Amidst the arrivals of foreign news, which every day created new
excitements in the political circles, a movement was beginning to be
felt in the Cabinet which was shortly to produce an important change in
the Administration. The eccentricities of the Chancellor had on several
occasions given much uneasiness to Ministers. He seemed to move in an
orbit of his own, independently of his colleagues; while the influence
he exercised over the King's mind, and his repulsive bearing, made all
approaches to him difficult and hazardous. The first consideration, when
an unexpected question sprung up, was to ascertain what view Thurlow was
likely to take of it; and it was sometimes as necessary to conciliate
him and to wait upon his moods, as if he had been a powerful, but
doubtful supporter, instead of a member of the Government. "We may do
with, but cannot do without him," appears to have been the general
feeling in reference to him; and it was only by the most skilful
management that Mr. Pitt averted those dissensions in the Cabinet which
his strange line of conduct had so palpable a tendency to provoke. At
last the Chancellor committed himself openly to a hostile vote upon a
vital measure, and left it no longer possible for the Minister to
palliate their differences by private negotiations. The character and
dignity of the Administration was at stake, and there was but one
alternative left. The extremity to which matters were thus reduced is
glanced at hesitatingly by Lord Grenville. The commentary which he did
not think it right to make at such a moment may now, however, be
supplied. The vote of Lord Thurlow placed the Cabinet in this position,
that it remained for the King to choose between them. Mr. Pitt was
prepared to resign, if the decisive advice he tendered to His Majesty
was not immediately acted upon.