lature; dignisied, indeed, by reputation, but accompanied by no influence, nor followed by one individual of that obsequious crowd of representatives, who Had lately given him unlimited considence, and unbounded praise. This sudden, but not surprising, change of opinion in the representatives of the nation, was occasioned by no alteration in his sentiments or principles, uo relaxatjoq of his promptitude pr vigour, no impeachment of his conduct, his judgment of liis virtue; nor was it to be ascribed to the usual verfatility of mankind, particularly the natives of Great Britain, whose ruling passion is novelty; but it is to be attributed entirely and exclusively to the influence of corruption, to the avarice and vanity of such men as are always eager to pay homage to the distributor of rewards; whoever he may be, of whatever nation, or of whatever complexion.

The management of the House of Commons is become so persectly mechanical, that it requires only a small knowledge of the principles pf the machine to be able to transser the majority at almost any time, from the most able statesman to the savourite of the cfrown, ur the confident of the enemy; who may have no other recommendation than the smiles of the sirst, or the money of the last; with the same sacility, that an India bond, or any other negotiable property, is transserred every day.

These observations may seem illiberal to the Inexperienced, because they are unsavourable to

the the admirers of national glory. It is the misfortune of truth to be often difagreeable—the ancients very wisely painted her naked, to signify that those who were her enemies, were the enemies of nature. Notwithstanding the slate of modern depravity, truth will continue to have her worshippers; and it may be presumed, that they will, in the present age, as they have in former ages, survive the advocates of salsehood. It is to them only, that impartial history can address herself—-from them only she can expect protection. The betrayer of his country and the destroyer of public liberty, whether supported by a Commodus, or protected by a Faustina, may endeavour, by the assistance of the corrupt instruments of law, to intimidate and to strangle her voice: But conscious that (he has truth for her shield, she ventures upon a task that will give a new complexion to the public events of one of the most interesting periods in the annals of Great Britain.

Mr. Pitt's sirst care after his resignation, was Particu

the diminution of his household. Amongst his larsof Mr.

. Pitt,

other retrenchments were his coach horses,

which were fold by public advertisement in his own name. His enemies stigmatized this circumstance with the appellations of parade and ostentation ;—his friends denominated the whole measure prudence and ceconomy. Certain it is, that he had not, like many of his predecessors, amassed a fortune in his late situation. He re\\\q$ from office an indigent man, with little

more

Chap, more than his annuity for his support. From X3^.all his places he acquired no possessions. The . 'j7<5r, legacy of ten thoufand pounds, left him by the Duchess of Marlhorough, already mentioned in / Chapter V. had amply supplied his pecuniary .wants, released him from all dependence on his family and friends, and while it emancipated him from the terrors of obligation, it inspired him with that spirit of independence, which may be said to have sirst kindled that blaze which adorned the remainder of his lise. During his stay in office he had no levees—he dedicated his whole time to the' duties of his station. When he'resigned, many of the principal cities and corporations in the kingdom presented him with addresses of thanks for his great and important services; and at the fame time lamented the cause of his departure from government. i' His successor was the Earl pf Egremont, who was recommended to Lord Bute, by the Earl of Bath.' Upon the accession of George the Ihird, Lord Bath made a tender of his services, which although not accepted publicly, bis advice was received privately, by Lord Bute. Princesses But Lord Bute's principal adviser and manager *>f Brun- 0f the House of Commons was Mr. Fox. The ivn.,,1, circumstance which caused the sirst advances to an union between them, was the arrival of the two Princesses of Brunswick, already mentioned in Chapters XIII. and XIX. That affair had been originally suggested by the Duchess, their mother, sister to the then King of Prussia, whom i,:" . - * she she had solicited to recommend it to George the Chap. Second, when at Hanover, in the month of July XXI. 1755.—The project hid certainly the approba- 1761. tion of Mr. Pitt at that time, but he warmly disapproved of the resolution to accomplish it against the pressing entreaties of the Princess of tfales*, '::'*"' ;who

* Lord Melcomle, in his Diary, mentions this afsair in these words:

"She [meaning the Princess of [Vales'] told me that the King had sent to invite the two Princesses of Brunswick; they came, but their mother, the King os Prussia's sister, who was not invited, came with them: We talked of the match—! Surely he would not marry her son without acquainting her with it, so much as by letter. I said certainly not, as he had always behaved very politely to her. It may be so, she replied, but how can this be reconpiled? In this manner, said 1: Nothing will be settled at Hanover; but when the King comes back, he may say in conversation, and commending the Prince's sigure, that he wishes to see him settled besore he dies; and that he has seen such and such Princesses; and though he would settle nothing, without her participation, yet he could wish to see the Prince settled besore his death, and theresore, if she had no objection, he should think or>e of those Princesses a very suitable party.

"She paused, and said, No; he was not that fort of man: —but if he should settle the match without acquainting her with it, she mould let him know how ill flie took it; and if he did it in the manner I mentioned, she mould not sail to

tell him sairly and plainly, that it v^as full early She

was determined to behave so whenever the King spoke to her about it. She thought the match premature: The Prince ought to mix with the world—the marriage would prevent it—he was shy and backward—the marriage would shut him up for ever, with two or three friends of his and as many of hers. That he was much averse to it himself, and that (lie disliked the alliance extremely: that the young woman was said to be handsome, and had all good qualities and abundance of wit, &c. but if me took aster her mother, she would never do hereT—the Duke of Brunswick indeed, her sather, is a very worthy man.—Pray, Madam, said I, what is her mother? as I know nothing at all about hsr.—Why, said she, her '- mothe?

Chap, who secretly wished for an alliance with one of XXI. jjer own samjiy^ jV^r. Pitt's opposition to the J5j resolution of force, was one principal cause of the design being relinquished. Lord Bute supported the Princess in all points; and Mr. Fox was ready to put his negative on all continental alliances^-against the Princesses of Brunswick; therefore they were persectly united. The resignation os the Duke of Cumberland, which hap^ pened in little more than a year afterwards, the ascendency of Mr. Pitt in the closet, and other circumstances, drew Mr. Fox every year into a closer connexion with Lord Bute. He doubtless faw, that his suture rise in the state must be obtained by his interest in the Prince's court. Upon the accession of George the Third, we accordingly sind, that Lord Bute, who was totally inexperienced in the wild sield of politics, takes Mr. Fox ior his principal adviser, not upon the principles of government, for upon them they often differed, but in the gratisications of resentment, and in the arrangements of men. Lord Bute's other chief adviser was Lord Bath,

mother is the molt intriguing, meddling, and also the most; satyrical sarcastical person in the world, and will always make mischies wherever me comes. Such a character would not do with George; it would not only hurt him in his public, but make him uneasy in his private, situation; that he was not a wild dissipated boy, but good natured and cheersul, with a serious cast upon the whole—that those about him knew him no more than if they had never seen him. That he was not quick; but with those he was acquainted, applicable and intelligent. His education had given her much pain; his book-learning fhe was no judge of, though she supposed it small or useless."—Edit. 1784, f>. 354, &c.