these subjects, the governors of the country alone must stand neuter, and leave the questions to their fate, is merely to say that, whensoever it is most necessary to have a Government, we have no Government at all: and why? Because they in whose hands the administration of affairs is vested are resolved rather to keep their places than to do their duty.

A similar view is sometimes put forward and even acted upon, but of so vulgar, so incomparably base a kind, that we hardly know if we should deign to mention it. The partizans of a ministry are wont to say for their patrons, that, unless the country call for certain measures, it shall not have them. What! Is this the duty of rulers? Are men in such stations to give all that may be asked, and only to give because of the asking, without regarding whether it be a boon or a bane? Is the motto of them that hold the citadel to be "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you? ?". Assuredly such men as these do not rise even to the mean rank of those disgraced spirits elsewhere, who while in life

visser senza infamia e senza lodo;

but of them we may at least say as of these,

Non ragionam di lor ma guarda e passa.*

While Lord North led the House of Commons, he had extremely little help from any merely political men of his party. No ministers joined him in defending the measures of his Government. His reliance was upon professional supporters; and Gibbon has described him as slumbering between the great legal Pillars of his administration, his Attorney and Solicitor General, who indeed composed his whole strength, until Mr. Dundas, also a professional supporter, being Lord Advocate of Scotland, became a new and very valuable accession to his forces.

* DANTE, Inf.

APPENDIX.

LETTERS OF GEORGE III. TO LORD NORTH.

"23rd Feb. 1768,

"NOTHING can be more honourable to Admn than the Division when not expected. Mr. Dowdeswell will not get credit by so weak a manœuvre.”

"25 April, 1768.

"Though entirely confiding in your attachment to my Person, as well as in y' hatred of ev' lawless proceeding, yet I think it highly proper to apprize you, that the expulsion of Mr. Wilkes appears to be very essential and must be effected. The case of Mr. Ward, in the reign of my great-grandfather, seems to point out the proper method of proceeding. If any man were capable of forgetting his criminal writings, his speech in Court last Wedy wa be reason enough, for he declared 45 a Paper that the Author might glory in, and the blasphemous Poem a mere ludicrous Production.'

"28 Jany 1769. I

"Great pleasure at y great majority last night.* attribute it principally to the ability shewn by you, both planning the measure and executing it."

"3d Feby 1769.

"Honourable conclusion of debate this morning,† and promises a proper end of this irksome affair. Inconsistency of those who opposed to-day what they supported yesterday."

* This refers to the Debate upon the Resolutions and address to the King respecting the Disturbances in America, after a very long debate in which Lord North, Mr. Dowdeswell, Mr. Burke, Mr. George Grenville, the Attorney and Solicitor General, Alderman Beckford, and Col. Barré took part; the House divided at three in the morning. For the address 155; against it 89. On Lord Barrington's motion for the expulsion of Mr. Wilkes, which was carried by 219 against 137: the resolution moved by the Attorney General de Grey, of censure on Mr. Wilkes for a seditious Libel, having been carried the day before by 239 against 136.

"31 March, 1769.

"This instant heard that the Grand Jury have refused to find Bills against those concerned in the audacious Tumult at St. James's on 22nd Enquire."

Same day,past 11, P.M.

"Factious and partial conduct of the Grand Juries. If there be no law to quell Riot, and if Juries forget their oath to be guided by facts, not faction, this Constitution must be overthrown. I am ready to take any forward part, and I trust every honest man will join to crush this Party that aims at the very vitals of all Government."

"6 April, 1769. "Spirit shewn by the House of C., which I ascribe chiefly to the spirit and good conduct you have shewn.”

"9 May, 1769.

"Received acct of very honourable Issue of yesterday's Debate and List of Speakers.* The House has with becoming dignity supported their own Privileges, without which they cannot subsist, and it is now my duty to see the Laws obeyed."

"7 Jan. 1770.

† I am so desirous that every man in my service should take part in the Debate on Tuesday, that I desire you will very strongly press Sir S. Elliott and any others that have not taken a part last Session. I have no objection to your adding that I have particularly directed you to speak to them."

"23d Jany 1770.

"Lord Weym" and La Gower will wait on you this morn

This refers to the Debate on Monday the 8th of May, upon the Petition against the return of Mr. Luttrell for Middlesex, instead of Mr. Wilkes. On the division the yeas were 221, the noes 152, although the counsel for the sitting member admitted that Mr. Wilkes had polled 1143 votes, and Mr. Luttrell only 296!

Tuesday, 9th January, on the opening of the third Session of the thirteenth Parliament. The address was carried by 254 against 138. In this debate Mr. Fox spoke and voted with the Government, and soon afterwards was appointed a Lord of the Admiralty.

ing to press you in the strongest manner to accept the office of first Lord Comm' of y° Treasury. My mind is more and more strengthened in the rightress of the measure wh wd prevent evy other desertion. You must easily see that if you don't accept, I have no peer at present that I wa consent to place in the D. of Grafton's employ."

"29 Jany 1770.

"This morning or after the debate see Gen. Conway, for I know how much he is pleased with these little marks of attention. By placing some confidence in him you may rely on his firm support. How did you find La Mansfield last night? Had you any conversation wh Lord C. J. Wilmot."

"1 Feb. 1770.

"A Maj3 of 40 on the old ground at least ten times† before the House, is a very favourable auspice on your taking a lead in the Adm". A little spirit will soon restore order in my service. I am glad to find that Sir G. Elliott has again spoke."

"1st Feby 1770.

"In consequence of my negotiation wh the D. of Graft. Col. Fitzroy has in the handsomest manner declined the place of Vice Chamberlain. Sound Mr. Robinson."

"2nd Feby 1770.

"As the Question proposed by Mr. Dowdeswell was well called to catch many Persons, I think it has been rejected by a very handsome Majority."

"16 Feby 1770.

"How has Sir L. Dundas received the answer to his very unreasonable and unseasonable proposal? I suppose Mr.

*The Duke of Grafton resigned the office of First Lord of the Treasury on the evening of the 28th of January, and was succeeded by Lord North, at that time Chancellor of the Exchequer.

† On the motion of Mr. Dowdeswell against the resolution which had been passed some days before, incapacitating Mr. Wilkes.

This refers to Mr. Dowdeswell's motion for incapacitating Wilkes.

Robinson is not to vacate till after the debate of Monday.* La Weym" will go to you tomorrow before the rest of y Comp to say that as La Townd wd dislike resigning the Secret", he cannot advise pressing him. I think La Halifax a proper Privy Seal. I wish you wa open the intended arrangement to him, wh will be kindly taken.'

"28 Feby 1770.

"To see the Majority constantly encrease gives me the greatest pleasure."

"6 March, 1770. "I hope to hear from you this eve what has passed at Guildhall in the morning."

"11 March, 1770.

"I shall be glad to hear what Precedents you have got. I continue of opinion that an Answer must be given to the Remonstrance, and that unless the Instances are very similar of having directed a certain number to attend, it will be every way best to receive them on the Throne."

"13 March, 1770. "As the House is up come between 7 and 8 wh the answer to the Remonstrance."

Nothing more respectful to me, nor to themselves, than the conduct of the day."+

"16 March, 1770. more honourable Majority yester

"18 March, 1770.

"The intended Resolutions seem very proper, and as they dont end wh any severity agt the La Mayor or Sheriffs, will meet with a feeble opp", for on that depended the Union of

*This was the Debate on the question that the resolution declaring Mr. Wilkes incapable of being elected to serve in the present Parliament, was agreeable to the law of the land and custom of Parliament. On a division, this was carried by 237 against 159.

This refers to the division on Mr. Grenville's motion on the state of the Civil List, upon which the Division was for the motion 165, against it 262.

This was on the Debate on Sir Thomas Clavering's motion, that the Remonstrance of the City, and the King's answer to it, be laid before the House. This was carried by 271 to 108.