within my plan. I fhall therefore only notice the prominent events of his political life, &c. and leave the detail to abler pens.

As the Duke of Cumberland had recommended the new miniftry, he conftantly affifted them with his advice; an advantage, which, it is very probable, the nation could not have enjoyed under any other ministry, and which, alone, might compenfate all the defects, if real, which the friends of the old miniftry were continually finding in them. This advantage, however, though of continuance enough to be felt by the nation, did not laft as long as the nation could have wifhed, even under men of equal integrity and capacity with the prefent, and greater experience. Whilft his Royal Highnefs was preparing one evening to affift at one of thofe councils, frequently held to put matters in a way of being more fpeedily dif patched by the Privy Council, and without whose affiflance the Privy Council bufinefs muft go on flowly, as the parliament bufinefs without that of the Committees, he was feized with a fudden diforder, of which he had fome fymptoms the evening before, and in a fit of fhivering funk fenfelefs, almoft inftantaneously, in the arms of the Earl of Albemarle, on the 31ft of October, 1765*.

It is prefumed that it would be almost an apology of itfelf for the introduction of the following fketch of parties, &c. at this period, to fay that it came from pen of Mr. Burke. It will alfo ferve as an early fpecimen of his powers as an hiftorian, and even of his

the

moderation.

"At the conclufion of our laft volume, we faw the nation involved in the moft diftrefsful circumftances' that could well be imagined; our manufacturers at a ftand, commerce almoft totally annihilated, provifions extravagantly dear, and a numerous populace unemployed, without the means of procuring a live

* Annual Regifter for 1765.

lihood. Such, and fo gloomy was the profpect that opened at home upon us, along with the year; nor did the view become more pleafing by extending it across the Atlantic, where the colonies exhibited nothing but scenes of anarchy and confufion, where licentioufnefs was carried almoft to the highest pitch that it could poffibly admit, without affuming another name; whilft the profligate and abandoned (as is ufually the cafe in civil commotions) under the fpecious pretext and mask of liberty and the common caufe, gave a loose to their own unruly paffions, and committed all thofe exorbitances which the vulgar are fo prone to, when under any pretence they are allowed to affemble in bodies, and through any relaxation of the laws, they have not the fears of immediate punishment upon them. We have before obferved, that thofe of an higher rank amongst them did not take any pains to allay the ferment; it is probable that many of the more ferious of them condemned in their own minds feveral acts that were committed, but did not think proper to damp a fpirit, which, however irregularly or improperly exerted, they, perhaps, at that time, thought it conducive to their defigns to keep alive.

"But though a violent refentment supported the spirit of the colonists, they could not but fenfibly feel the inconveniencies which an intire ftoppage of trade muft occafion among a people who had hitherto fubfifted by commerce. However, their warehouses were full of British goods, for which they had not paid; and the many refources of fo vaft an extent of country, abounding in the most effential articles of life, prevented them from feeling fo much immediate diftrefs as our own manufacturers and labouring poor at home.

"It must be obferved, that the enormous fums owing to our merchants, in the colonies, added greatly to the difficulties the public were under, and feverely afflicted the trading and manufacturing part

of the community. Thefe debts, amounting to feve ral millions fterling, the Americans abfolutely refufed to pay, pleading in excuse their utter inability, which plea, it appears, the merchants admitted to be reasonable.

"As the nation was never, perhaps, in a more critical fituation, fo, of confequence, no adminiftration ever had greater difficulties to encounter than the new one. They were under an immediate neceffity of enforcing the flamp-act by fire and fword, or elfe of moving its immediate repeal in parliament. In the former cafe, though there was no doubt of the ability of Great Britain to crufh, or even extirpate the colonies, yet fuch a decifion, if not looked upon as abfolute fuicide, muft, at least, be confidered as making use of one arm to cut off the other.

"Fatal were the confequences, which it was foreseen and foretold, would attend fuch an attempt, and it was obvious, that if fuch consequences fhould enfue, the first framers and promoters of the obnoxious laws, would have been entirely forgot in the general odium and execration, which would have fallen folely upon the miniiters, who, by enforcing fuch ruinous measures, had wrought the deftruction of their country.

"On the other hand, if the act should be repealed, a colourable appearance was not wanting to charge them with facrificing the dignity of the crown, together with the honour and intereft of the nation to their own irrefolution, or else to a caufelefs animofity which it would be faid they bore to their predeceffors, and a blind oppofition to all their meafures.

"The lofs of their illuftrious friend and patron, the Duke of Cumberland, feemed, at this period, to be truly critical to the ministry; his influence, his authority, his good fenfe, his patriotism, and the high regard the public held him in, would have added greatly to their ftrength and fecurity.

"Thus fituated, they had an oppofition to encounter, confifting of gentlemen, feveral of whom had held the first employments in the kingdom, and who, for abilities, experience, knowledge of bufiness, property, and connexions, were very reputable, and therefore truly formidable.

"Some of thefe gentlemen feemed obliged in honour, as well as through opinion, and a fpirit of oppofition, to embark warmly in vindication and support of measures which had originally been their own, for which it may be fuppofed they had the natural partiality of a parent, and in defence of which they were determined to dispute every inch of ground with the miniftry. Some alfo joined them through principle.

"They thought that the infolence of the Americans deferved chaftifement, where, otherwife, the hardship of their circumftances might merit relief. Others there were who gave themfelves no trouble as to the rectitude of the American taxation, but who would have been very glad that their own burthens at home could be at all lightened, by any fums, that could be drawn in any manner, out of the pockets of the colonists; and, in general, it may be fuppofed that the lovers and affertors of high prerogative naturally chimed in with the reft, upon their own principles. There were not a few alfo who first kept aloof from, and in due time declared against the miniftry, upon fome symptoms which appeared early, of their wanting that countenance, which, as it hath been favourable or adverfe, has determined the good or ill fortune of the feveral fucceffive fyftems of administration for fome years paft. This part of the oppofition was, for very obvious reafons,-by much the most dangerous.

"To balance this powerful oppofition, the adminiftration confifted of gentlemen, who, though many of them were young in office, were yet extremely high in eftimation; whofe characters were clear, whofe integrity was far above fufpicion, and whofe

abilities feemed to grow with the difficulties of the bulinefs they were engaged in; their conftant adherence alfo to the cause of liberty had procured them the confidence and good will of the public, both of which they enjoyed in a very eminent degree*. They had, befides, fome other advantages, as they were not bound to the fupport of meafures at all events, merely because they had planned or advised them; fo they could weigh matters with coolnefs and impartiality, and judge without prejudice or paffion; at leaft they had the happinefs not to be obliged to act fyftematically wrong.

"They appear, accordingly, to have avoided, as well as in matters fo critical, perhaps, they could be avoided, the two extremes; in one, which it was apprehended they must inevitably have ftruck, they neither precipitated affairs in America by the rashness of their councils, nor did they facrifice the dignity of the crown or nation by irrefolution or weakness; and the firmnefs, as well as temper, which appeared in their dispatches to the different governors, when examined by the Houfe, did them the greatest honour. By preferving this medium, by fufpending their own judgment in a matter of fo great importance, till they had obtained that of the reprefentatives of the nation, they ftill left it in the power of the fupreme legiflature to use healing measures, and did not urge their fellow fubjects, through defperation, to the committal of fuch acts as could not be forgiven.

"Notwithstanding the prudence of this conduct, it was feverely animadverted on by the oppofite party. Thefe gentlemen would have the moft coercive means made ufe of, for forcing the new laws and regulations, in which themfelves had fo great a fhare, fully fenfible of the difgrace that must be reflected on them by a repeal; it is not unnatural to fuppofe that they wifhed to fee the executive power

Mr. Burke is fuppofed to have included himfelf in this clafs,