CHAP. 1783. Lord Surrey's motion. Adjournment. Lord Mulgrave having observed that, the Lords of the treasury being authorized by an act of Parliament to consent that the Directors should accept bills, it would be absurd to restrain them by a resolution of one branch of the legislature; Mr. Scott very candidly said that, if it was once admitted to be necessary, it was perfectly constitutional for that House to advise any executive branch of government, however legally established. Lord Surrey then moved for an address, praying that the King would not grant the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for any other term than during pleasure, before the 20th of January. The Lords, on the same day, adjourned to the 20th of January. CHAPTER THE FIFTY-SIXTH. 1784. Difficult situation of ministers.-Strength of the opposition.Decline of their popularity.—Increasing confidence in Mr. Pitt. His conduct on the vacancy of a clerkship of the Pells.- Dissolution of Parliament expected.—Mr. Fox moves a committee on the state of the nation.-Speech of Mr. Pitt.-Debate.-Lord North's motions in the committee. Mr. Fox.-Lord Surrey.-Debate.-King's message concerning Hessian Troops.-Observations.-Mr. Pitt moves to bring in his India Bill.-First Reading.-Bill rejected. Discussions on supposed intention to dissolve Parliament.—Mr. Pitt personally appealed to-remains silent.-Violent debate.-Adjournment and termination of the debate.-Motion of Lord Charles Spencer.-Further proceedings.-Debate on a petition for reform.-Situation of public affairs.-State of public feeling.-Mr. Pitt's reasons for not dissolving Parliament.-London address.Union of parties proposed.-Conduct of Lord North.Meeting at the Saint Alban's Tavern.-Committee on the state of the nation.-Motion of Mr. Grosvenor.-Mr. Fox. —Mr. Pitt.—Mr. Coke's motion. Mr. Powys.-Mr. Pitt. -Resolutions carried up to the King.-Proceedings in the House of Lords.-Motion of Lord Effingham-opposedsupported. Observations on Mr. Pitt.-Resolutions carried. -Proceedings in the House of Commons.-Effects of these proceedings.-Public meetings.- Middlesex.-Westminster.-Effect of these meetings.-Proceedings in Parliament respecting supplies.-Motion by Mr. Powys.-Address carried.—The King's answer. Further proceedings.- Debate on the King's answer. - Mr. Fox moves a representation to the King.—Mr. Dundas.-Other speakers.-Motion carried by a majority of one only.-Other business.-Prorogation-and dissolution of Parliament. CHAP. 1784. Difficult situ ation of ministers. Strength of opposition. Decline of their popu larity. Increasing Mr. Pitt. WHEN the King, by exercising his just prerogative, had dissolved an administration, the principles and conduct of which he did not approve, their successors were placed in a situation of unwonted difficulty and peril. The opposition was strong in connexions and influence, and the members who composed their majorities would not easily be made to feel shame or despair, while they followed leaders possessed of such gigantic talents for every form and species of debate. Yet this powerful opposition was falling in public opinion, although the symptoms of its decline were not at first obviously manifest. The vigorous argumentation of Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke, the dexterous dialectics of Mr. Sheridan, and the eloquent reasoning and playful wit of Lord North, could not influence the public to view the coalition without disgust; and the tendency of their late proceedings to invade the rights of the Crown, to vilify the other branch of the legislature, and to delay, if not altogether to impede, public business, because they were not allowed to guide it, produced, among many members who had been friendly to them, hesitation, caution, and even suspicion. Mr. Pitt had not, in the House of Commons, the confidence in aid of one cabinet minister. He relied principally on the experience and ability of Mr. Dundas and Mr. Jenkinson, and the youthful talent and attachment of Mr. Grenville. He was also assured of the unlimited confidence of the King, and a general opinion was entertained, not of his ability alone, but of his patriotism and integrity, which, at his early age (less than twentyfive years), nothing could impeach, but which passing events contributed to enhance. Fortune, just at this time, presented an opportunity of displaying his cha 11th January. Conduct on the vacant Clerkship of the Pells. racter. By the death of Sir Edward Walpole, a valuable sinecure, the Clerkship of the Pells, became vacant. Mr. Pitt, known to be unendowed with wealth, and to have sacrificed to the public service hopes of emolument and advancement in an honourable and lucrative profession, might, without reproach, have taken the office to himself, or secured or gratified some adherent by the appointment. He did neither, but bestowed it on Colonel Barré, in exchange for his pension of three thousand pounds, which was thus gained to the public. This act was hailed with high applause by the aged statesman, it was strongly felt by the public, and frequently mentioned in Parliament, where Lord Thurlow, with his usual manly bluntness, declared that he had advised Mr. Pitt to retain the sinecure, as, in his situation, he would have done*. CHAP. LVI. 1784. Many of Mr. Pitt's friends urged him to dissolve Expected disthe Parliament; a general expectation of such an solution of event was prevalent, and most of the proceedings, after Parliament. the expulsion of the late ministers, were caused, or at least characterized, by the apprehension. moves a com nation. On their re-assembling, Mr. Fox, to gain prece- 12th. dence for his own motions, began to address the chair Mr. Fox at the unusual hour of half-past two o'clock, and before mittee on the the newly-returned members could take the oaths. state of the When Mr. Pitt had performed that ceremony, he attempted to be heard; but Mr. Fox insisted on precedence, as he was in possession of the House; and, although the minister announced a message from the King, he maintained his point, and moved to go into a committee on the state of the nation. Mr. Pitt, for the first time since he came into Mr. Pitt. office, delivered his sentiments. He was not anxious to prevent the committee, but complained of the art displayed by Mr. Fox; reproached the opposition with having been clamorous and petulant before the recess, and having proceeded to strange lengths, at a time when those who ought to have been present at the discussion of important questions were necessarily absent. He did not wish to prevent their saying any thing which would augment the clamour they had endeavoured to raise, that would support the petulance they had displayed, or the unjustifiable, violent, and unprecedented steps which they had taken for the purpose of inflaming the country, and exciting unfounded * Tomline's Life of Pitt, vol. i. p. 188. СНАР. 1784. Debate. Attack on the minister. Mr. Pitt. Mr. Rigby. jealousies. He then stated his reasons why the committee should be delayed. The affairs of India, as was agreed by all, required attention: he meant speedily to bring in a bill on the subject, and hoped the House would vote with him against the order of the day. In a long desultory debate which ensued, two points most particularly engaged attention: the probable dissolution of Parliament, and the situation, conduct, and character of the minister. On the first, while some members considered the King's answer a promise that no dissolution should take place until the important matters recommended to their attention had been duly provided for, others did not deem it a satisfactory assurance, and required declarations more explicit. The answer of Mr. Pitt solved no doubt; he merely said that it did not become him to comment on the words of his Sovereign's most gracious answer, neither would he presume to compromise or bargain away the royal prerogative. Mr. Rigby assailed the King's answer as the mere trick of some one who had been in office but six hours. If any minister had issued such a fallacy with intent to deceive the House, he had grossly insulted them, and been guilty of an act of duplicity and meanness that would have disgraced the lowest pettifogger. A Newgate solicitor, he was persuaded, would have been ashamed of such a low, scandalous deception. Mr. Pitt, it was said, could not hope to continue minister, while a House of Commons continued to subsist where the majority maintained the principles he had so recently reprobated. He truly called himself the minister of the Crown, for he certainly was not the minister of that House. The prerogative to dissolve Parliament was unquestionable; but prerogative could only receive efficacy from the support and confidence of Parliament. Without these, it would be a scare-crow prerogative, and the King would be nobody; aided by them, he would be somebody; the greatest prince in the world; and whoever should at |