XXI. 1783. BOOK their own strength, were determined not to deviate in any point from their pre-concerted plan. More than a month passed in a kind of ministerial interregnum, and the want of an efficient government began to be seriously and severely felt. At length Mr. Coke, member for Norfolk, moved an address to the king," that he would be graciously pleased to take into consideration the distracted and unsettled state of the empire, and condescend to a compliance with the wishes of this house, by forming an administration entitled to the confidence of his people." This was unanimously carried, and presented to the king by such members of the house as were privy-counsellors. His majesty replied, "that it was his earnest desire to do every thing in his power to comply with the wishes of his faithful commons. This answer not giving satisfaction, lord Surry moved in a few days another address, framed in very strong and pointed terms"assuring his majesty that all delays in a matter of this moment have an inevitable tendency to weaken the authority of his government; and most humbly intreating his majesty that he will take such measures towards this object as may quiet the anxiety and apprehension of his faithful subChange of jects." But Mr. Pitt declaring that he had resigned administra-his office of chancellor of the exchequer, and that tion. any resolution or address relative to a new arrange ment of administration was unnecessary, lord Surry XXI. 1783. consented to withdraw his motion: and the mini- BOOK sters, who, reluctant to quit the luxury of power, had lingered in office to the last moment, now gave place to their determined and victorious antagonists. Portland The duke of Portland was placed at the head Duke of of the treasury; and lord John Cavendish was minister. re-appointed chancellor of the exchequer; lord NORTH and Mr. Fox were nominated JOINT. SECRETARIES OF STATE, the first for the home, the latter for the foreign department; lord Keppel, who had recently resigned on account of his disapprobation of the peace, was again placed at the head of the admiralty; lord Stormont was created president of the council; and lord Carlisle was advanced to the post of lord privy-seal. The great seal was put into commission-the chief justice Loughborough, so distinguished for political versatility, "who could change and change and yet go on," being declared first lord commissioner; the earl Northington was appointed to the governmentof Ireland; viscount Townshend made mastergeneral of the ordnance, lord Sandwich ranger of the parks, and Mr. Burke reinstated in his former post of paymaster of the forces. Of the seven cabinet ministers, the majority, who also occupied the most important posts of administration, were of the old Whig or Rockingham party;-lord Stormont, XXI. BOOK lord North, and lord Carlisle, contenting themselves rather with a participation of honors and emoluments than of power. 1783. Notwithstanding the admission of these Tory lords therefore into the ministry, it could not but be acknowledged, as to all the grand purposes of government, a WHIG administration-more especially when the ability, the vigor, and the decision of its efficient leader were justly and impartially estimated, But, most unfortunately, no impartial estimate of the merits of this novel and heterogeneous arrangement could be hoped. The PUBLIC CONFIDENCE was lost; and universal experience confirms the observation of a celebrated writer, "that the public confidence, once lost, is NEVER Extreme completely regained." The coalition was the theme rity of the of universal and passionate execration. All those administra-bitter and opprobrious expressions of contumely unpopula coalition tion. and reproach against the late minister, lord North, with which the speeches of Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke had been for so many years filled, were now recalled to the general recollection, and excited a degree of anger, indignation, and amazement, which had not been equalled since the memorable and infamous defection of Mr. Pulteney. When lord Chatham, in one of his last speeches in parliament, "wished that the VENGEANCE of the NATION might fall HEAVY upon the MINISTERS;" when XXI. 1783. Mr. Fox declared, "that he would pursue even to BOOK the SCAFFOLD the authors of the PUBLIC RUIN;" and when Mr. Burke affirmed, "that he had articles of IMPEACHMENT actually framed against lord North, whom he stigmatized as a STATE CRIMINAL;" great allowance ought doubtless to be made for that warmth and ardor of patriotic zeal which might prompt them to exceed the too precise limits of a strict and sober discretion. The late ministers, it must be acknowledged, had done nothing for which they could justly incur legal punishment. But a parliamentary vote of censure and condemnation of those measures and principles which had brought the nation to the brink of perdition was eagerly wished for by the independent and intelligent part of the public; and some satisfactory assurance anxiously expected for the removal of men so unqualified for the task of government from his majesty's presence and councils FOR EVER,-sending them into ignominious. retirement, with the CURSES of their COUNTRY upon their HEADS. Lord Chatham, on receiving, not long before his decease, repeated and high-strained professions of amity and regard from lord Bute, apparently intended to cover some insidious and political purpose, replied without hesitation, "that it was impossi ble for him to serve the king and country either with lord Bute or lord North; and that if any thing could XXL 1783. BOOK prevent the consummation of public ruin, it could only be new counsels and new counsellors-a real change, from a sincere conviction of past errors, and not a mere palliation, which must prove fruitless." There are no doubt situations of extraordinary difficulty and danger which call for the united exertions of those who have been most opposite in sentiments and conduct: but the nation was not at this time disposed to believe that any peculiar danger to the country existed under the administration of the earl of Shelburne, who, whether in or out of office, had uniformly shewn him. self a friend to liberty. The terms of the peace were generally deemed as good as there was any previous reason, from the relative situation of the belligerent powers, to expect; and the COALITION of persons and principles radically hostile, and which no effort of art, or length of time could assimilate, was universally branded as a gross and palpable sacrifice of every sentiment of honor, consistency, and rectitude, on the altar of ambition, interest, and revenge*. *On the first intelligence of this astonishing coalition, lord Camden remarked to a nobleman of the highest rank, with whom he had been many years on terms of intimate friendship, and who, after a long course of political conflict, had sought and found wisdom, virtue, and happiness, in the shades of retirement," There is now an end of all public confidence in public men. Ministers for the next half century are freed |