it the American War. For it was equally impossible that he should terminate it, and that his successors should continue it. On reviewing his Ministry, some allowance must be made for the circumstances in which he first entered the Cabinet: difficulties with America were already pressing; a great flood was coming down, and a stronger arm than his might have been unable to stem the torrent. But when this allowance has been made, justice requires that it should be added, that all difficulties were aggravated, and all perils heightened, by his weak conduct as a Minister. Ignorance of the extent of the danger, want of preparation for a struggle, want of discrimination in choosing a time for concession, mismanagement of the war, inopportune overtures, perseverance in wrong, vacillation, surrender of his own opinion to please the King, corruption in the government of the House of Commons, extravagant expenditure-in short, every fault, except personal dishonesty-may be justly imputed to Lord North. His good humour, his ability in debate, the amiability of his character, so fitted to attach friends and appease enemies, are qualities which no one will refuse him. But still less can it be denied that no other Minister of Great Britain since the Revolution so lowered her dignity, and quelled her pride.

The country had emerged out of the Seven Years' War with a consciousness of strength and of triumph: her navy had defeated those of France and Spain; her army had been victorious under Prince Ferdinand in Germany, and under Wolfe in Canada; the conquest of Havannah had been the crowning victory of the united naval and military service. In the American War the British army could scarcely ever drive from the field the raw levies of

Washington; while two divisions, under Burgoyne and Cornwallis, were forced to lay down their arms. The fleet under Keppel at one time, and Kempenfeldt at another, had retired before a superior force; for two years together a combined French and Spanish fleet had swept the Channel, while the British squadron ran to harbour, or hugged the shore. Thirteen colonies were lost for ever. Florida and St. Lucia were captured by the enemy; Minorca fell unrelieved; the finances were drooping; trade was depressed; the national heart laboured with grief. The siege of Gibraltar and Rodney's victory furnish the only lights in this dark picture.

Lord North had borne his elevation with modesty; he showed equanimity in his fall. A trifling circumstance evinced his good humour. On the evening when he announced his resignation to the House of Commons, snow was falling, and the weather was bitterly cold. Lord North kept his carriage. As he was passing through the greatcoat room of the House of Commons, many members (chiefly his opponents) crowded the passage. When his carriage was announced, he put one or two of his friends into it, and then making a bow to his opponents, said, "Good night, gentlemen; it is the first time I have known the advantage of being in the secret."

Mr. Adam, from whom I heard this anecdote, says, in his memoranda: "No man ever showed more calmness, cheerfulness, and serenity. The temper of his whole family was the same. I dined with him that day, and was witness to it."

A more amiable man never lived; a worse Minister never since the Revolution governed this country. Even the King, who prompted his measures, despised his weakness of character.

1

CHAPTER XVI.

THE ROCKINGHAM ADMINISTRATION.

1782.

WITH Lord North a whole system passed away. George III., the inventor of that system, remained with all the power of a Constitutional King, but was no longer to be his own sole Minister. The scheme of governing by the will of the Monarch, and ruling the House of Commons by Court favour and thinly disguised corruption—that scheme, in short, which Mr. Burke denounced in his "Thoughts on the Causes of the Present Discontents," was no longer practicable. Mr. Fox and Lord Rockingham were men too considerable to act the humble part which Lord North had reluctantly performed. The position of the King was for the moment humiliating in the extreme. He had tried to destroy party-the Rockingham party had grown strong under his displeasure; he had tried to subdue AmericaAmerica had conquered her independence; he had tried to preserve Lord North as his Minister-that Ministry was for ever at an end. Nor did the anger of the King arise merely from the defeat of his plans and the curb placed on his ambition-he was himself the first Tory gentleman in his dominions, and he felt deeply the separation of America as a diminution of the British empire. and a loss of reputation to the British name. A great

portion of his Parliament and many of his subjects had a similar feeling, and it would be unjust to attribute to a harsh or sanguinary nature that feeling of national pride which was somewhat akin to a regard for the national honour. In this situation it is no wonder if George III. brooded over a desperate resolution. It was said that for a fortnight together the Royal yacht was preparing to convey the King to Hanover. So late as the 17th of March the King wrote to Lord North: "I am resolved not to throw myself into the hands of Opposition at all events, and shall certainly, if things go as they seem to tend, know what my conscience as well as honour dictates, as the only way left for me."

These impulses of despair, however, always gave way to reflection. George III. never yielded till he knew it was inevitable; he always yielded fully when it was so.* In 1804 he would not admit Mr. Fox to the closet; in 1806 he made not the slightest objection to him. Had he lived and reigned till 1829, he probably would have conceded the Catholic Question with far more readiness than his son displayed on that occasion. At least, in the present instance, his concessions were ample.

On the day following the letter I have quoted, the King wrote to Lord North, and, after repeating that his sentiments of honour would not permit him to send for any of the leaders of the Opposition and personally treat with them, said, with

* In reference to the affairs of the Duke of York, Lord Grenville writes to his brother, Lord Buckingham, on March 16th, 1809: "The King's mind is, I believe, more difficult to satisfy. He holds out, as he has always done, just as long as he thinks his perseverance is likely to be of any use in carrying his point; and when he sees there is no longer any hope of that, he will give way, as he has always done in such cases."-"Court and Cabinets of George III." vol. iv. p. 333.

an evident change of purpose, "If you resign before I have decided what to do, you will certainly for ever forfeit my regard." At this time the Chancellor (Lord Thurlow) was employed in sounding Lord Rockingham. Lord Rockingham answered that the terms upon which he would propose to form an Administration were as follows: 66 A power to accede to the independence of America; a reduction of the influence of the Crown by an abolition of offices; and bills to deprive contractors of their seats in the House of Commons, and revenue officers of their votes at elections. With respect to any reform in the representation, or limiting the duration of Parliaments, he declined laying himself under any restrictions."

Lord Thurlow was surly and morose upon the subject of the three bills. He said "he would have no further communication with a man who thought the exclusion of a contractor from Parliament and the disfranchisement of an exciseman of more importance than the salvation of the country in its present situation."* Yet, if these were small things for Lord Rockingham to require, they were small things for the Crown to yield. But, in fact, Lord Rockingham knew that his character and that of his party were involved in the reduction of the influence of the Crown, and it was more important to preserve that character than to respect the prejudices of the Chancellor, or even of the Sovereign.

The King next tried Lord Gower; but Lord Gower had too much sagacity to embark alone on so stormy a sea. Lord Gower, if he represented anything, represented the Bedford party; but Lord Sandwich, who was also of that party, was one of the most obnoxious of Lord North's

* Walpole.