, and the relief of the American fufferers, were recommended to their confideration.

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Their attention was alfo called to the regulations that had been adopted in the incidental expences, fees, and other emoluments of office; to the landed revenue of the crown, and the management of its woods and forefts; to the de partment of the mint; to the general state of the public receipts and expenditure, and of the public debt; and to fuch a mode of conducting future loans as to promote the means of its gradual redemption. The practice of payment by navy, ordnance, and victualling bills, was ftrongly reprobated; and a more correct method of making up the estimates for the fervice of the year was promifed.

The high price of corn was next adverted to; the frequency of theft and robbery were mentioned; and

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the prevention of thofe crimes, by correcting the prevailing vices of the times, earnestly recommended. The liberality with which the rights and commerce of Ireland had been established was highly extolled; a revifion of our whole trading fyftem upon the fame comprehenfive principles was recommended; and, laftly, fome fundamental regulation of our Afiatic territories was earnestly called for.

A general profeffion of regard to the conftitution, and a promife, on all occafions to advance and reward merit in every profeffion, were held forth at the conclufion; at the fame time, temper, wifdom, and difinterestednefs in parliament, collectively and individually, were reprefented as neceffary, to enfure the full advantage of a government conducted on fuch principles. It ended with telling both houfes, that the people expected thefe qualifications of them, and that his Majefty called for them.

An addrefs in the ufual ftyle was moved in both houfes of parliament, and carried, nemine contradicente, after a long and defultory converfation. It was remarked, that the friends of adminiftration began thus early to lay the groundwork for the defence of the peace, the merits of which would neceffarily become the fub ject of parliamentary difcuffion, by expatiating on the miferies and viciffitudes of war, by lamenting the hazardous ftate of public credit, and by depreciating the importance of the late fucceffes. Thefe, it was faid, though brilliant, were not likely to be followed by any folid advantage that could either compenfate the calamities of war, or

balance the enormous expence that muft neceffarily attend the further prosecution of it.

In the House of Commons, a young member, fuppofed on this occafion to be in the confidence of administration, made fome pointed allufions to the ceffion of Gibraltar, with a view, as was imagined, of difcovering in what manner fuch a meafure would be received by the houfe. The alarm and diffatisfaction which this intimation spread was very confiderable; and as it was generally believed that the minifter was at this time treating with the court of Spain for the exchange of that important fortress, it is probable that he was deterred from his purpose by the declaration of feveral members of great weight in the houfe, that they confidered it as a poffeffion almoft invaluable to this country.

But though the addreffes were voted without a diffentient voice, and even without any amendment being propofed, yet the fpeech did not escape a most severe examination. The three first paragraphs were objected to, as conveying a falfe and injurious imputation on the members of the late cabinet, that orders for putting an end to offenfive war in North America had not been iffued till after the recefs of parliament. Mr. Fox took this occafion to enter into a minute explanation of the cause of his retiring from the cabinet. Some time before his refignation, he said that he had written, by the king's orders, to Mr. Grenville, then at Paris, to authorize him to offer to the American agents, to re"cognize the independence of the

United States in the first infiance,

and

and not to referve it as a condition of peace." At the fame time an official letter, for the fame purpose, was fent by the Earl of Shelburne to Sir Guy Carleton in America. Mr. Fox, fufpecting that this meafure, though confented to in the cabinet, had not the entire appro bation of fome of his colleagues, had, in order to prevent any mifconception, purpofely chofen the moft forcible expreffions that the English language could fupply; and he confeffed, that his joy was fo great, on finding that the Earl of Shelburne, in the letter to Sir Guy Carleton, had repeated his very words, that he carried it immediately to the Marquis of Rockingham, and told him that their diftruft and fufpicions of that noble lord's intentions had been groundlefs, and were now done away"Judge then," said he, "of my grief and astonishment, when, during the illness of my noble friend, another language was heard in the cabinet, and the noble earl and his friends began to confider the above letter as containing offers only of a conditional nature, to be recalled, if not accepted as the price of peace. Finding myfelf thus enfnared and betrayed, and all confidence deftroyed, I quitted a fituation in which I found I could not remain either with honour or fafety."

The next paragraph of the speech was condemned with great feverity, as an infidious and unmanly attempt to throw all the blame of the dismemberment of the empire on parliament. The calamities of the war, it was faid, were not taken into the account; the circumftances of the country, and the impof

* Lord Ashburton:

fibility of acting otherwife, were all overlooked, in order to charge it upon that houfe alone. It was, in fact, to make his majefty fay, that he did it against wisdom, against good fenfe, against policy, againft neceffity, in conftrained obedience to the advice of an ill-judging Houfe of Commons. It was asked, what minifters meant by making the king fay, that he had confiderations of his own, feparate from the wishes and opinion of his people? Such language, it was faid, was as new, as it was improper and unconftitutional. The prayer which follows was equally condemned, as a piece of unfeasonable, unmeaning, and hypocritical cant, played off at the expence of parliament. Much furprife was alfo expreffed, at finding benevolences praised in a fpeech, the production of a cabinet, in which fat a learned lord, who, when a commoner, had in that very houfe moved a refolution that fuch benevolences were illegal.

The call for wisdom, in the concluding paragraph, was ridiculed with infinite humour: and the call for difinterested nefs reprefented as an audacious infult on parliament. The folly and dangerous tendency of these and other parts of the fpeech, were expofed with uncommon ability by a right honourable gentleman t, whofe fpeeches in this debate were greatly distinguifhed by a happy mixture of the moft brilliant wit and pointed argument. He concluded with declaring, that he confidered the whole as a compound of hypocrify, felf-commendation, duplicity, and abfurdity; abounding with principles of a dangerous and uncon

+ Mr. Burke.

ftitutional

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