СНАР. 1744. CHAP. VI. State of the Miniftry.-Lord Carlifie difappointed Privy Seal.-Lord Cobham joins the Pelhams. -Lord Granville oppofed in Council, and refigns.-The Broad Bottom Miniftry appointed.Mr. Pitt's reply to Sir Francis Dashwood, on the Addrefs.-Mr. Pitt's reply to Mr. Hume Campbell, on the Noblemen's New-raifed regi ments. FROM the time that Sir Robert Walpole State of the tuitously; too cowardly to act miniftry. had been compelled to relinquish the government, the British councils had not been influenced by the principles of any fyftem, plan or regulation. It was a government of expedients, proceeding forupon a bold measure, and too ignorant to frame a wife one. The members of the cabinet being composed of deferters from all parties, became a faction, 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 fecretary of state by Lord VI. 1744. Lord Bath, had gained an afcendency in the CHAPA closet, by favouring the predilections of the King refpecting Hanover. This afcendency alarmed the other members of the cabinet. They beheld with jealousy Lord Carteret's increasing influence with the King. There was, however, a manly firmnefs and dignified deportment in Lord Carteret's conduct. His German measures were always communicated to the British cabinet in the first inftance; nor was there any attempt ever made to carry them into execution, until they had been proposed to, and adopted by, his colleagues in office. But had the King concerted them fecretly with his Hanoverian council, and not communicated the information to his British minifters, until it was neceffary to involve his British dominions in the expence, and when it was too late to make any alteration; -it is more than probable that Lord Carteret would, in fuch a case, have laid the feals at his Majesty's feet. It has long been feen clearly, and faid by wife and honeft men, that the foundation of all other factions is the faction at court. The court faction, which had been lately formed CHAP. by Lord Bath, gave rife to feveral factions. During these disputes Lord Cobham and his friends kept aloof. 3744 Lord Car pointed of fcal. The unfettled ftate of the ministry was made apparent to the whole kingdom, by the contention amongst them for the office of, privy feal, which Lord Gower had refigned. Lord Bath, who interfered upon this occafion, and affected to act by the authority of the King, fent for Lord Carlifle, Tifle difap- and affured his Lordship he fhould be apthe privy pointed to it; and Lord Carlisle thought himself fo fure 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 Newcaftle went to the King and demanded the place for Lord Cholmondeley. Those who knew the King faid his Majefty was taken by furprife, and confented with reluctance. Several other alterations were made, by which the power of Lord, Bath's friends was decreased, and that of the Pelhams advanced. This arrangement, however, was but of fhort duration. The two parties continued to ftruggle for fuperiority. A war A war with France was the favourite measure of the King at this time, on account of his German dominions, which were exposed to the enmity of France, by his alliance with the court of Vienna; and Lord Carteret, who was now become Earl Granville, by the death of his mother, entering fully into his Majefty's views refpecting this war, became a favourite in the closet. The circumftance of a favourite in that fituation was a matter of great alarm to those who could not endure a rival, Sixteen thousand Hanoverian troops were last year taken into British pay. This measure was extremely obnoxious to the nation. Lord Granville avowed the measure, and being fecure, as he thought, of the King's fupport, he treated his colleagues with fome hauteur, in a debate in council upon it. СНАР, VI. 4744. ham joins hams. The Pelhams were now convinced that Lord Cob Lord Granville was both their rival and their the Pelenemy; and therefore they refolved to remove, if poffible, fo dangerous a competitor. In order to carry this point, their firft ftep was to ftrengthen their party. They made overtures to Lord Cobham, who, at the request L4 VI. 4744. CHAP. queft of the Duke of Newcastle, met his Grace at Lord Harrington's. At this meeting the acceffion of Lord Cobham was fettled. The principal terms were, that the expences of the Hanoverian measures fhould be diminished, and that his Lordship's friends fhould be included in the next change of the ministry. With respect to his Lordship and the Grenvilles, the matter was eafy; all the difficulty was concerning Mr. Pitt. The King had entertained a violent prejudice against him, on account of his oppofition to German measures. This prejudice Lord Grenville was fuppofed to have increased, by stating in the closet, more than once, Mr. Pitt's parliamentary conduct in the most unfavourable light. The Duke of Newcastle promised to remove this prejudice from the King's mind, and to accommodate Mr. Pitt at a future period, which he affured Lord Cobham should not be far diftant. The junction of Lord Cobham with the Pelhams, influenced feveral others to follow his example; fuch as Sir John Hind Cotton, Mr. Waller, Mr. Doddington, and many more; fo that this junction had the effect of |